History Sierra No. 3

sierra #3 on p&ac.

the p&ac went bankrupt in 1893 , owner, thomas s. bullock, relocated california bringing of railroad equipment, including no. 3. entered partnership prince andré poniatowski , william h. crocker, , in 1897 incorporated sierra railway company of california connect oakdale, california timber producing regions of tuolumne county , calaveras county.

the locomotive rechristened sierra no. 3, , played key role of construction of railroad jamestown, california in 1897, sonora, california in 1899 , tuolumne, california in 1900. primary locomotive pulling freight trains on railroad until 1906, when sierra railway purchased new baldwin locomotive works 2-8-0 locomotive. played significant role in logging, mining , dam building operations in sierra foothills.

originally built burn coal, locomotive converted burn oil sometime between 1900 , 1902.

sierra no. 3 involved in several wrecks. in february 1898, switch mishap killed conductor william g. bailey. in september 1899, tender derailed while backing on trestle, causing collapse.

1918 derailment destroyed original wooden cab.

the locomotive turned on side in 1918 above sonora, destroying original wooden cab, replaced second-hand steel southern pacific railroad cab. 2 years later, sierra no. 3 made first known hollywood film appearance, in silent film terror starring tom mix.

during great depression, sierra railway went bankruptcy, , reorganized sierra railroad company in 1937. sierra no. 3 taken out of service in 1932, , sat on siding in jamestown yard 15 years. managed avoid being scrapped during world war ii, , again received attention hollywood in 1946, when david o. selznick, producer of duel in sun being filmed on sierra railroad, proposed destroy in train wreck scene movie. sierra railroad s master mechanic bill tremewan persuaded railroad ownership not consider notion ridiculous , , instead shop crews restored locomotive operation potential charter , movie service. inspection of boiler proved in serviceable condition, resulting work required reduction of maximum allowable working pressure 160 150 psi (1.10 1.03 mpa). rebuild completed in 1948, , locomotive officially returned service heading railway , locomotive historical society sponsored excursion train on may 30. on next half-century, sierra no. 3 pulled tourist excursion trains , appeared in dozens of films, tv shows, , commercials. among them high noon in 1952, gary cooper won academy award best actor, , unforgiven, starring , directed clint eastwood, won academy award best picture 1992.

dummy smokestack used in locomotive explosion scene in future part iii.

the locomotive redecorated various movie , television appearances, 1 of famous roles being hooterville cannonball mid-sixties series petticoat junction. false smokestacks installed alter appearance of locomotive.

in 1979, crocker , associates announced intention sell interest in railroad silverfoot, inc. based in chicago, deal did not include locomotive facilities in jamestown. complex, including sierra no. 3, acquired state of california result of legislation passed in april 1981, , signed governor jerry brown. acquisition completed on september 15, 1982, , since then, locomotive has been property of state of california.

in 1995, federal railroad administration issued new safety standards steam locomotive boilers. in order comply these revised regulations, sierra no. 3 removed service until complete evaluation of locomotive s condition made.