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CTCRy #555 (ex-Oregon, Pacific & Eastern #55, exx-Magma Arizona RR #5) is an oil-fired Consolidation (2-8-0), built in October 1922 by the American Locomotive Company (Alco) plant in Dunkirk, NY (builder's # 36549). She weighs 96 tons, has a 54.5 square foot fire grate and operates at 190 pounds of steam pressure. The combined engine and tender are 66' 4" long. Maximum width is 11' across the cab and maximum height is 14' 8" from the top of the cab to the top of the rail. A Consolidation has two pilot wheels in front, 8 driving wheels (51 inch diameter) and no trailing wheels. This was a freight dragging engine with lots of power but not much speed. Also note that the boiler is mounted very high relative to the frame and wheels; you can see a lot of daylight between the frame and boiler. This is to allow for the very large firebox. #555 has the headlight mounted on the front of the smokebox. On top are the smokestack, sand dome, bell, steam dome, and generator which is right in front of the cab. Mounted on the right side of the boiler is the power reverse which is steam operated. The compressor is on the left side of the boiler. Note that the tender behind 555 has a cylindrical water tank rather than being boxy. This type is called a Vanderbilt tender after the designer, Cornelius Vanderbilt. The tender holds 7,000 gallons of water and 3,500 gallons of fuel oil. 555 operated during most of her life for the Magma Arizona Railroad in Magma, Arizona as engine #5. She pulled ore cars from the copper mines at Superior, Arizona, to Magma Junction, where they interchanged with Southern Pacific, and carried mine supplies back to Superior. She was one of the last steam locomotives in revenue service in the United States, and was not replaced by diesels until 3 September 1968, when she made the last steam run for Magma. She has starred in several television commercials and movies. The Museum purchased 555 from the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railway in 1978. Photos of #555 in revenue service on the Magma Railroad may be seen in publications by Sims (1961) and Burton (1988).
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