{{short description|Preserved SP M-6 class 2-6-0 locomotive}} {{Cleanup|reason=The article has full of unreliable sources.|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox locomotive | name = Southern Pacific 1744 | image = File:Southern Pacific 1744 USA, Rio Grande.jpg | caption = No. 1744 hauling an excursion train on the [[Rio Grande Scenic Railroad]] on September 21, 2007 | powertype = Steam | builder = [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] | serialnumber = 19671 | buildmodel = M-63 21/28 150-S | builddate = November 1901 | totalproduction = | rebuilddate = 1912 | whytetype = {{whyte|2-6-0}} | uicclass = 1'C'h | gauge = {{track gauge|ussg}} | driverdiameter = {{convert|63|in|abbr=on}} | wheelbase = {{convert|51.29|ft|abbr=on}} | engine total = {{convert|23.67|ft|abbr=on}} | drivers = {{convert|15.17|ft|abbr=on}} | weightondrivers = {{convert|144,120|lbs|abbr=on}} | locoweight = {{convert|166,300|lbs|abbr=on}} {{small|(Pre-1912)}}<br/>{{convert|174,000|lbs|abbr=on}} {{small|(Post-1912)}} | tenderweight = {{convert|100,000|lbs|abbr=on}} | locotenderweight = {{convert|266,300|lbs|abbr=on}} {{small|(Pre-1912)}}<br/>{{convert|274,000|lbs|abbr=on}} {{small|(Post-1912)}} | tendertype = 100-C-1 | fueltype = {{plainlist| * ''New:'' [[Coal]] * ''Now:'' [[Fuel oil|Oil]] }} | fuelcap = {{ubl|Coal: {{convert|12|t|abbr=in}}|Oil: {{convert|2800|gal|abbr=on}}}} | watercap = {{ubl|''New:'' {{convert|6,000|gal|abbr=on}}|''Now:'' {{convert|10,000|gal|abbr=on}}}} | firearea = {{convert|49.50|sqft|abbr=on}} | boilerpressure = {{convert|200|lbs|abbr=on}} | fireboxarea = {{convert|160.32|sqft|abbr=on}} {{small|(Pre-1912)}}<br/>{{convert|162|sqft|abbr=on}} {{small|(Post-1912)}} | cylindercount = Two, outside | cylindersize = {{convert|21|x|28|in|mm|abbr=on}} {{small|(Post-1912)}} | valvetype = [[Piston valves]] | locobrakes = [[Railway air brake|Air]] | trainbrakes = Air | coupling = Knuckle | hpcylindersize = {{convert|15.5|x|28|in|mm|abbr=on}} {{small|(Pre-1912)}} | lpcylindersize = {{convert|26|x|28|in|mm|abbr=on}} {{small|(Pre-1912)}} | valvegear = [[Stephenson valve gear|Stephenson]] | tractiveeffort = {{convert|33,320|lbs|abbr=on}} | factorofadhesion = 4.51 | operator = {{ubl|[[Southern Pacific Railroad]]|[[Heber Valley Railroad]]|[[Rio Grande Pacific Corporation]]|[[Rio Grande Scenic Railroad]]|[[Niles Canyon Railway]]}} | operatorclass = M-6 | fleetnumbers = {{ubl|SP 1744|FW&W 1744|NO&GC 1744|SL&RG 1744}} | nicknames = {{ubl|''Valley Mallet''|''The Big Easy Steam Train'' {{small|(By NO&GC crews)}}}} | retiredate = {{plainlist| * September 24, 1956 {{small|(revenue service)}} * May 4, 1958 {{small|(1st excursion service)}} * December 3, 1989 {{small|(2nd excursion service)}} * May 12, 2001 {{small|(3rd excursion service)}} * October 2007 {{small|(4th excursion service)}} }} | preservedunits = May 9, 1959 | restoredate = {{plainlist| * 1957 {{small|(1st excursion service)}} * September 1980 {{small|(2nd excursion service)}} * September 2, 2000 {{small|(3rd excursion service)}} * May 21, 2007 {{small|(4th excursion service)}} }} | currentowner = [[Pacific Locomotive Association]] | disposition = Undergoing restoration to operating condition | notes = Reference:<ref name=":0"/> }} '''Southern Pacific 1744''' is a preserved M-6 class {{whyte|2-6-0}} "Mogul" type [[steam locomotive]], built by the [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] (BLW) for the [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific Railroad]] (SP) in November 1901. Originally equipped with [[Vauclain compound|Vauclain compound cylinders]], it was rebuilt with conventional [[Cylinder (locomotive)|cylinders]] in 1912. It operated for many years out of [[Oakland, California]] on the Southern Pacific's Western Division and in [[Central Valley (California)|California's Central Valley]] where the locomotive and its classmates were fondly called "Valley Mallets" by their crews.
