GN 2507 was retired in December 1957 and kept in storage for several years in Minnesota.[1] It was sold to the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway (SP&S), who had promised a steam locomotive to the county of Klickitat, Washington to display at Maryhill State Park.[1] The locomotive was towed to Vancouver, Washington, and repainted with SP&S lettering, even though it had never been operated by that railway.[1] It was formally donated to Klickitat County on 3 September 1966,[4] and dedicated "to the days of steam locomotives and to the men who operated them."[4] US Rep Catherine Dean May played an important role in securing the locomotive for the county, and gave a speech on the day of the handover.[4][9]
In the early 1990s, the locomotive was leased to the Northwest Railway & Locomotive Preservation Association, who planned to restore the engine to service.[1] In October 1992, it was repainted to restore its original Great Northern logo.[1] On 29 January 1994, the locomotive was transported on a river barge to Pasco, Washington for restoration; however, the planned restoration never took place.[1] GN 2507 was subsequently leased to the Washington State Railroads Historical Society, but little restoration work was undertaken.[1]
On 7 July 2003, the locomotive was pulled by a BNSF locomotive to its current home in Wishram, Washington, about 126 miles (203 km) away.[1] During this journey, the locomotive was restricted to 20 mph (32 kph) to prevent damage to its bearings.[1] A new paint job, costing about US$70,000, returned the locomotive to its 1950s all-black appearance.[1] The locomotive is now displayed near Wishram station, at a one-acre site built by Klickitat County for nearly $US300,000.[1] GN 2507 is one of only two preserved P-2 class locomotives – along with Great Northern 2523,[1] which is on display in Willmar, Minnesota.[10]
