Chehalis-Centralia Railroad: CC&C 2-8-2 #15

This brings us to the steam locomotive.

Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade 2-8-2 #15

Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade #15

Builder	Baldwin Locomotive Works
Builder Number	44106
Wheel Arrangement	2-8-2
Delivered	September 1916
Tractive Effort	35,425 lbs.
Steam Pressure	170 psi
Cylinder Diameter	20.5 in.
Cylinder Stroke	28 in.
Driving Wheel Diameter	48 in.
Weight of Engine	174,650 lbs.
Weight on Drivers	138,500 lbs.

Builder’s Plate

Number Plate

The locomotive was built for the Clear Lake Lumber Company, based in Clear Lake, Skagit County, Washington. The locomotive was lettered for the Puget Sound & Cascade Railway Company (presumably a wholly owned subsidiary of the Clear Lake Lumber Company) as their #200. It was later repossessed by Baldwin in 1926 as Clear Lake Lumber and the Puget Sound & Cascade had gone into bankruptcy. It was resold to the Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade, and become their #15. It was donated to the city of Chehalis in 1955 and placed on display in a park. In 1986, the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Association was formed to restore #15. Beginning in 1987, it was restored to operating condition at the shops of the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, and scheduled excursions began in the summer of 1989.

Whenever another steam locomotive comes through Chehalis, the CCRA group typically runs #15 out to a point where the excursion train's route parallels the BNSF main line to greet the visitor. I had expected this to happen with this trip as well, and would have liked to beto be there if it did. However, I knew #15 had a scheduled run that day, and the doubleheader was running several hours late, so it might not happen. Plus, I thought I might still be behind the doubleheader when I went through Chehalis. As it turned out, #15 was waiting for the doubleheader, and they exchanged whistle signals as the doubleheader passed. If I had realized I was ahead of the doubleheader, I could have stopped and witnessed it. Oh well.

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