Home»All Photographs»trains»Skookum on the Niles Canyon Railroad 2021

Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-4-4-2 Skookum led a photographer's special over the Niles Canyon Railroad on May 1, 2021.

I didn't know much about the Skookum at the time, except that it was a rare configuration for a steam engine.

My research for this gallery narrative was quite interesting. As it turns out, apparently only three 2-4-4-2 standard gauge Mallet locomotives were ever built, and Skookum is the only one in operation.

Skookum was built in 1909 for an Appalachian logging railroad, but proved to be too big and too heavy for the line. It was off to Oregon and a succession of owners until 1955, when a derailment ended its' running time.

Fast forward to 2019, and Skookum was reborn.

Quite a story...

For more information, just enter "skookum locomotive" into your search engine of choice and you'll find a number of writings about this unusual and reborn locomotive.