Part of the so-called "Harriman Common Standard" stud of three hundred and fifty Consolidation (2-8-0) type locomotives built to roughly the same design, #2718 was one of fifty-eight oil burning C-8 Class built in 1904 by Burnham, Williams & Co., an early incarnation of the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA.
As built, #2718 weighed 208,000 lbs, 187,000 lbs on its 57” drivers. The engine wheelbase is 24’ 4” the driver wheelbase 15’ 8”. With Stephenson valve gear and 22” x 30” cylinders, it had a 49.5 sq ft grate, 177 sq ft firebox and total heating surface of 3,403 sq ft. Operating at a boiler pressure of 200 psi, it delivered 43,305 lbs tractive effort. The tender weighs 135,050 lbs and has a capacity of 9,000 gallons of water and 3,535 gallons of oil.
The class was superheated in 1922, at which time the Stephenson valve gear was replaced with Walschaert. Engine weight increased to 216,700 lbs and weight on the drivers to 191,900 lbs. The firebox increased to 189 sq ft and boiler pressure rose to 210 psi. With a total heating surface of 3,497 including 600 sq ft superheating tractive effort increased to 45,471 lbs.
Like most of the Southern Pacific’s
2-8-0s, this class worked on until the end of steam in the 1950s. #2718 was donated to the county of Modoc in 1956.
The locomotive is on display at the Modoc County Museum in Alturas, CA.
