History

The Ventura County No. 2 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1922 as No. 107 for the Cascade Timber Company of Reliance, Washington. The engine was designed to burn coal, but as a logger she probably burned wood as well. Operations on the Cascade Timber 30-mile line ended in 1942.

The looming clouds of World War II increased the importance of the Naval Construction Battalion (Seabee) supply base at Port Hueneme, California, so the Ventura County Railway (which connected this base with the Southern Pacific at Oxnard) acquired additional locomotives. Renumbered as No. 2, the small 2-6-2 logger served impressively, helping to move war supplies needed for construction in the Pacific. She received some modifications, including a water-tank extension and reinforcement of the old arch-bar tender trucks.

After WWII, in 1947, the locomotive was sent to Southern Pacific's Bayshore Shops near San Francisco and extensively rebuilt. Most noticeably, the worn-out wooden cab was replaced with a salvaged metal one. After additional war activity in the 1950's and the emergence of diesels, the VC Railway disposed of its other steamers but stored VC2 serviceable. She saw occasional service thereafter in the late 50's and early 60's. She was steamed at Port Hueneme for the last time in February 1972, and was shipped on two flatcars to the Orange Empire Railway Museum in November 1973.

At the Museum, the locomotive was put back in service, pulling passenger trains for special events and excursions. In 1981, the tender was re-equipped with heavier arch-bar trucks, and its old wood underframe was rebuilt with steel beams. In 1995-96, the Museum's Steam Crew performed an extensive inspection of the boiler shell, repairs to staybolts and rivets, manufacture of a new boiler jacket, refurbishment of the cab and external appliances, and a complete repaint job on the engine.

2001-2006 Rebuild  -scroll down for the latest update-

VC2 has just completed its most extensive boiler refurbishment since arriving at the Museum. Following a boiler tube failure in May 2001, the decision was made to proceed with the mandated FRA boiler inspection, even though there was still some time left on the tubes. The tubes were removed from the boiler in August 2001, and in January 2002 the locomotive was moved into its new temporary home inside Carhouse Four. The jacketing and lagging was removed in February, and the process of testing boiler shell and firebox thicknesses, as well as staybolt testing, was begun. Initial indications looked very favorable, but unfortunately testing of the crownsheet (the "roof" of the firebox), revealed that several areas were nearing their minimum acceptable limits. 

The decision was made to replace the crownsheet in late 2002, and the process of fundraising began, along with the search for qualified contractors to assist with the work. Thanks to the generous response of OERM's friends and members, OERM was able to hire a well-qualified contractor to take care of the most complex repairs. Beginning in April 2004, Link and Joan Reed-Nickerson and their Chelatchie Boiler Works of Camas, Washington, were hired to provide the following services:

• Install 156 new 2" boiler tubes

• Safe-end and and install 24 superheater flues

• Repair 4 superheater units

• Install 26 superheater units

• Fabricate and install the new crown sheet

• Fabricate and install 48 flexible and 306 rigid staybolts

• Hydrostatic test boiler and prepare FRA Form 4

As Chelatchie Boiler Works completed their part of the project, the OERM Steam Crew got started on the remaining tasks. Additional projects included renewal of the hub liners on the #1 and #3 axles, work on the driving boxes and crown brasses, spring repairs, repairs to the water tank in the tender, replacing one blowdown valve and rebuilding the other, testing the safety valves, and myriad other small jobs. 

The updates below detail the progress. Scroll down for the latest updates.  
 

A disassembled VC2 in December 2003, ready for new boiler tubes and crownsheet John Smatlak photos -click to enlarge-   Update June 24, 2004: As scheduled, Chelatchie Boiler Works personnel spent several weeks at OERM during May and have nearly completed their work. The new crownsheet has been installed and all but 30 staybolts are in place. All of the boiler tubes are installed as well. The inevitable has also occurred, meaning it was necessary to expand the scope of work slightly after things were opened up. It became necessary to widen the crownsheet patch after it was discovered that the corroded portion extended out a little further than originally thought. This problem, together with some additional tube work, meant another $10,500 in costs, primarily for the additional staybolt work.  The Chelatchie crew will be back in late June to install those last 30 flexible staybolts and perform the hydro test. Our Steam Crew can then begin reassembly of the locomotive and tackling the remaining list of tasks. Thanks to everyone on the Steam Crew for their efforts, and to Link and Joan Reed-Nickerson, and B.W. and Eric Garren of Chelatchie Boiler Works. It’s really exciting to see this major job coming together at last!   VC 2 boiler work in full swing, May 2004 Joan Reed-Nickerson of Chelatchie Boiler Works talks with Brian Smith, OERM Steam Crew foreman New boiler tubes await installation, May 2004 You can help support the Ventura County No. 2's return to service by making a donation to the Museum's VC 2 Restoration Fund. A sample section of the old crown sheet. The hand points to one of the spots where corrosion has visibly reduced the thickness of the material. Here's a close-up of one of the old staybolts removed during the crownsheet work.   BW Garren at work on the rear tube sheet, May 2004 Closeup of the front tube sheet with new tubes installed, May 2004. Crown sheet patch in place, new staybolts going in, May 2004 John Smatlak photos

