Photograph as originally submitted to this page in the Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.

Photographer: Marsha A. Matson
Taken: May 24, 2014
Caption: Baldwin Locomotive No. 3
Additional Description: The centerpiece of the collection was built in 1907 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA for the Henry Cowell Lime and Cement Company of Cowell, CA. The locomotive, originally dubbed “Engine No. 3″, and its sister engines were used to haul rock from the company’s quarry to the crushing mill, a distance of three miles. In 1952, “No. 3″ was sold to the South San Francisco Scrap Metals Company, where it was used to move other pieces of railroad equipment around the scrap yard. In 1960, Charles Pollard of Vista, CA, bought “No. 3″ and extensively modified its appearance to resemble much older steam engines of the 1870s. He operated the locomotive, then called the “Robert E. Lee,” on the grounds of his machine shop. When Pollard died in 1966, the locomotive and various other pieces of rolling stock and railroad equipment were purchased by John S. Porter of Poway. Porter built a small station, house and shed for the train and operated it on his land which today comprises part of our park. Mr. Porter died in 1980, ending the operation of his “Poway Village and Rattlesnake Creek Railroad.” In December of 1987, the City of Poway purchased the Porter property – lock, stock and locomotive. The locomotive and its tender have been restored to full operational condition by the PMRRV. Restoration, certification and testing were completed early in 1997 and the locomotive made its inaugural PMRR passenger run on July 4, 1997.
Submitted: May 31, 2014, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida.
Database Locator Identification Number: p274705
File Size: 1.397 Megabytes

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