McCloud Railway 25

McCloud Railway 25
MCRR #25 in McCloud, California (2008)
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder American Locomotive Company Serial number 66435 Build date 1925
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-2  • UIC 1'C1' Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 46 in (1.168 m) Loco weight 144,000 lb (65.3 t) Fuel type Oil Boiler pressure 185 psi (1.28 MPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 19 in × 24 in (483 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 28,800 lbf (128.1 kN)
Career Operators McCloud River Railroad (1925–1996); McCloud Railway (1996–2008) Number in class 4th of 4 Locale California

External images

In the shop

On an excursion

McCloud Railway No. 25 is a 2-6-2 locomotive that worked on the McCloud River Railroad. It was purchased new from the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in 1925. Shortly after retirement, on July 3, 1955, the 25 ceremoniously opened the Burney Branch by bursting through a paper banner with a special excursion train. In 1962, No. 25 was restored for excursion service, and served in that capacity until passenger service was once again terminated in 1975. It has since been used in the films Bound for Glory and Stand By Me and is presently in Oregon, providing excursion service on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.

The 25 was one of four Prairies from ALCO, numbered 22–25, which were purchased for a total cost of $90,000. The 25 was the largest and last steam locomotive purchased by the McCloud River Railroad. At the time, the McCloud was a logging railway, and the 25 was used in this function until June 1955, when it was replaced by GE 70-ton switcher No. 1.

It wasn't long, however, before the locomotive was brought out again on July 3, 1955 to open the Burney Branch by breaking a paper banner with a special excursion train. After this, however, the locomotive was truly retired, but it remained on the property—the only steam locomotive to do so.

In the following years, there were many requests for the 25 to be restored for excursion service. This was finally done in 1962. The locomotive ran special excursions, usually for railfan organizations. A contractor called the Mt. Shasta Alpine Scenic Railway ran regular excursions in the summer of 1964, and another contractor called the Shasta Huffen-Puff ran the service between 1967 and 1971, when equipment prices, insurance prices, and falling interest.

This era of excursions ended in 1975, when the locomotive travelled to the Tidewater Southern Railway to be used in Bound for Glory. After that, it was retired for the second time.