The locomotive was made famous in later years by pulling some of the last steam excursions on the SP alongside other steam locomotives, including [[4-8-4]] [[Southern Pacific 4460|4460]]. In 1959, No. 1744 was donated to the [[Sons of Utah Pioneers]] in [[Corinne, Utah]] where it remained on static display, until 1980. That year, it was restored by New London Railroad and Village Incorporated to operate on the [[Heber Valley Railroad]] (HVRX) in [[Heber City, Utah|Heber City]] for the rest of the decade.
In 1989, it was sold to Tarantula Corporation for a rebuild that never came to fruition, and it spent another decade in storage in [[Fort Worth, Texas]]. In 1999, it was sold again the [[Rio Grande Pacific Corporation]], and it was rebuilt to operate in [[New Orleans, Louisiana]] until 2001. It was eventually sold once again to [[Iowa Pacific Holdings]] for use on the [[Rio Grande Scenic Railroad]] between [[Alamosa, Colorado|Alamosa]] and [[La Veta, Colorado]].
Its fourth return to service only lasted less than a year, as [[Firebox (steam engine)|firebox]] repairs needed to be done for the locomotive. The boiler was sent to several out of state facilities for repairs, until the Rio Grande Scenic ceased operations. In March 2020, the [[Pacific Locomotive Association]] purchased No. 1744 with the hopes of bringing it back to service on the [[Niles Canyon Railway]] in [[Sunol, California]].
==History== ===Construction and revenue service=== Between 1882 and 1930, the [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific Railroad]] (SP) purchased a total of 438 distinctive M-class [[2-6-0]] "Moguls" for themselves and their subsidiary companies, such as the [[Texas and New Orleans Railroad]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arizona & New Mexico / Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio / Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe / Northwestern Pacific / Ohio River & Columbus / San Antonio & Aransas Pass / South Pacific Coast / Southern Pacific / Southern Pacific of Mexico / Texas & New Orleans 2-6-0 "Mogul" Locomotives in the USA|url=https://www.steamlocomotive.com/locobase.php?country=USA&wheel=2-6-0&railroad=sp|access-date=2020-12-30|website=www.steamlocomotive.com}}</ref> The Moguls they purchased were built by several manufacturers: 131 units from the [[Cooke Locomotive and Machine Works]] in [[Paterson, New Jersey]], 9 units from the [[New York Locomotive Works]] in [[Jersey City, New Jersey]], 33 units from the [[Brooks Locomotive Works]] in [[Buffalo, New York]], 7 units from the [[Rhode Island Locomotive Works]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], 7 units from the [[Pittsburgh Locomotive and Car Works]] in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], 24 units from the [[Schenectady Locomotive Works]] in [[Schenectady, New York]], 190 units from the [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, a single unit from the [[Lima Locomotive Works]] in [[Lima, Ohio]] and 36 units built by the SP's own facilities in [[Sacramento, California]] and [[Houston]], [[Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Southern Pacific 'Mogul' Class Steam Locomotive Index|url=http://espee.railfan.net/sp_steam_mogul.html|access-date=2020-12-30|website=espee.railfan.net}}</ref>
No. 1744 was the 20th member of the M-6 class built by Baldwin and delivered to the SP in November 1901.<ref name=":0" /> The locomotive and its classmates started out as [[Vauclain compound]] [[High-pressure steam locomotive|high-pressure locomotives]], as in the turn of the 20th century, this design became very popular with various [[Railroad classes|class 1 railroads]], including the SP. However, the popularity was short-lived. Significant maintenance difficulties appeared, particularly with uneven forces wear on the crosshead guides.
