Southern Pacific 9

Southern Pacific 9 is a 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" narrow gauge type steam locomotive, built in November 1909 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW).

Power typeSteam

Power typeSteam

BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works

Serial number34035

Quick facts Type and origin, Power type ...

Southern Pacific 9
No. 9 on display at Laws Railroad Museum, Bishop California.
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 34035 Model 10-26 D 258 Build date November 1909
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0  • UIC 2′C Gauge 3 ft (914 mm) Driver dia. 44 in (1.118 m) Loco weight 88,000 pounds (40 t) Fuel type Oil Boiler pressure 180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 16 in × 20 in (406 mm × 508 mm) Valve gear Stephenson Valve type Piston valves Loco brake Air Train brakes Air Couplers Knuckle
Performance figures Tractive effort 17,800 lbf (79.18 kN)
Career Operators Nevada–California–Oregon Railway Southern Pacific Company Numbers SP 9 Retired 1960 Current owner Laws Railroad Museum Disposition On static display

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It was originally built for the Nevada–California–Oregon Railway (NCOR) and was sold to Southern Pacific (SP) in the late 1920s. The engine worked the rest of its career on the SP narrow gauge, except a brief season in 1953 when the locomotive was briefly loaned to the Plaster City railroad operated by the United States Gypsum Company.^[1] The locomotive, along with sisters #8 and #18, were nicknamed "The Desert Princess" for riding along the western and eastern deserts of Nevada and California.

In 1954, there was a plan to purchase a new narrow gauge diesel from GE as SP #1, to replace numbers #9, #8 and #18. Whilst #8 and #18 were sold off, #9 was kept on as a standby locomotive to support diesel locomotive #1 in case of a breakdown.

The engine and the two others, #8 and #18, survived into preservation. Southern Pacific #9 is now on display at the Laws Railroad Museum in Laws, California.

The engine was also used in the 1948 film 3 Godfathers, starring John Wayne, Pedro Armendáriz, and Harry Carey Jr.;^[2] as well as cameoing the 1954 - 1957 TV western series Annie Oakley, starring Gail Davis.^[3]