Wickenburg, Arizona is possibly the west’s most western town.
Standing proudly and leading the way in front of the old Santa Fe depot (now the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce) on Frontier Street sits old #761, a 2-8-0 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Steam Locomotive which pounded the rails between Chicago and the west.
The first 2-8-0 was built by Matthias Baldwin in 1866 and approximately 23,000 2-8-0’s were built for use in the USA & 12,000 for export. With a relatively small firebox and a driver area no larger than 63 inches limited both the steaming capacity and speed.
#761 was from Boulder City, Nevada and moved from Wickenburg’s Stone Park in 2003 to present location.
Also on display with #761 is Southern Pacific’s wood #604 cupola, Class C-30-3 caboose, which was built in 1929. When active, this caboose saw service between Montana and California & all points in between. This Wickenburg drover caboose was purchased and restored by the Wellik Foundation.
Submitted by phOTOGRAPH_oF_tHE_dAY
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