The two [[Cylinder (locomotive)|cylinders]] were supposed to be proportioned so as to do equal work (with the low pressure being three times larger than the high); but since the steam passed between the low and high-pressure cylinder is always expanded, even before cutoff, the force produced in the low-pressure cylinder varies differently from that in the high-pressure cylinder. The complex valve assembly and the starter valve also led to increased maintenance costs, as they caused the locomotive's [[coal]] and [[water]] economy to be so good that they were also pricy to operate. As a result of this, the SP chose to rebuild all their compound Moguls between 1907 and 1914, with No. 1744 rebuilt in 1912, with conventional cylinders.<ref name=":0" /> Shortly afterwards, they were modified with [[superheater|superheated flue]]s.<ref name=":0" />
These locomotives were mainly assigned for [[Rail freight transport|freight service]], with No. 1744 operating out of [[Oakland, California|Oakland]] on the SP Western Division and in [[Central Valley (California)|California's Central Valley]]. Despite no longer being compound locomotives, the Moguls were still fondly nicknamed by their crews "Valley Mallets". On October 7, 1954, the 1744's old 6,000 gallon [[Tender (rail)|tender]] was replaced with a 10,000 gallon class 100-C-1 tender for an increase of water capacity.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}}
As {{whyte|4-6-0}}s and {{whyte|2-8-0}}s became more reliable in completing certain assignments, along with locomotives with longer [[wheel arrangement]]s being introduced, the 2-6-0s were all relegated work in [[branch line]]s and [[rail yard]]s across the SP system.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warner|first=Paul T.|date=1959|title=Mogul Type Locomotives|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43520224|journal=The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin|issue=100|pages=7–22|jstor=43520224|issn=0033-8842}}</ref> The railroad started retiring their little moguls as early as 1928, when the first M-7s were already sold for [[scrap]]. The 2-6-0s would retire more frequently as the SP began to fully [[Dieselisation|dieselize]]. No. 1744 was among the last steam locomotives on the railroad to be removed from revenue service, as it pulled its last revenue freight train for the SP in Sacramento on September 24, 1956.<ref name=":0" />
Between 1951 and 1958, by the approval of the railroad's president [[Donald J. Russell|Donald J. Russel]], the SP used their steam locomotives for a series of "Farewell to Steam" [[Excursion train|excursions]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Stindt|first=Fred A.|date=1983|title=The Last Days of Southern Pacific Steam|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43520976|journal=Railroad History|issue=149|pages=100–113|jstor=43520976|issn=0090-7847}}</ref> They selected multiple steam locomotives that were still on their active roster for the fan trips, including No. 1744, 1896-built T-1 class 4-6-0 "ten wheeler" No. 2248, P-8 {{whyte|4-6-2}} "Pacific" No. 2475, [[Southern Pacific class GS-4|GS-4]] {{whyte|4-8-4}} No. 4443, [[Southern Pacific class GS-6|GS-6]] 4-8-4 No. [[Southern Pacific 4460|4460]], SP-2 [[4-10-2]] "Southern Pacific" type No. 5011 and [[Southern Pacific class AC-11|AC-11]] {{whyte|4-8-8-2}} [[Cab forward]] No. 4274. On May 4, 1958, No. 4460 was assigned to pull the Oakland-Sacramento Senator plus an extra string of Harriman type [[Passenger car (rail)|passenger cars]] for an excursion over the 34-mile [[Sutter Basin|Sutter-Basin]] branch North of Sacramento.<ref name=":0"/>
As the train approached [[Davis, California|Davis]], it was handed over to No. 1744, which pulled the train on the rest of the journey to the end of the little-used [[Knights Landing, California|Knights Landing]] branch, a signpost lettered "Josephine", where until that time, there had never been a [[passenger]] train in that area. That was the last time No. 1744 was operated by the Southern Pacific, before its fire was dropped one last time.<ref name=":0" /> No. 4460 would pull the final excursions before being retired on October 31 of that same year, and No. 2248 remained on the active list until May 3, 1961.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}
