|
On December 3, 2000, at 7 am MST, Southern Pacific steam
engine #1673 was moved from Himmel Park to its new home on the grounds of
the former Southern Pacific Depot on Toole Avenue downtown.
On Friday, December 1, the chain link fences surrounding the
engine were removed for the first time in several decades.
On Saturday, December 2, the locomotive was loaded onto a large
flat bed truck. How big was the truck? Well, let's just say it was
large enough to make the locomotive look small!
On Sunday, December 3, the procession took place. The original
route was to have gone down Speedway to Campbell Avenue and then down Broadway
and through the underpass to Toole Avenue. It was then determined that
the locomotive would not be able to clear the underpass by a few inches,
so another route had to be found. 22nd Street to Euclid Avenue was
chosen as the alternate route. Several onlookers enjoyed the rare view of
an enormous piece of history traveling down Campbell Avenue.
At the completion of the move, the locomotive and tender were
ready to be winched off the flat bed trucks in their new home.

The site on the depot
grounds before the locomotive arrived, and
after. |
|
|