Press release
Several hundred people gathered on the grounds of the Eastern California Museum Monday, July 3, for the dedication of the Larry Peckham Memorial Engine House, the new permanent home of the fully restored Union Pacific Engine 18, The Slim Princess.
Dave Mull, of Lone Pine, gets ready to drive the ceremonial spiked during the July 3 dedication of the Larry Peckham Memorial Engine House on the grounds of the Eastern California Museum in Independence, the new permanent home of the fully restored Union Pacific Engine 18, The Slim Princess. The fully restored, operational narrow gauge steam locomotive, in the background, ran down the track to the cheers and applause of several hundred spectators. Photos by Jon Klusmire.
The narrow gauge steam locomotive was steamed up and rolled out of the barn prior to the “Silver Spike Ceremony.” Dave Mull, president of the non-profit Carson and Colorado Railway, the group that took five years to restore the locomotive, drove in the ceremonial spike.
He thanked the hundreds of volunteers and supporters for making the restoration effort a reality.
Then the Slim Princess sounded its bell, blew its whistle and chugged down about 300 feet of track, to the cheers and applause of the crowd. The locomotive will remain on display at the museum.
It would have been nice to have the SP on a loop track, maybe one encircling the town. To do all that restoration and not let her run, seems like a big waste. (a big let-down,at the very least)
Minor correction: Dave Mull lives in Independence, not Lone Pine.