Sierra No. 3, often called the "Movie Star locomotive", is a 19th-century steam locomotive owned by the State of California and preserved at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, California.
Quick Facts Type and origin, Power type ...
Sierra No. 3 |
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Sierra Railway No. 3. hauling its first train on July 3, 2010, after its overhaul |
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Career |
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Operators | Prescott & Arizona Central Railway Sierra Railroad |
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Official name | W.N. Kelly |
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Retired | 1932 (revenue service) 1996 (1st excursion service) |
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Restored | 1948 (1st restoration) July 3, 2010 (2nd restoration) |
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Current owner | Railtown 1897 State Historic Park |
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Disposition | Undergoing FRA inspection and overhaul |
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William L. Withhuhn, the former Transportation History curator at the Smithsonian Institution, described the locomotive's historical and cultural significance:
Sierra Railway No. 3 has appeared in more motion pictures, documentaries, and television productions than any other locomotive. It is undisputedly the image of the archetypal steam locomotive that propelled the USA from the 19th century into the 20th.[2]
Built in 1891, the locomotive returned to operation in July 2010 after a fourteen-year absence from service and a three-year-long overhaul, requiring the replacement of its original boiler. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2023.[3]