Preserved Southern Pacific Railroad Alco 0-6-0 steam locomotive # 1238. Fresno California 2005.

I found this photograph at my link page Fallen Flags.Org, which is located to the right of your computer screen at www.rr-fallenflags.org.

The former Southern Pacific Railroad was a late user of steam locomotives, and finally retired their remaining ones from daily railroad service in 1956. Granted, this is proboubly one of the reasons that the old S P was a favorite amongst many west coast American railfans back in the day. The S P had also taken the time and dedication, to set aside many steam locomotives for preservation and display in many on line communities and upcoming railroad museums.

The Southern Pacific had actually set aside many of these smaller 0-6-0 switcher locomotives aside for preservation at the end of the steam era. These locomotives were the actual behind the scenes workhorses of the Southern Pacific, and worked in freight yards and passenger terminals making up or breaking up trains. Many of these worked in branchline way freight service on switching locals.

Photographer Era Horton, photographed former Southern Pacific 0-6-0 steam locomotive # 1238 in 2005, on display inside a local park in the city of Fresno California. It appears that engine # 1238, had recently recieved a nice and very shiny coat of black paint, and may have been undergoing some sort of a cosmetic restoration at the time of the photograph.

Very nice.