===Early retirement=== Of all the steam locomotives that pulled the farewell to steam excursions, only Numbers 1744, 2248, and 4460 are preserved.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The National Museum of Transportation|url=https://tnmot.org/|access-date=2021-01-01|website=National Museum of Transportation|language=en-US}}</ref> No. 4460 has remained on static display at the [[National Museum of Transportation]] in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], as the ''Forgotten Daylight'', whereas No. 2248 has been restored to operational status on the [[Grapevine Vintage Railroad]] in [[Tarrant County, Texas|Tarrant County]], [[Texas]], as ''Puffy'' since 1993, but is currently undergoing a 1,472-day overhaul.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grapevine Vintage Railroad {{!}} Schedule & Tickets Here|url=https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/grapevine-vintage-railroad/|access-date=2021-01-01|website=www.grapevinetexasusa.com|language=en-us}}</ref> On April 18, 1959, the Southern Pacific donated No. 1744 to the [[Sons of Utah Pioneers]], and the locomotive was moved to their grounds in [[Corinne, Utah|Corinne]], [[Utah]] on May 9, where it remained on static display for the next twenty-one years.<ref name=":0"/>
===Heber Valley Railroad excursion service=== [[File:WMR 1744 Deer Creek Dam Aug 1982xRP (6900814917).jpg|left|thumb|No. 1744 when it operated on the Heber Creeper, 1982]] On April 22, 1980, No. 1744 was purchased by the New London and Village Incorporation, and it was moved by [[truck]] to [[Heber City, Utah|Heber City]], where it was given a major rebuild in the locomotive shops. In the [[Labor Day]] weekend of that year, No. 1744 was back under steam and was ready to operate on the [[Heber Valley Railroad|Heber Creeper]] [[Heritage railway|Tourist Railroad]] (HVRX).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Heber Valley Railroad – Great Experiences Await|url=https://www.hebervalleyrr.org/|access-date=2021-01-03|language=en-US}}</ref> There, No. 1744 would operate alongside some other active steam locomotives, including [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]] 2-8-0 No. [[Union Pacific 618|618]], [[Sierra Railroad|Sierra Railway]] [[2-8-2]] "Mikado" No. 36, and [[Santa Maria Valley Railroad|Santa Maria Valley]] 2-8-2 No. 100. No. 1744 would also perform some famous doubleheaders with the other locomotives, which would also only happen on Labor Day weekends. As the decade progressed, however, the Heber Creeper was running into some financial trouble, and they slowly struggled to operate any more trains. No. 1744 made its last run in Heber on December 3, 1989, when it pulled the Santa Claus Express, and its fire was dropped once again and put into storage.<ref name=":0"/>
Citizens in the Heber area successfully petitioned the State of Utah to help save the railroad, leading to the creation of the Heber Valley Historic Railroad Authority in the early 1990s. By that time, however, No. 1744 was auctioned off to Tarantula Corporation. It was moved by truck to [[Ogden, Utah|Ogden]], and then moved by rail East-bound to [[Fort Worth, Texas]], where it was re-lettered [[Fort Worth and Western Railroad|Fort Worth and Western]] (FWWR). There were plans to operate the locomotive to pull the FWWR's Tarantula excursion trains. However, such plans have fallen through, and No. 1744 instead spent the rest of the decade in storage at Fort Worth.<ref name=":0"/>
On May 21, 1999, No. 1744 was sold to the [[Rio Grande Pacific Corporation]] (RGP), who gave it a thorough overhaul beginning in January 2000 at a combined purchase and rebuild cost of [[United States dollar|$]]1.3 million.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://rgpc.com/|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Rio Grande Pacific Corporation|language=en-US}}</ref> No. 1744 was test fired and returned to service, operating over FWWR trackage on September 9, 2000, and throughout the rest of the month, it was used for various test runs while pulling passenger cars, until it was approved to operate by the [[Federal Railroad Administration]] (FRA) on September 30.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Orleans & Gulf Coast 1744 |url=http://www.trainweb.org/southwestshorts/nogc1744.html |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=www.trainweb.org}}</ref> It was subsequently moved via flatcar to [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]] in November of that year.
