Southern Pacific 982

Southern Pacific 982
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 52053 Build date July 1919
Specifications Configuration: ​  •  Whyte 2-10-2  •  UIC 1′E1′ Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 63 in (1.600 m) Length 94 ft 10 in (28.91 m) Width 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) Axle load 56,400 lb (25,600 kg; 25.6 t) Adhesive weight 282,000 lb (128,000 kg; 128 t) Loco weight 352,000 lb (160,000 kg; 160 t) Total weight 525,500 lb (238,400 kg; 238.4 t) Fuel type New: Coal Now: Oil Fuel capacity 3,839 US gal (14,530 L; 3,197 imp gal) Water cap. 10,030 US gal (38,000 L; 8,350 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 63 sq ft (5.9 m2) Boiler pressure 200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa) Heating surface 4,462 sq ft (414.5 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 950 sq ft (88 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 27.5 in × 32 in (698 mm × 813 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Tractive effort 65,300 lbf (290.5 kN) Factor of adh. 4.19
Career Operators Texas and New Orleans Railroad Class F-1 Numbers SP 3651 SP 982 Retired 1957 Preserved May 1957 Disposition Undergoing restoration to operating condition

Southern Pacific 982 is a F-1 class 2-10-2 "Santa Fe" type steam locomotive built by Baldwin (BLW) in 1919 for the Southern Pacific Co. (SP) as No. 3651. The locomotive spent most of its life hauling heavy freight trains on the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) until November 1922, when it was transferred to the Texas & New Orleans Railroad (TNO) and renumbered as No. 982. In May 1957, it was donated to the City of Houston, Texas and Houston Jaycees, where it used to be on static display at the Hermann Park Conservancy. Later on, the City of Houston would transform the area near the lake into the Hermann Park Cultural Plaza, with a café, a covered plaza, and public art pieces. It was then moved to the site of Houston's former Union Station, now the Daikin Park, where it remained for a number of years. As of February 2025 it is on a private siding awaiting transfer to a new location in the next few months according to www.trpahouston.org. It had displayed without its tender, which had been moved to the Heber Valley Railroad (HVRX) in Utah. ^[1] In 2017, the Texas Railway Preservation Association and the Houston based vacation venture startup, Gold Standard Travel Lines began a collaborative effort to use the engine in tourism efforts in the midwest and south United States. Selling affordable vacation packages versus in cooperation with events and local businesses. In 2019, the TRPA was awarded No. 982 with support of the Houston Astros and the City of Houston. ^[2] In 2022, the TRPA acquired the former Great Northern 2100's tender, which was a larger more long distance Vanderbilt tender that was not only historic but accurate to the class of locomotive by Baldwin for SP long distance. ^[3] The group is currently preparing to relocate to permanent more public enticing home, and has found interest from local railroads in Texas.

References

1. "Southern Pacific 982 Steam Engine gifted to the Nau Center for Texas Cultural Heritage". Chron. June 6, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
2. "Preservation | Texas Railway Preservation Association". www.trpahouston.org.
3. Franz, Justin (August 29, 2022). "Texas Museum Hopes to Restore Southern Pacific 2-10-2". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved August 29, 2022.