Press release:
Friday, December 6th, 2019 Steam Returns to the Placerville Branch for the First Time Since 1957
FOLSOM, CA – Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad will operate a steam locomotive, Santa Cruz Portland Cement #2, known as “The Chiggen”, for excursion train rides in the 2020 season. A contract has been signed between P&SVRR and the locomotive’s owner, Efstathios Pappas, to lease the engine to the railroad for 15 years.
Jerry Berneu, President of Berneu Development Corp, generously donated the cost of transporting this locomotive from it’s current residence in Washington state to her new home in Folsom, CA. Mr. Berneu is also constructing the roundhouse restaurant building in the Folsom Historic District, the future home of Scott’s Seafood and Williamette Wineworks. The railroad welcomes additional donations to assist with the initial costs for establishing it’s steam program.
The historic Placerville branch line last saw a steam locomotive on the tracks in 1957 during an excursion originating in Oakland, CA, now 62 years ago.
Placerville & Sacramento Valley railroad is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving California’s rich railroad history, whose volunteers operate scenic train excursions year-round on portions of Southern Pacific Railroad’s historic Placerville Branch between Folsom and Latrobe, CA. Since it’s founding in 2008, ridership has grown rapidly and the program now serves over 7,000 passengers annually. About SCPC #2 “The Chiggen”
Built in 1909 by H. K. Porter, this oil-burning 0-4-0 standard gauge tank engine served Santa Cruz Portland Cement Co. in Davenport, CA as well as Bechtel Kaiser Rock Co. in Oroville, CA. Affectionately known as “The Chiggen”, the locomotive was used as a billboard for a fried chicken restaurant for over 30 years in Stockton, CA before it wa