EQUIPMENT ROSTER
STEAM LOCOMOTIVEThe centerpiece of the collection was built in 1907 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA for the Henry Cowell Lime and Cement Company of Cowell, CA. The locomotive, originally dubbed "Engine No. 3", and its sister engines were used to haul rock from the company's quarry to the crushing mill, a distance of three miles. In 1952, "No. 3" was sold to the South San Francisco Scrap Metals Company, where it was used to move other pieces of railroad equipment around the scrap yard. In 1960, Charles Pollard of Vista, CA, bought "No. 3" and extensively modified its appearance to resemble much older steam engines of the 1870s. He operated the locomotive, then called the "Robert E. Lee," on the grounds of his machine shop. When Pollard died in 1966, the locomotive and various other pieces of rolling stock and railroad equipment were purchased by John S. Porter of Poway. Porter built a small station, house and shed for the train and operated it on his land which today comprises part of our park. Mr. Porter died in 1980, ending the operation of his "Poway Village and Rattlesnake Creek Railroad." In December of 1987, the City of Poway purchased the Porter property - lock, stock and locomotive. The locomotive and its tender have been restored to full operational condition by the PMRRV. Restoration, certification and testing were completed early in 1997 and the locomotive made its inaugural PMRR passenger run on July 4, 1997. Note: Steam locomotive operations are suspended each January and February so that the locomotive can undergo its annual maintenance program, boiler inspection and re-certification for passenger service. Every effort is made to resume steam operations by early March but this cannot be guaranteed, since extra maintenance and refurbishment is sometimes needed. Other equipment is substituted while the locomotive is out of service. Built: 1907, Baldwin Locomotive Works Rebuilt: 1992-97 by PMRRV at Old Poway Park Configuration: 0-4-0 [0 front wheels, 4 drivers, 0 trailing wheels] Driver Wheel Size: 28 inches Steam Source: Oil-fired boiler Boiler Pressure: 150 pounds per square inch Track Gauge: 42 inches "bastard" narrow gauge PASSENGER COACHWhen Charles Pollard acquired the Baldwin locomotive he needed something for it to pull along his track. To solve the problem, he fabricated an 1870s style passenger coach from the wheels up. The coach was among the rolling stock purchased with the Locomotive by John Porter and eventually acquired by the City. The coach was constructed of plywood on a steel frame and was in very bad shape when it was rolled into the train barn for renovation. Dedicated members of the PMRRV stripped the wood from the frame and added more steel to form a clerestory to give the roof line a more elegant appearance consistent with the vintage of our steam locomotive. The coach has bench seating for up to 32 passengers and is the PMRR's primary passenger vehicle. In 1999, it was repainted and given the name "Paquay Valley", which is the old Native American name for the Poway Valley. Built: c. 1963-65 by Charles Pollard of Vista, California Rebuilt: 1993-96 by PMRRV at Old Poway Park Seating Capacity: 32 Track Gauge: 42 inches TROLLEY CARThe trolley car's early history is somewhat hazy, but it was
probably built in the 1880's as a trailer car, pulled by a cable car, on the
"Yellow Line" interurban trolley system of the Los Angeles Railway Co. ("LARY").
