Reborn on the Third of July!

Okay, so it's not a title you'd expect to see Tom Cruise starring in.

But on July 3rd of 2010, a machine that is perhaps the most photographed locomotive in the world returned to the land of the living. Following a 14-year, $1.4 million overhaul, Sierra Railway # 3 rolled out of the back shop and onto active rail once again, looking fit and spry for a lady of 119 years.

Much of Tuolumne County was on hand that morning for a rechristening ceremony fit for a Hollywood superstar.

(Cameo appearances by Shay # 2 and the Sonora and Columbia Historic Volunteer Fire Brigades.)

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Sierra
• Railroad
• Railway
• Number
• Three
• Restoration
• Rebuild
• Steam
• Train
• Locomotive

[hlbatesjr]

She is beautiful. I cannot wait to come back home to Tuolumne County to she her once again.

[Nutzkie2001]

@hlbatesjr

Hopefully by then they'll have the whistle fixed. I don't know what the deal was exactly, but it sounded like a cracked chime barrel. As it stands, the old girl sounds like she's got a serious case of laryngitis.

[SierraRailway]

Yeah Steve, I heard from Dave that you were around and later on hiking the tracks at Bell mooney, also what me and Spfilms4449 did, but I was looking for you in the straw hat, and I couldn't find you. where were you hiding?

[Nutzkie2001]

@SierraRailway

I was posted up about a quarter mile west of the crossing, down past that deep cut that the tracks duck into. It's away from the crowds, the scenery is good, and there's a private crossing that they whistle off for.

It's a decent grade through there as well, so on top of everything else you get some nice stack chatter.

[spfilms4449]

nice video! i was there to i love the part at the end when the 3 went over the cam!

[Nutzkie2001]

@spfilms4449

Ah yes!  The classic "Belly of the Beast" shot.

I was actually somewhat worried about that shot as I was setting it up. That camera cost me about a grand, and those steam lines can hang down pretty darn low.

To get the necessary vertical clearance, I had to remove the camera's auxiliary microphone. (Notice how the wind noise is more pronounced than in the other clips.)

[trainboy94]

Well I kinda left the live steamers, and am now a volunteer at Railtown, one of the best places in the world

[steamboy51]

that whistle sounds a bit anemic!