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Southern Pacific Locomotive #1673 began its life as a coal burner in November
1900. Produced by Schenectady Locomotive Works in New York, the engine
was originally numbered Schenectady 5683. She was categorized as a
mogul of the M-4 class and weighed 146,000 pounds. In the early photo
to the left, the pilot, boiler skirting, and numbering scheme are vastly
different than any other photographs of #1673. This is believed to
be the oldest known photograph of the engine. In 1906, #1673 was converted
from being a coal burner to an oil burner.
  Locomotive #1673 is one of 105 of its type originally numbered
1615-1719 for the Southern Pacific Railroad. During operation on the Southern
Pacific it logged over one million miles, primarily in freight service in
the Southern Arizona region. In 1954, the engine was used in the filming
of the movie Oklahoma. #1673 played a significant role in 1955 when the 75th
anniversary of the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in Arizona was
celebrated in Tucson. Steaming into Tucson with a vintage coach, it was welcomed
by then-Tucson Mayor Fred Emery and a crowd of 10,000 citizens. Congratulatory
messages were read, including one from Archbishop Cicognani, apostolic delegate
on behalf of Pope Pius XII. The locomotive was donated to the City of Tucson
immediately following this event.
 Locomotive #1673 was retired from service
in 1955 and donated to the City of Tucson, at which time it was moved to
the property of the Arizona Historical Society in Tucson. The locomotive
was in excellent running condition when donated to the City. Due to construction
at the Historical Society, it was moved to a display location at Himmel Park
in Tucson in 1962. The cost of the move was $2,800, with the City of Tucson
paying $1,800 and the Frank E. Gannett Newspaper Foundation paying $1,000
of the cost. In 1965 the locomotive was steamed up and run a short distance
on the display track at Himmel Park. #1673 was slightly damaged but repaired
within a year. In 1984 a group of Tucson businessmen spent approximately
$20,000 to perform a boiler inspection in anticipation of using the locomotive
in public excursion service between Tucson and Nogales, Arizona. Although
it was determined that an operating restoration was feasible, the project
was not pursued.
Because of the importance of railroads to the early history of Tucson, numerous
groups have attempted over the years to have the locomotive moved to a more
appropriate site for cosmetic restoration and public viewing. However, none
succeeded and the locomotive remained in Himmel Park, where it had been sitting
since 1962.
 With minimal upkeep, the old
engine began to succomb to the elements. Rust started to eat away at the
exposed metal and gauges, handles, and other parts began to disappear due
to people climbing on it. By the early 1990's, the engine was in bad shape.
It had deteriorated to the point that many thought the engine would be scrapped.
It was about this time that a group of Tucson residents decided that something
must be done quickly, or there might not be a locomotive left. The group
sprang into action and within a year, the locomotive had been listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. By 1994, the engine had been taken
apart, sandblasted, cosmetically restored, and reassembled. The engine appears
today much as it did in 1955 when it was donated to the people of Tucson.
In December of 2000, the old engine and tender were brought home to the historic
Southern Pacific depot in downtown Tucson.
The locomotive is historically significant to Tucson, the State of Arizona,
and nationally. Engine #1673 is one of only a few moguls of its class still
in existence. It is the challenge of the people of Tucson to preserve this
landmark for future generations to see and appreciate.
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