Where is No. 4?
Under restoration next to the old Bayshore Roundhouse.
What makes No. 4 special?
No. 4 has a number of distinctions:
- According to Pacific News, this was the largest Vulcan Iron Works steam locomotive “known to exist anywhere” when it emerged from the scrapyard in the Seventies
- The only one of the State Belt’s steam locomotives known to survive
- Subjective, but we would argue that No. 4’s wild journey through history is in and of itself a noteworthy distinction
- Certain mechanical and aesthetic details (such as the one-piece cylinder and valve head covers) on No. 4 are not seen often among preserved locomotives
On the Belt’s roster specifically, No. 4 stood out from the crowd:
- Their only locomotive not built by Baldwin or ALCo
- Their only steam locomotive which had piston valves (the smaller “cylinders” on top of the cylinders, in contrast to the boxy slide valves which the Belt’s other steamers had)
- Their lightest 0-6-0 (even lighter than one of the 0-4-2Ts!)
When will the restoration be complete?
At current pace, it will be quite a while before No.4 will be operable again. See our blog for restoration updates. Alternatively, see our page on how you can help – more volunteers are always appreciated.
Where will No. 4 run?
Undetermined. The Bayshore Roundhouse is its most likely place of long-term residence, but it will need to be trucked out to elsewhere for operation if an operational track isn’t part of the deal.
What fuel did No. 4 burn?
Crude oil or heavy fuel oil (roughly equivalent to “Bunker C”).
(Confused? We have a page on oil-burning steam locomotives.)
What fuel will No. 4 burn?
Undetermined beyond “liquid hydrocarbon” at this stage of the restoration, though we aren’t short on options. Commonly available substitutes for fossil oil include waste vegetable oil and molasses.
I heard that No. 4 was Vulcan’s first oil burner, is that correct?
You probably heard that from us… which is why we regret to inform you that we were mistaken. Our bad! There are still a few lingering questions about Vulcan and oil burners, though. We have a write-up about this goof-up on our page about oil burners.