Date Uploaded: October 16, 2023
Permanent Link: http://wnhpc.com/details/fb6955714451113415
Contributor: Martin Hansen on Facebook
Source: Facebook: Martin Hansen
Source URL: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=6955714451113415&set=a.524742344210690
Source Caption: Most folks in the late 1930's simply walked past this relic of an old steam locomotive parked on a siding at Decato, California paying little attention to her. That was not the case with David L. Joslyn. He traveled to Decato with his camera for the sole purpose of recording this historic engine on film.
While she may not look like much by the time of this photo, she was the pride of the Virginia & Truckee in 1870 when they took delivery of her in splendid ornate paint and lettering as the I. E. James. She was named after the chief engineer of the V&T and was a 25-ton 2-4-0 when new.
Her first years were spent as the Carson City switch engine for the V&T. In 1900 she was rented to the Bocca & Loyalton RR for a brief period. When the V&T's business slowed in 1905 she was retired by the V&T after 35 years of service there. In 1907 she was sold to Willet & Burr Contractors out of Oakland, CA. They converted her to burn oil for the first time. She was first used on construction trains on the Northwestern Pacific RR. She was later used on jobs in the Auburn, CA area and finally was used to rebuild the Stone Canyon RR.
A few railfans knew of her existence at Decato, CA and they made a pilgrimage to see her. We are lucky that Mr. Joslyn got this photo of her as she was cut up in 1941.
Download Photo: JPG (158 KB)
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