BLW-CN3971-1876

California / Common Carrier / South Pacific Coast Railroad / Locomotives
California / Common Carriers / Colusa and Lake Railroad / Locomotive Roster

History

Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1876 for the South Pacific Coast Railroad of California.

When it was built South Pacific Coast #3 was delivered in the standard Baldwin paint scheme of the era called Style 1.

Specifications

Specifications for South Pacific Coast #3

Baldwin Class	8-18C 30, Drawing 4.
Whyte	4-4-0
UIC	2′B n
Gauge	3 ft (914 mm)
Driver Dia.	42 in (1,067 mm)
Loco weight	22 short tons (20.0 t)
Fuel Type	Wood
Boiler Pressure	120 psi (0.83 MPa)
Cylinders	Two, outside
Cylinder Size	12 in × 16 in (305 mm × 410 mm)

Service

South Pacific Coast

Ordered by the South Pacific Coast Railroad in June 1876. Converted to a coal burner October 1880. Transferred to the South Pacific Coast Railway May 1887. The locomotive was significantly damaged in May 1890 after plunging into the Oakland Estuary via the open Webster Street Bridge. The headlight, stack, sandbox, outer steam dome, boiler jacket, and cab were ripped off the locomotive. Converted to fuel oil after November 1902.

Colusa & Lake

C&L #4 stored in Colusa after the railroad shut down.

The locomotive was sold to the Colusa & Lake Railroad in 1906 when the Southern Pacific Railroad had begun liquidating the remaining narrow gauge equipment from the South Pacific Coast Railway. On the Colusa & Lake it became #4. After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake the Colusa & Lake Railroad saw an increase in revenue as Colusa Sandstone was in high demand for rebuilding San Francisco. A decade later the revenue was nearly gone, the Colusa & Lake had two standard gauge competitors into Colusa and the railroad filed for abandonment in 1917. The railroad's equipment was stored along the railroad and #4 remained in Colusa on the edge of town for a time, even appearing in a number of candid photographs taken by travelers.

United Commercial

Former C&L # listed for sale in October 1918.

The United Commercial Company of San Francisco purchased the remains of the Colusa & Lake Railroad for scrapping. Several pieces of equipment had been sold to the Eureka - Nevada Railway and the remaining equipment was taken the United Commercial Company's scrapyard in San Francisco. An advertisement mentioned in the Pacific Marine Review of October 1918 listed two Baldwin Locomotives, thirty-six flat cars and eight box cars for sale.

United States Gypsum

Locomotive #4 during construction of the railroad

Locomotive #4 and several flat cars were finally sold to the United States Gypsum Company and used in the construction of their railroad from Plaster City to the Gypsum deposits to the north west. The locomotive was replaced by larger equipment after the line was completed and eventually scrapped.