Portola, California, September 2, 1931. My mother-to-be posed by my father-to-be in front of Western Pacific 2-8-8-2 articulated locomotive #256. WP articulated locomotives were known to employees of that railroad as a "Malley," for Anatole Mallet, who invented the compound articulated locomotive; WP "Malleys" were articulated but not compound. The standard reference for Western Pacific steam locomotives lists a build date of 1938 for #256. This is probably incorrect, as the builder's number is one past WP #255, and the official road diagrams list Road Class 251 followed by Road Class 257, which puts #256 in the earlier group. Taken out of service in 1950 and scrapped in 1952. View full size.
Portola, California, September 2, 1931. My mother-to-be posed by my father-to-be in front of Western Pacific 2-8-8-2 articulated locomotive #256. WP articulated locomotives were known to employees of that railroad as a "Malley," for Anatole Mallet, who invented the compound articulated locomotive; WP "Malleys" were articulated but not compound. The standard reference for Western Pacific steam locomotives lists a build date of 1938 for #256. This is probably incorrect, as the builder's number is one past WP #255, and the official road diagrams list Road Class 251 followed by Road Class 257, which puts #256 in the earlier group. Taken out of service in 1950 and scrapped in 1952. | Click image for Comments. | Home | Browse All Photos