Homestake Mine #12

In the early 80's, Homestake donated their Porter built #12 to the 18" gauge steam powered Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad in Los Gatos,California. Myself and another naive college student transported the 10,000# loco in a "box" rental truck. The intent was to use the air locomotive for work train duty. Unfortunately, the loco would have required larger compressor system than BJWRR could afford (1000 psi!). The #12 became surplus after a dismal locomotive was purchased about a decade later. Later, I arranged for the air locomotive to be given to the California State Railroad Museum where it remains stored. Nonetheless, we had a lot of fun spining the air loco's 24" drivers on shop air; however, the track crew winced everytime the #12's drivers ran on top of the flange ways of each switch!