1:32 Southern Pacific P-8 Class 4-6-2

Constructed by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1921, Southern Pacific’s fifteen P-8 class 4-6-2s #2461-2475 were obtained primarily for passenger service over the Ogden-Carlin segment of the railroad’s famed “Overland Route”. Over the route’s maximum gradient of 1.5%, a single P-8 was rated for a trailing load of 875-tons, approximately an elevencar passenger train. The P-8s thrived in this service until delivery of the larger, more powerful Mt-class 4-8-2s in the late 1920s. Most P-8s were then transferred further west for service between Oakland and Sacramento, along with the demanding Peninsula commute service between San Francisco and San Jose. Espee’s P-8 class 4-6-2s lasted until the mid-1950s, at which time they were replaced by diesels and retired.

Two Southern Pacific P-8 class locomotives were saved. SP #2467 was donated to the City of Oakland in 1960 and placed on display at Harrison Railroad Park. In April 1959, SP #2472 was donated to the City of San Mateo and placed on display at the Fairgrounds.

In the early 1990s, the Pacific Locomotive Association acquired SP #2467 and began its restoration. Completed by July 1999, the locomotive made its operational debut at Sacramento’s Railfair in 1999. SP #2467 is currently on loan for static display at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.

In 1976, a group of volunteers began work on full restoration of SP #2472 back to operable service. In the early 1990s the locomotive was used on several local excursions. In 1992, SP #2472 was doubleheaded with SP GS-4 class locomotive #4449 on excursions operated for the National Railway Historical Society convention. Today, the locomotive operates at the Niles Canyon Railway

Specifications

• 1:32 Scale / 45 mm Gauge

• Brass & Stainless Steel Construction

• 10 ft. (3 M) Mini. Radius

• Length: 35.02 in. (889.6 mm)

• Width: 3.75 in. (95.25 mm)

• Height: 5.95 in. (151.06 mm)

​

Features

• Alcohol / Butane fired

• Two cylinders

• D-valve

• Safety valve

• Walschaerts valve gear

• 60 PSI working pressure

• Check valve

• Axle water pump

• Hand water pump in tender

• Lubricator

• Ceramic burner

Models

• AL97-035  SP P-8 4-6-2 #2467, Butane Fired

• AL97-037  SP P-8 4-6-2 #2472, Butane Fired

• AL97-035A  SP P-8 4-6-2 #2467, Alcohol Fired

• AL97-037A  SP P-8 4-6-2 #2472, Alcohol Fired

• AL98-035  SP P-8 4-6-2 #2467, Electric

• AL98-037  SP P-8 4-6-2 #2472, Electric