Spokane, Portland and Seattle 700

Spokane, Portland and Seattle 700
SP&S No. 700 awaiting to start a Christmas excursion in December 2005
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number62171
Build dateMay 1938
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-8-4
  UIC2′D2′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.77 in (1,956 mm)
Length110 ft 6+34 in (33.70 m)
Height16 ft (4.88 m)
Axle load77,200 lb (35,000 kg; 35.0 t)
Adhesive weight294,500 lb (133,600 kg; 133.6 t)
Loco weight485,820 lb (220,360 kg; 220.36 t)
Total weight879,600 lb (399,000 kg; 399.0 t)
Fuel typeBunker oil
Fuel capacity6,040 US gal (22,900 L; 5,030 imp gal)
Water cap.20,000 US gal (76,000 L; 17,000 imp gal)
Firebox:
  Grate area115 sq ft (10.7 m2)
Boiler pressure260 lbf/in2 (1.79 MPa)
Superheater:
  Heating area2,095 sq ft (194.6 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size28 in × 31 in (711 mm × 787 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve typePiston valves
Performance figures
Power output4,500 hp (3,400 kW) at 50 mph
Tractive effort69,800 lbf (310.49 kN)
Factor of adh.4.16
Career
OperatorsSpokane, Portland and Seattle Railway
Oregon Rail Heritage Center
ClassE-1
Numbers
  • SP&S 700
  • NP 2668
Nicknames"The Lady"
"The First Lady of the Northwest"
"The Night Princess"
DeliveredJune 21, 1938
RetiredMay 20, 1956
PreservedJanuary 14, 1958
RestoredMay 15, 1990
Current ownerThe City of Portland, Oregon
DispositionOperational
Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway Steam Locomotive
Coordinates45°30′26″N 122°39′43″W / 45.507297°N 122.661838°W / 45.507297; -122.661838
NRHP reference No.05001557
Added to NRHPJanuary 25, 2006

Spokane, Portland & Seattle 700 is the oldest and only surviving example of the class "E-1" 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive and the only surviving "original" (not purchased used from another railroad) Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway steam locomotive. It was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in May 1938. Nearly identical to the class "A-3" Northerns built for Northern Pacific Railway, it burns oil instead of coal.

After years of running second-hand equipment, the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway (SP&S) was allowed by its parent companies, Great Northern Railway and Northern Pacific Railway, to purchase its first new locomotives. These included three Northern E-1 class locomotives (700, 701 and 702) for passenger service and six Z-6 class Challengers (4-6-6-4s) for freight service.

After retirement from service in 1956, the SP&S 700 was donated to the City of Portland, Oregon in 1958. It was on static public display near Oaks Amusement Park at Oaks Pioneer Park until 1987, then moved to private quarters (the Southern Pacific Roundhouse at Brooklyn Yard) for the continuation of work to restore it to operating condition. It began making occasional excursion runs in 1990. In 2012, the 700 was moved to a new facility where it can again be viewed by the public, the Oregon Rail Heritage Center.