SACRAMENTO, Calif. (March 16, 2022) – Railtown 1897 State Historic Park and the California State Railroad Museum Foundation have acquired historic Sierra Railway Steam Locomotive No. 34 through a generous donation by railroad enthusiasts Chris Baldo and Marion Hatch. The California State Railroad Museum Foundation and California State Parks will hold a donation ceremony the morning of Saturday, April 2, beginning at 10 a.m. at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. Coinciding with the opening day of weekend excursion train rides at Railtown 1897, the special ceremony is open to the public to attend (Park admission is $5 per person).

Built in 1925 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the Sierra Railroad, the 2-8-2 Mikado locomotive is the only surviving Sierra locomotive to have never been in service on another railroad. The 87-ton locomotive starred in "Bound for Glory" (as Santa Fe 1496) in 1976 and last operated in 1980. For the last 40+ years, it has been out of service and housed in the Roundhouse at Railtown 1897 in Jamestown.

Extensive restoration efforts are needed before No. 34 can return to service alongside the famous Sierra No. 3^® “Movie Star Locomotive” and the powerful Sierra No. 28 that both pull weekend excursion trains on the Sierra Railway.

“We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Baldo and Mr. Hatch in helping the Foundation acquire this locomotive,” said Tim Schroepfer, President & CEO of the California State Railroad Museum Foundation. “The Foundation is thrilled that this historic locomotive will be preserved at Railtown 1897 in perpetuity, and we look forward to the day it will once again run on this historic railroad for the enjoyment of families and rail enthusiasts for generations to come.”

For more information about Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, please visit www.railtown1897.org or call 209-983-3953. For more information about the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, please visit www.californiarailroad.museum.

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About the California State Railroad Museum Foundation

The mission of the California State Railroad Museum Foundation (CSRMF) is to generate revenue and awareness on behalf of its destinations, while supporting the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of our railroad heritage. The Foundation provides funding for ongoing support of numerous programs, both at the museum's Old Sacramento location and at the historic park in Jamestown, Calif. For more information, please visit www.californiarailroad.museum.

Media Contacts:

- Megan Villapudua, 916-801-3175 or [email protected], California State Railroad Museum Foundation

- Traci Rockefeller Cusack, 916-213-4373, [email protected], T-Rock Communications