400 Tons of Baldwin Muscle. Weighing in at 871,550 lbs fully loaded with tender, and wielding just under 70,000 lbs of tractive effort, the massive Spokane, Portland & Seattle #700 sits steamed and ready in the yard outside the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, in preparation for a 2014 Lerro Productions Charter.
This Baldwin Beauty was built in 1938, for the SP&S, primarily for passenger service. Sporting 77" drivers, she not only had power, but speed as well. She lasted only about 10 years as a passenger engine, before being relegated to freight duty. After relatively short, 18-year career, she was retired in 1956 and was donated to the City of Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately, she then spent two decades as an outdoor, static display. In 1975, a private individual started showing the engine some TLC, and founded the Pacific Railroad Preservation Association, to help support preservation and eventual restoration. In 1987, she was moved to the Southern Pacific's Brooklyn Roundhouse and a full restoration was done. She returned to operation in 1990. Today, she is housed at Portland's new Oregon Rail Heritage Center, where she has operated occasionally in excursion service. She is currently undergoing a 1,472-day inspection which will recertify her for another 15 years of operation.
