Cowlitz, Chehalis and Cascade Railway 15

Cowlitz, Chehalis and Cascade Railway 15
No. 15 awaiting to depart with an excursion train, July 8, 2006
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number44106
Build dateSeptember 1916
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-2
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.63 in (1.600 m)
Loco weight174,650 lb (79.2 t)
Fuel typeOil
Boiler pressure180 psi (1.24 MPa)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size26.5 in × 30 in (673 mm × 762 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort35,000 lbf (155.7 kN)
Career
Operators
Class200
Numbers
  • PSCR 200
  • CC&C 15
NicknamesOld Lady
Retired1955
RestoredApril 28, 1989
Current ownerChehalis–Centralia Railroad Association
DispositionUndergoing boiler repairs
References:[1][2]

Cowlitz, Chehalis and Cascade Railway 15 is a 200 class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotive, built in 1916 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) for the Clear Lake Lumber Company (CLLC). It is preserved and operated by the Chehalis–Centralia Railroad (CHTX).

History

The locomotive was built in September 1916 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) as Puget Sound and Cascade Railway No. 200 for the Clear Lake Lumber Company (CLLC), were it spent many years hauling logging trains on Clear Lake's mainline until the Clear Lake Lumber Company went bankrupt.[3][1][4][5] In 1926, it was sold to the Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade Railway (CC&C) and was renumbered to No. 15, there, it continued hauling logging trains for the next twenty-nine years.[3][5]

It was retired from revenue service in 1955 and was donated to the City of Chehalis who preserved it for static display at Recreation Park, were it remained on display for the next thirty-one years and because known locally as the "Old Lady".[1][3][6][2][5]

In 1986, the Chehalis–Centralia Railroad Association was formed and approached the City of Chehalis and asked about purchasing and restoring the No. 15 to operating condition for tourist excursions.[3][7][8][6] It was eventually removed from display and moved into the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad's (MRSR) Mineral Shops were restoration work officially began.[9][3][5]

On April 28, 1989, restoration was completed and No. 15 moved under its own power for the first time in thirty-four years.[5] On April 30, the engine was coupled between Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad 5 and F9 No. 7012A and ran a 66-mile excursion to Chehalis Western's ex-Milwaukee Road Western Junction trackage.[5]

On May 19, No. 15 hauled a mixed train over the portion of MRSR's leased trackage to Elbe, the following day, the engine ran a special excursion from Fredrick Junction to Chehalis in preparation to begin its tourist operating service with the Chehalis–Centralia Railroad (CHTX).[5]

It officially began hauling excursion trains in the summer of that year, over 10-miles of the ex-Milwaukee Road, a Weyerhaeuser Timber Company-owned trackage.[3][2][5] In 2016, No. 15 celebrated its 100th birthday.[10][1]

In 2019, No. 15 was found to have major boiler damage and could no longer be steamed safely, it was taken out of service to undergo major boiler repairs with an estimated cost of $1 million to return it to operation again.[11][12] As of 2026, work is still underway.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Happy Birthday to Engine No. 15, one of Chehalis' oldest residents". The Olympian News. September 12, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c Anders, Kurt F. (April 2007). "1 man, 1 locomotive, 70 years together!". Trains. 67 (4): 56–57.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "2-8-2 "Mikado" Steam Locomotives in the USA Puget Sound & Cascade". steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  4. ^ "Trainmaster" (PDF). pnwc-nrhs.org. February 1967. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Railnews — After 30 Years". Railfan & Railroad. Vol. 8, no. 9. Carstens Publications. September 1989. p. 40. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  6. ^ a b Blomdahl, George (May 3, 1969). "'Mr. Sign Man' Of Chehalis To Retire". The Daily Chronicle. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  7. ^ "Chehalis - Centralia Railroad" (PDF). Steamtrainride.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  8. ^ "Washington state heritage railroad suspends operations". Trains.com. March 7, 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2025. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  9. ^ Kim, Gina (July 17, 2003). "Chehalis train ride nurtures nostalgic dreams of steam". The Seattle Times. p. G6. NewsBank 0FC5FA2AD3D7602F. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  10. ^ Dickson, Amelia (September 12, 2016). "Community treasure - Happy 100th birthday to Chehalis' Engine No. 15 - It's a well-loved relic from the long-gone age of steam". The Olympian. p. 1A. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  11. ^ Fitzgerald, Celene (November 6, 2019). "Steam Train Still Out of Commission, Needs $150,000 in Repairs". The Chronicle. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  12. ^ a b Sexton, Owen (June 18, 2025). "Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum president looks back on five years of overcoming hurdles". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 7, 2025. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  13. ^ Wenzelberger, Jared (October 25, 2022). "In Focus: Sparks Fly as Repairs to Engine 15 Continue in Chehalis". The Chronicle. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

Further reading

  • Railroad History Issues 196-199. Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. 2007. p. 64.
  • Kalmbach Publishing Company, Books Division (1997). Steam Passenger Service Directory, 1997. Kalmbach Publishing Co. Staff. p. 343. ISBN 978-0890243091.
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