Southern Pine Lumber Co. No. 28 is a 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1917. Originally as No. 645, the locomotive was renumbered No. 20 at Camp Claiborne, LA, in 1941 and, six years later, was sold to a private owner.
It was later sold on to the Tremont & Gulf Railway in Winnfield, LA, and renumbered No. 28.
In 1955, the T. & G. sold the locomotive to the Southern Pine Lumber Company, and East Texas short line operated by the Temple Lumber Company.
After several years of dedicated service, the company owner, Mr. Arthur Temple, donated the engine to the Texas State Railroad in 1973 and it was renumbered No. 300.
After years of effort, locomotive 300 was put into active service on April 13, 1996 to commemorate the Texas State Railroad's Centennial celebration.
Around April 3, 2015, TSRR No. 300 was repainted as Southern Pine Lumber Company No. 28, she continued running until the end of the 2016 running season, she went under her mandated 1,472 boiler inspection and overhaul and was fired up again around May 2018. The locomotive only ran for a few months before being pulled out of service due to running gear issues and a worn out bearing.
This locomotive had the distinction of maneuvering Texas & pacific 610 when necessary.
As of today, the locomotive is still out of service and is currently undergoing extensive running gear repairs.
Trivia[]
- The locomotive is one of two surviving United States Army "Pershing" engines.
- This type of engine was named after General "Blackjack" Pershing and built for service in Europe during World War One.
- At the end of WWII the locomotive was acquired by the Tremont and Gulf Railroad, a Louisiana Short line. The T. & G. completely rebuilt the engine and renumbered it 28.
- Fortunately, this locomotive remained in the United States, primarily serving the Camp Polk Army Base in Leesville Louisiana.
- From her humble origins of hauling freight, lumber and munitions to her present occupation of transporting tourist and rail fans of all ages, Engine 300 has done it all with style and grace.
- As of 2018 it was renumbered back to #28.
- It was restored to its original SPL livery and number in 2015.
- Around 2014 she was originally going to be lettered as Tremont and Gulf #28, but the railroad chose to paint her in SPL livery.