Sierra #3 Returns To Railtown: Restoration Continues October 31, 2009 04:25 pm B.J. Hansen, MML Reporter Jamestown, CA - Sierra #3, "The Movie Star Train," has returned to Railtown 1897 in Jamestown. The locomotive is in the midst of a full restoration and has spent the past several months at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. According to Railtown Superintendent Kim Baker, it arrived back in Jamestown Friday afternoon. It is currently being housed at the Tri-Dam shop on the Railtown grounds, and likely won't be fully restored until around April. The train has appeared in multiple films over the years, and Tuolumne County Film Commissioner Jerry Day hopes it will be featured in many more in the near future. "We actually have two on tap who want to shoot right now, and they are trying to figure out if they can wait until April." says Day. "The anticipation is mounting." In 2006, the Sonora Area Foundation raised over $300,000 to help with the restoration effort. A matching amount of funds were provided by the California Cultural and Historic Endowment. Once the restoration is completed, officials say Sierra #3 will be one of only a few 19th century steam engines still in operation. Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
It's a brand new boiler (built by some company in Washington, if I remember correctly). I'm not sure exactly why the old boiler wasn't used (age? some other "failure"?) but the new boiler was built to the same dimensions as the old one. If you look at the picture that was posted (of the #3 in the Tri-Dam shops), the sides of the boiler (that would normally be underneath both the boiler lagging and boiler jacket) are welded and not riveted (which would have been how the boiler was originally constructed back in 1891). A couple of interesting links about the Sierra #3... Pictures of the trip (back) to Jamestown and some of the work done at the CSRM (Sacramento) A detailed history of the Sierra #3 Taz
She made a few practice runs today. She is sure looking good! My dad snapped this today. I'm heading to Jamestown early tomorrow to get my own photos. Sierra Railway #3 on the Jamestown turntable. 07/02/2010
Ooooooooooo. Looks great! Wish I could get down that way and see, plus hear her breathing in person. Boxcab E50
Well she was looking good today. They also had Shay #2 pulling every other train. It was next to impossible to get a clear shot of her at railtown today because of all the people. Have to catch her out on the line to get photos. #3 is very light and was struggling to pull these two heavyweights back to Jamestown. You could hear here slipping as she went up the hill.