It has undergone several major reconfigurations during its long career: in 1894,
it was converted to LARY electric trolley #57; in 1915, to LARY materials car
#4311; in the 1940's, to a "California Car" for a major movie studio, to whom
it was sold in 1943; and somewhere along the way its electric motors were
replaced with a Corvair automobile engine, which is its current mode of power. Built: c. 1880's for the LARY Yellow Line Restored: 1993-96 by PMRRV at Old Poway Park Original Power Source: Overhead electric power to motor Current Power Source: Corvair automobile engine Configuration: California Car style Seating Capacity: 32 Wheel Arrangement: Single 4-wheel truck Track Gauge: 42 inches FAIRMONT SPEEDERThe speeder was built in 1950 by the Fairmont Company of Fairmont, MN. It was among the railroad equipment purchased from the estate of John Porter in 1987. Speeder cars are used to transport work crews and their supplies down the track to work sites. When acquired by the City it was in very poor condition. It was the first piece of rolling stock to be restored and is an example of the terrific results we can achieve through hard work. Built: 1950 in Fairmont, MN Rebuilt: 1992-94 by PMRRV at Old Poway Park Power Source: 4-cylinder gasoline engine Gearing: 4 forward and 4 reverse gears Track Gauge: 42 inches GONDOLA CARSThe four wood-sided gondola cars are used today for carrying passengers around the track behind the Fairmont speeder. They were built in the 1880s for use in hauling a different cargo - rocks and ore from the mines. They are typical of the narrow gauge ore cars once used in mining operations throughout the West. Originally, the interiors of the cars were faced with sheet metal to prolong the useful life of the wooden planks forming the sides and ends. All of the wood was in such poor condition that it was replaced and seats were installed to carry passengers. Each car seats up to 12 passengers. Built: c. 1880s Rebuilt and renovated for passenger use: Seating Capacity: 12 Track Gauge: 42 inches SAN FRANCISCO CABLE CARThe San Francisco cable car was donated by the City of San Diego to the City of Poway on October 30, 1997. The history of the car has not yet been fully researched, but according to one historian it was once part of a fleet of 45 cars that comprised the California Street Cable Railroad Co., which operated a 12-mile line in San Francisco. The car still bears No. 17, its original number, and was built in 1907 to replace stock that was destroyed in the great San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906. Constructed to the 1890 design of the original California Street fleet, it is 30' 5" long, 8' wide, weighs 11,500lbs and seats 34. In 1952, ownership passed to the City of San Francisco when it acquired the California Street line as part of its new municipal cable car system. Rolling stock cutbacks occurred in 1955, at which time No. 17, then almost 50 years old, was sold to the Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in Orange County as one of a package of 6 cars. After providing park visitors with rides for 33 years, the 6 cars were retired in 1988 and No. 17 was acquired by the City of San Diego, with the intention of operating it through the Gaslamp District. Those plans never came to fruition, and the car was recently spotted decaying in the MTDB maintenance yard - which is how it eventually came to reside in our train barn. The PMRRV will shortly begin a comprehensive 2-year restoration program
aimed at restoring the car to operational condition so that it can join our fleet of
passenger rolling stock. Although its appearance will be as close to the original as we
can make it, it will of necessity remain a battery-operated electric trolley rather than
a true cable car. Built: 1907 for the California Street Cable Railroad Co. Original Power Source: Underground continuous-motion cable Current Power Source: Battery-supplied electric power to motor Seating Capacity: 34 Wheel Arrangement: Dual 4-wheel trucks Track Gauge: 42 inches SOUTHERN PACIFIC CABOOSEThe caboose, which now rests on a section of track across from the train barn, was built in 1937 for the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was retired from service following a crash in 1964 which severely bent its frame. You can see the damage by looking under the caboose at its eastern end. The caboose was acquired by John Porter and was sold to the City of Poway in 1987. It is an excellent example of a trainman's rolling home of the 1930s and 1940s and is presently undergoing extensive renovation. Eventually, it will be fully restored and outfitted with period-appropriate furnishings and equipment for public viewing. Built: 1937 for the Southern Pacific Railroad Wheel Arrangement: Dual 4-wheel trucks Track Gauge: Standard (4 feet, 8.5 inches) SANTA FE BOXCARThe boxcar, which now rests on its own section of track across from the train barn, was built in 1960. It was donated to the City of Poway by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Company in 1991. Currently, it is used for storage of parts removed from our rolling stock during renovation and for preservation of our collection of railroad equipment and artifacts. We have a long-term plan to clear the boxcar and set up a series of static displays inside with the theme "The History of Railroading." Built: 1960 Wheel Arrangement: Dual 4-wheel trucks Track Gauge: Standard (4 feet, 8.5 inches) |