=== NO&GC stewardship === The Locomotive made its official inaugural run the following month for the Burlington Rock Island Historical Society, and subsequently, it started pulling regular weekend passenger trains between [[Belle Chasse, Louisiana|Belle Chasse]] and [[Gretna, Louisiana|Gretna]] on one of the RGP's subsidiaries, the [[New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railway]] (NOGC).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sires Photography: Trains: Louisiana: New Orleans: New Orleans & Gulf Coast|url=https://www.angelfire.com/la2/siresphotos/trains/no/best/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=[[Angelfire]]}}</ref> With no way to turn the locomotive each run, No. 1744 would operate forwards to Gretna, and one or two [[Electro-Motive Diesel|EMD]] [[EMD FP9|FP10]] [[Diesel locomotive|diesel units]] would pull the train back to Belle Chasse with No. 1744 pushing the train tender-first. As the only steam locomotive to operate on that line, the locomotive was earned the nickname "''The Big Easy Steam Train''".<ref name=":0"/> May 12, 2001 was the last day No. 1744 operated under RGP ownership, and as [[patronage]] was downgraded, the locomotive was again put into storage in New Orleans for the next six years. It was undamaged in spite of [[Hurricane Katrina]] in 2005.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Hurricane Katrina|url=https://www.history.com/topics/natural-disasters-and-environment/hurricane-katrina|access-date=2021-01-03|website=HISTORY|date=9 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
=== SL&RG service === [[File:1744 July 21 2nd 078x4 (12873548313).jpg|thumb|No. 1744 climbing to Sierra in Forbes Park, 2007]] On March 21, 2007, No. 1744 was purchased by [[Iowa Pacific Holdings]] (IPH), which owned and operated the newly opened [[Rio Grande Scenic Railroad]] (RGSR) that operated on [[San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad|San Luis and Rio Grande]] (SL&RG) trackage. On May 9 of the same year, No. 1744 was moved to [[Alamosa, Colorado|Alamosa]], [[Colorado]], where it was rebuilt and returned to service again, it operated on a test run pulling ten loaded [[boxcar]]s thirteen days later on May 22. Beginning on May 25, the locomotive pulled excursion trains on the Scenic line between Alamosa and [[La Veta, Colorado|La Veta]], and it would also often travel South-bound to [[Antonito, Colorado|Antonito]] where passengers could connect with the [[Narrow-gauge railway|3-foot gauge]] [[Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://cumbrestoltec.com/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad|language=en-US}}</ref>
No. 1744 would only operate on the SL&RG for four months, before its fire was again dropped. This time, it was due to the fact its [[Firebox (steam engine)|firebox]] was in need of extensive repairs. In the beginning of 2008, disassembly began within the Alamosa yard, and with No. 1744 out of service again, IPH chose to acquire another operable steam locomotive for the trips: Ex-[[Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad|Lake Superior and Ishpeming]] 2-8-0 [[Lake Superior and Ishpeming 18|18]], a 1910-built locomotive that has been restored for excursion service since 1989. No. 18 was found to be a more powerful locomotive that had more traction and was easier to operate, compared to No. 1744.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}
Soon, No. 1744's [[Fire-tube boiler|boiler]] was separated from the [[Locomotive frame|frame]], and it was shipped to Historic Machinery Services Corporation in [[Springville, Alabama|Springville]], [[Alabama]] with the hopes of having it repaired. In 2012, the corporation's owner was retired, and the unfinished boiler was moved to the Rusk Palestine and Pacific Railroad, better known as the [[Texas State Railroad]] (TSR), in [[Rusk, Texas]], which owns a steam shop capable of full repairs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Texas State Railroad - Piney Woods Texas Area Railroad Tours|url=https://texasstaterailroad.net/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Texas State Railroad|language=en}}</ref> Some parts for boiler repairs were also being fabricated by crews from the [[Strasburg Rail Road]] (SRC) of [[Strasburg, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Strasburg Rail Road - A Full Steam Adventure|url=https://www.strasburgrailroad.com/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Strasburg Rail Road|language=en-US}}</ref>