Update December  2004: Since completion of the major boiler repairs, the Steam Crew has been gradually reassembling the locomotive, taking on a number of other smaller, but no less critical, repairs along the way. Several projects are currently working:  Returning the cab to the locomotive, along with all of the contained components.  Repairs to the spring rigging: the crew is chasing down the source of some unusual wear on the inside of the driving tires on one side. Several springs will need to be removed from under the locomotive and repaired or replaced.  Repairs to the tender tank: the 3,000 gallon water tank has numerous leaks.  Repairs to the power reverse unit  Relapping of the throttle valve. The photos below provide a glimpse of some of the recent progress.   VC2 undergoing hydro test, June 2004 Removing the throttle valve assembly for repairs, October 2004 Another picture taken during removal of the throttle valve. Note the freshly painted backhead. The power reverse unit is also receiving some attention. November 2004 John Smatlak photos   Update April 2005: The cab was reinstalled on the locomotive in early April, along with the power reverse unit, the throttle and the throttle standpipe. Work continues on reconnecting the myriad devices inside the cab. A hot water hydro test is scheduled for late April, and if successful the superheater units will be reinstalled and the fire brick will be placed inside the firebox. Cab reinstallation in progress, April 2005 John Smatlak photos Update May 2005: The hot water hydrostatic test was successfully completed on May 21. Since the last hydrostatic test, the throttle was re-worked and reinstalled, and the leaks that showed up last time have been remedied. The test was preceded by several weekends of work on a recently donated swimming pool sized hot water heater. Additional component installation has also taken place on the locomotive. Based on the successful hydro test,  the superheater units will now be reinstalled and the fire brick will be placed inside the firebox. Jason Lamb photos   Update September 2005: Despite the heat, major progress was made during the summer on getting the VC2 ready for its return to service. All of the superheater units were reinstalled, all of the steam dome studs replaced, a leaky front blowdown valve rebuilt, and all the other little leaks detected during the last hydro test were dealt with. In September all of the smoke box and front end appliances were reinstalled. The exhaust nozzle has been returned to its proper place in the smokebox, and the smokebox netting has been repaired. As seen in the photos below, the smokebox front was reinstalled on September 17.  The cab lights have also been tested and the crew is cutting and salvaging fire brick in order to see if enough is on hand to outfit the firebox. Next up is repairs to the leaf springs and the tender. A return to operation is planned for early 2006. Superheater units installed 7/2/05 Smokebox front ready to go back on Locomotive ready to receive the smokebox front Installation of smokebox front 9/17/05   John Smatlak photos   Update February 27 2006: Thanks to the continuing efforts of our dedicated Steam Crew, the Ventura County No. 2 is rapidly approaching completion. Plans are being made for the return of steam operations during our April 22-23 Train & Trolley Festival. In January, the inside of the water tank on the tender was sandblasted and coated to extend its life. The work was done by Line-X, who apply many types of industrial linings, including linings for your pickup truck bed. Some additional painting and sealing is now being done by the Steam Crew. The oil tank will be reinstalled next and the tender will then be ready to go. In mid-February, the new leaf springs for the locomotive suspension arrived, and those are now being installed along with the overhauled spring rigging.   Since our last update, a great many additional parts have also been reinstalled on the locomotive, along with new lagging and the boiler jacket. The three air reservoirs have been successfully hydro tested and are in the process of being reinstalled, and a new bronze base was fabricated for one of the safety valves. Thanks to everyone who's been pitching in to complete the project, especially Brian Smith, Jack Corrick, Mel Johnson, Randy and Daniel Parks, Dan Wheeler, Linc and Joan Reed-Nickerson, Bob Thompson, and Jeff and Bill Lamb, and to all who have been providing financial support. We'll be hearing that lonesome whistle very soon! Steam Crew volunteer Bob Thompson applies new boiler lagging.  Reinstallation of the boiler jacket nears completion. December 2005 John Smatlak photos   Update April 17 2006: Number 2 should be back in action very shortly. Since our last update, the FRA inspector witnessed an additional hydro test, and all of the related paperwork has been processed, and the crew has been working hard to complete reassembly. As of the weekend of April 15, the very last reassembly work was being completed, the tender was fueled and mated back up with the locomotive, and a test firing should is scheduled for later in the week of the 17th. Thanks to the continuing efforts of our dedicated Steam Crew, and the generous financial support of OERM friends and members, steam should return to Southern California this coming weekend for our April 22-23 Train & Trolley Festival.   Hanging the headlight back on the locomotive 4/15/06 Outside for final assembly 4/15/06 Awaiting the return of the tender (being fueled while this photo was taken) 4/15/06 John Smatlak photos   Update April 24 2006: Locomotive number 2 returned to service during the Museum's annual Train & Trolley Festival. Some safety valve issues led to the cancellation of Saturday's planned runs, but on Sunday the locomotive was pulling passenger trainloads of happy passengers. The photos below provide highlights of the big event. Thanks to the financial support of our many friends and members and the dedication of OERM's Steam Crew, steam is back! Watch this website for information on the next appearance. Back in steam, late Saturday 4/22/05        Volunteer machinist Mel Johnson watches the progress Saturday night    Final checks and adjustments continued well into the night     First passenger run, Sunday Morning 4/23/06 under picture perfect skies      Thanks to the generous financial support of our friends and members, and the dedication of OERM's Steam Crew, Steam is Back!       John Smatlak photos

Ventura County No. 2 Technical Data