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Southern Pacific #18 – May and June 2026

Recently the CCR worked along side the Friends of the Eastern California Museum to host a Southern Inyo County railroad tour. The May 16th tour included stops in Keeler, Owenyo and Kearsarge, lunch in Independence at the engine house, and a showing of the classic Bad Day at Blackrock in the Lone Pine Film Museum theater. The event offered a good excuse to repaint the crossbucks and signage in Kearsarge, which Chris Dryer happily did. A group of over 50 attended and it was a great success for all and resulted in some new members as well!

As a reminder, the #18 will be all steamed up and operating at the Eastern California Museum on July 3rd and 4th. There no better way to spend Independence day than in Independence, CA. Come out and watch the parade, have lunch, and take a ride on #18!

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Southern Pacific #18 – March – May 2026

Ideal springtime weather in Independence greeted over 20 volunteers who gathered in mid April to keep working on our #18 and boxcar #1C.

Locomotive work focused on completing the last couple tasks prior to its annual hydrostatic test. Marty, Scott, Jarred and the Carson Valley crew installed boiler washout plugs, lapped the main fountain valve and installed some valve rods that have had work done. Things are on track for the annual hydrostatic test and subsequent steam test in June. In addition to the locomotive work, the new boiler tubes were loaded in our storage boxcar for future use.

Boxcar #1C made some great progress as well. Not only was the second and final layer of roof installed but both side doors, and one end door were all put in place. Our next gathering should see the final installation of the end doors, final installation of exterior hardware, brake rods and beams installed, and the catwalk installation to start. All in all, we are starting down the home stretch towards completion!

In addition to the equipment work, Dave, Doug, Chris, Grant, trucker Pete his Mother, and a few others toiled away in Keeler loading our recent acquisitions, the Saltus Plymouth and dump car. These two pieces have been residences of Keeler since at least the early 1980’s and last operated in the salt flats east of Mojave. These two unique desert artifacts were placed on our short display track and will be evaluated in the coming months!

As always, our productivity and successes are due to your contributions and support! Thank you All and we look forward to seeing you on the 4th of July weekend!