As the 2010s progressed, the boiler was shipped back to Alamosa, as the RGSR was starting to run into some financial trouble to the point where they could no longer afford to operate or maintain steam locomotives. One of the final straws to the RGSR's struggle was a [[wildfire]] that badly damaged the Fir Concert Grounds. The railroad ceased all tourist train operations as IPH filed for bankruptcy by the end of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-18|title=Bankruptcy Court Judge Authorizes Chapter 11 Trustee for San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, Inc. to Auction 100% of Membership Interest in Its Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Massachusetts Coastal Railroad, LLC|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200518005770/en/Bankruptcy-Court-Judge-Authorizes-Chapter-11-Trustee-for-San-Luis-Rio-Grande-Railroad-Inc.-to-Auction-100-of-Membership-Interest-in-Its-Wholly-Owned-Subsidiary-Massachusetts-Coastal-Railroad-LLC|access-date=2021-01-03|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}</ref> No. 1744 would be put up for sale on Ozark Mountain Railcar along with No. 18, and other locomotives and rolling stock, as well as the SL&RG trackage.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ozark Mountain Railcar|url=https://ozarkmountainrailcar.com/railEquipmentGrid.php?category=Locomotives|access-date=2021-01-03|website=ozarkmountainrailcar.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bankruptcy sale of San Luis & Rio Grande begins|url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/bankruptcy-sale-of-san-luis-rio-grande-begins/|access-date=2021-07-17|website=Trains|language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Niles Canyon Railway ownership === On March 9, 2020, it was announced that No. 1744 would be purchased by the [[Pacific Locomotive Association]], with the hopes of finishing its restoration to operate it on the [[Niles Canyon Railway]] (NCRY), which lies on the last leg of the [[Transcontinental railroad|Transcontinental Railroad]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Southern Pacific #1744|url=https://www.ncry.org/about/collection/steam/sp1744/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Niles Canyon Railway|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Southern Pacific 1744|url=https://plasteam.ncry.org/SP1744/before.html|access-date=2021-01-03|website=plasteam.ncry.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Home {{!}} Niles Canyon Railway {{!}} Fremont CA|url=https://www.ncry.org/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Niles Canyon Railway|language=en-US}}</ref> Crews of the SL&RG began to help move the separated components of the locomotive West-bound to Brightside. The same day the acquirement was announced, the [[Tender (rail)|tender]] and [[Cab (locomotive)|cab]] arrived at the NCRY's facility at [[Brightside, California]], and the tender was placed on the rails. On August 31, the frame and running gear also made it to the NCRY by truck.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-04|title=SP #1744 Running Gear Arrives - 9.02.2020|url=https://www.ncry.org/blog/sp-1744-running-gear-arrives-9-02-2020/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=Niles Canyon Railway|language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2023, the boiler is being rebuilt with a new rear flue sheet and a new crown sheet at Stockton Locomotive Works, and the driving wheels have been repaired at the [[California State Railroad Museum]]’s (CSRM) locomotive shop in Sacramento.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Southern Pacific 1744|url=https://plasteam.ncry.org/SP1744/2021_work.html?fbclid=IwAR1yaRYQOqE8pn1rqCpsXA5U-e8bsbH-moulfibrY8yj-o1wzZj2XrXbpwY#071321|access-date=2021-07-14|website=plasteam.ncry.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hauf |first=Chris |date=2022-03-08 |title=SP #1744 Project Keeps on Rolling One Wheel at a Time |url=https://www.ncry.org/blog/sp-1744-project-keeps-on-rolling-one-wheel-at-a-time/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Niles Canyon Railway |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Appearances in media == * One year after No. 1744 was retired from the SP, it was seen pulling a [[passenger]] train in the [[opening credits]], as well as multiple other scenes, in the 1959 [[feature film]] [[This Earth Is Mine (1959 film)|''This Earth Is Mine'']], starring [[Rock Hudson]], [[Jean Simmons]], [[Dorothy McGuire]], [[Claude Rains]], and directed by [[Henry King (director)|Henry King]].<ref name=":0"/>
== See also == {{Portal|Trains|United States }}
* [[Southern Pacific 1673]] *[[Southern Pacific 2467]] *[[Southern Pacific 2472]] *[[Southern Pacific 745]] *[[Southern Pine Lumber Co. 28]] *[[St. Louis Southwestern 336]] *[[Canadian National 89]]
== References == <references />
== External links == {{Commons category}} * [https://www.ncry.org/ Niles Canyon Railway Official Website]
[[Category:2-6-0 locomotives]] [[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1901]] [[Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives]] [[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States]] [[Category:Freight locomotives]] [[Category:Southern Pacific Railroad locomotives|1744]] [[Category:Baldwin locomotives]] [[Category:Preserved steam locomotives of California]] [[Category:Individual locomotives of the United States]]