California Western 45

California Western Railroad #45 is an operating 2-8-2 logging "Mikado" type steam locomotive, located at the California Western Railroad, a.k.a. the world-famous Skunk Train, in Fort Bragg, California. The locomotive was built in 1924, by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Owen-Oregon Lumber Company, (Brownlee-Olds Lumber Co., later the Medford Corporation). The Medford Corporation sold #45 to the California Western Railroad in 1965. The Mendocino Railway, a subsidiary of Sierra Northern, purchased the railroad in 2003 after the California Western filed for bankruptcy.

California Western Railroad #45
#45, seen here at the water tower in Fort Bragg, (circa 1976), prepares to depart for Willits with the "Super Skunk".
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 58045 Model 12-32 1/4 E[1] Build date October 1924
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2  • UIC 1′D1′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 44 in (1.118 m) Wheelbase Engine: 28.50 ft (8.69 m); Drivers: 12.08 ft (3.68 m); Total: 50.35 ft (15.35 m) Axle load 30,000 pounds (13.6 tonnes) Adhesive weight 120,000 pounds (54.4 tonnes) Loco weight 152,000 pounds (68.9 tonnes) Total weight 236,000 pounds (107.0 tonnes) Fuel type Oil Fuel capacity 1,500 imp gal (6,800 l; 1,800 US gal) Water cap 4,000 imp gal (18,000 l; 4,800 US gal) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1.24 MPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 19 in × 24 in (483 mm × 610 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type Piston Train brakes Automatic air
Performance figures Power output 5220; plus superheater % = 6107; substitute firebox for grate area = 33275 Tractive effort 30,127 lbf (134.01 kN) Factor of adh. 3.98
Career Operators Owen-Oregon Lumber Co.,(Brownlee-Olds Lumber Company), Medford Corporation, California Western Railroad, Mendocino Railway, (Sierra Northern) Class III Numbers Owen-Oregon, (Brownlee-Olds), Medford Corporation 3 CWR 45 CWR 44 Official name California Western Railroad Nicknames The Skunk Train Locale Owen-Oregon/Medford Corporation: Southern Cascades, (Butte Falls, OR); California Western: Northwestern California Coast, (Fort Bragg, CA). First run California Western Railroad: July 8, 1965; inaugural July 9, 1965 Retired 1964 (revenue service) Current owner Mendocino Railway, (Sierra Northern) Disposition Operational, based in Fort Bragg, California

Between 1965 and 1980, #45, along with stablemate #46, (a 2-6-6-2 Mallet), pulled the railroad's Fort Bragg - Willits summer steam excursion train, the "Super Skunk". The California Western discontinued steam service in 1981. In 1984, #46 was donated to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, as a result of high maintenance costs, and the opinion that the locomotive was too light on its feet. (#46 was a saddle-tank locomotive, before California Western added a tender, and removed the aforementioned tank.)

In 1983, after two-year operational hiatus, the locomotive briefly returned to service, and was renumbered #44 for a role in Racing with the Moon. The locomotive retained this number for several months.

In 2001, the locomotive was removed from service for an overhaul. The locomotive returned to service in May 2004, and currently operates regular "Skunk Train" service to Northspur Wednesday through Saturday, May through October. #45 began to show its age, and, as a result, the Sierra Railroad discontinued the Super Skunk service to Willits. #45 occasionally travels to Willits for special events, although a diesel helper is required for additional power and dynamic braking. In fact, there are currently no trains that traverse the entire route; passengers must transfer at Northspur.

California Western #45 on the point of a 2-car photographer's special. (2009)

References

1. http://s412909226.onlinehome.us/KPRMS/nrhs/CWR/CWR.htm