Folsom Prison Locomotives
From: "Charlie Hopkins" TWINCOACH@aol.com
I am looking for information on the locomotives that at one were used in the prison to spot rail cars. Found one photo of ex. CP - SPCo. 4-6-0 Folsom Prison No. 1, an old SP oil burner, with lettering on cab and big 1 on the tender ... would very much like to know history of this Prison rail operation. ...
C.A. HOPKINS
COAST DIV.
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 8:05 PM
3 Comments:
From: "Bill Anderson" bill@fedshra.org
We continue to seek information on the Folsom Prison Railroad.
Our Winter 2007 issue of the FEDS Newsletter has an article by a gentleman at Folsom Prison who sought our help in writing his article. The article was also printed in the June/July 2004 issue of Engineers & Engines magazine.
—Bill Anderson, Folsom, El Dorado & Sacramento Historical Railroad Association
From: kylewyatt@aol.com
I pulled together the following from several sources, including the referenced NG&SL Gazette article (see below), info on the ALCo 0-4-0T from the web, and research by Wendell Huffman, including material on the first Folsom Prison loco in the Compendium Companion.
—Kyle Wyatt
-----------------------------------------
Folsom Prison Locos
There were several steam locos at Folsom Prison.
First was the former Sacramento Valley 4-4-0 #2 beginning in 1889.
Next was former Central Pacific 4-4-0 #124, later #1212 from 1900 to 1905.
Next as former Central Pacific 4-6-0 #6, later #2000 from 1905 to 1908.
Then former Southern Pacific 4-6-0 #140, later 2066 briefly in 1909, returned as unfit.
Then former Southern Pacific 4-6-0 #156, later 2083 beginning in 1909.
Here is info on what I believe was the last Folsom Prison steamer — a stock ALCo 0-4-0T purchased in 1926, and still in existence.
Folsom Prison 0-4-0T
Henry J. Kaiser Co. No. 1 Willits, CA
Wheels: 0-4-0T
Builder: Alco (Cooke)
Build Date: 02/1926
Construction No.: 66311
Empty Weight: 65,000
Weight on Drivers: 65,000
Driver Diameter: 36
Tractive Effort: 14,365
Boiler Pressure: 180
Cylinders: 13x20
Fuel: Oil
Gauge: Standard
Date Action Description
Built For: Stock
[02/1926] Sold: State of California Purchasing Office (Folsom Prison #1) at Folsom, CA
[Unknown] Sold: Bechtel Kaiser Rock Co. #1 at Oroville, CA
[Unknown] Corp. Sale: Henry J. Kaiser Co. #1
[01/1963] Sold: Bert Rudolph
[?] sold ? – at Roots of Motive Power
Here are the notes for Henry J. Kaiser Co. No. 1, a 0-4-0T located in Willits, CA
Posted: 2006-01-15 22:26:10.72 by George S.
The "Alco-Cooke Construction Number List" indicates that Construction Numbers 66310 through 66314, were built for Stock, to be sold at a later date. This unit (Construction Number 66311, Road Number 1) was shipped to the "Folsom State Prison (California)" on November 12, 1926.
Finally in 1946 a surplus US Army 35 ton Plymouth was acquired, lasting until the railroad shut down about 1961. The ALCo 0-4-0T was sold in the early 1950s when it was apparent the Plymouth could handle all traffic.
There was an article on the Folsom Prison line in the May/June 191 issue of the NG&SL Gazette – although the author mistakes the identity of the former Sacramento Valley engine.
—Kyle
The rails the Folsom Prison railroad ran on appear to be RIC 68, as the the Folsom Prison rail
and the RIC 68 rail are exactly identical. G J Graves, NewCastle.
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