Southern Pacific No. 2472

Southern Pacific RR No. 2472 is a P-8 class 4-6-2 'Pacific' type steam locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in March 1921 for the Southern Pacific Railroad.
SP 2472 was designed to haul passenger trains on the SP, and worked on the Overland Route from Ogden, Utah, to Oakland, California until 1940 when the 4-8-2 "Mountain" type locomotives took over.
After being replaced by the Mountains, No. 2472 and all the other Pacific locomotives were sent to work on Sacramento-Oakland passenger trains and San Francisco-San Jose commuter trains, along with occasional freight service.
The engine was withdrawn on February 7, 1957, when steam was giving way to diesel, and on April 10, 1959, 2472 was donated to San Mateo County, whose officials put the engine on static display at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds. The engine remained on static display until 1976 when a group of volunteers decided to restore the locomotive.
On December 31, 2006, SP 2472 and the remaining pieces of GGRM rolling stock completed relocation to the Niles Canyon Railway located in Sunol, California, on the east side of San Francisco Bay.
The locomotive became serviceable in February 2008 and was stored in Niles Canyon at the Brightside Yard between operations. SP 2472 has operated in Niles Canyon, usually on Memorial Day weekends and Labor Day weekends, and on other dates as announced.
Unfortunately, in 2015 due to the FRA annual inspection, Southern Pacific 2472 ran in Spring 2015, and it was under FRA inspection. In 2020, two Southern Pacific diesels which are in operation moved the Southern Pacific 2472 to its new home, the Northwest Pacific Railroad.
Today the engine is at the Northwestern Pacific Railroad but right now it’s paced under an Overhaul. On October 9, 2021, it ran under steam and ran a test run for the first time in 6 years. 
==Trivia==
*The engine was featured in "California's Gold with Huell Howser", television program in two separate episodes, Trains (209), and San Luis Obispo Train (507) in the early 1990s.
*The remaining pieces of GGRM rolling stock will also be moved from Niles Canyon to Schellville at a date yet to be announced.
*In the 1990s, 2472 pulled several excursions and Caltrain specials such as the "Toys for Tots", and double-headed on an excursion in 1992 during the NRHS Convention Special with Southern Pacific No. 4449.
*In September 1992 the engine hauled the Pacific Limited excursion special, and "The Earth Train". On December 31, 1992, SP 2472 was once again retired from Southern Pacific Railroad.
*On October 9, 2021, it ran under steam and ran a test run for the first time in 6 years.
*Its whistle was a Southern Pacific 6 chime.
*No. 2472 is one of only two preserved examples of the P-8 Class along with No. 2467.
==See also==
*Gallery
Category:Southern Pacific locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:4-6-2 steam locomotives
Category:American locomotives
Category:Baldwin locomotives
Category:4-6-2 locomotives
Category:Six-coupled locomotives
Category:Built in 1921
Category:Locomotives
Category:Locomotives featured in media
Category:Excursion locomotives
Category:Preserved locomotives
Category:American steam locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives of the United States
Category:Preserved steam locomotives
Category:Golden Gate Railroad Museum
Category:Golden Gate Railroad Museum Locomotives
Category:GGRM Locomotives
Category:GGRM