Southern Pacific 5021

Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) number 5021 is an SP-2 class 4-10-2 steam locomotive built in 1926 by ALCO at their Schenectady, New York, shops. It is the only member of this class of SP locomotives to be preserved, and it is one of only five 3-cylinder locomotives preserved in North America.

Southern Pacific 5021
Photo of Southern Pacific 5021 in 1962
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder American Locomotive Company (ALCO) Serial number 66793 Build date 1926
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-10-2 Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 63 1⁄2 in (1,613 mm) Adhesive weight 317,500 lb (144,000 kg) Tender cap. 16,152 US gal (61,140 l; 13,449 imp gal) water 4,912 US gal (18,590 l; 4,090 imp gal) fuel oil Boiler pressure 225 psi (1,550 kPa) Cylinders 3 Cylinder size (inside) 25 in × 28 in (635 mm × 711 mm) dia × stroke (outside) 25 in × 32 in (635 mm × 813 mm) dia × stroke
Performance figures Maximum speed 70 mph (113 km/h) (Passenger Service) Tractive effort 84,200 lbf (375,000 N) 96,540 lbf (429,400 N) with booster
Career Operators Southern Pacific Railroad Class SP-2 Number in class 49 Numbers 5021 Retired 1955,1963 Restored 1961 Current owner Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Disposition On static display at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds (RailGiants Train Museum), Pomona, California

It was designed to haul mixed freight and passenger trains over the Sierra Nevada range between northern California and Nevada. Later in its career, 5021 was shifted to service in Oregon, until its retirement in 1955. SP donated 5021 to the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society on March 8, 1956. It was restored to operating condition in 1961 and ran until 1963 in the Pomona Fairplex. In the early 1970’s, a Possible excursion career for the 5021 was being arranged by the Santa Fe, but the plans were scrapped. 5021 sat in San Bernardino till 1976 when it was moved back to the museum when Southern Pacific 4449 was on display with the American Freedom Train in the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds

5021 is currently on static display at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, California.

The engine itself made a cameo appearance in the 1994 Kidsongs Video: Boppin' with the biggles, and also played the ghost train in the 1991 Film Sometimes They Come Back (1991 Film) .