Sierra Railroad 2-6-6-2 No. 38
Merrill, Oregon, United States 		Location: Private (Fred Kepner)
Status: Stored
Related Notes
Photo Copyright © Dale Brown
Here are the notes for Sierra Railroad No. 38, a 2-6-6-2 located in Merrill, OR. If you have additional information about this locomotive, and would like to share it, click the Add Note button.
Posted: Feb 3, 2022 @ 10:02:50 by Aidan HICKCOX
Is her 5 chime whistle and bell still with her and will they plan to "wake the beast" and let the 120 ton monster run again or just a cosmetic patch job for now until that time?
Posted: Dec 18, 2021 @ 15:12:04 by Keiji Muramoto
According to Trains Magazine, Mr. Fred Kepner passed away at 74 back in October. Today (December 18th, 2021), his entire collection of steam locomotives has been sold to the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad in Garibaldi. Sierra Railway 2-6-6-2 No. 38, along with the following three steam engines, will be retained at the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad: -Pickering Lumber Co. Three-Truck Shay No. 8 -Oregon-American Lumber Co. 2-6-2T No. 104 -Oregon-American Lumber Co. 2-6-2 No. 105 Everything else is up for sale.
Posted: Apr 17, 2018 @ 23:04:05 by jason cemelich
actually, the ex N.P. # 3100 was the first 2-6-6-2 owned by Rayonier.. it was aquired when Rayonier bought out the Polson Bros operations in 1949.. This engine was much larger than the #38.. but she was scrapped in Rayoniers Railroad Camp in 1959..
Posted: Oct 24, 2015 @ 08:10:45 by John Taubeneck
Just a fine point, Rayonier #38 last ran on February 20, 1967. At about 2 PM on Monday the 20th, while at New London, the #38 broke her pilot truck frame. On the morning of the 20th an AH&D diesel locomotive crane had derailed near the shop so 2-6-6-2T #111 was working to re-rail it. When word of #38’s troubles came the #111 went down to the dump to help out. One account has it that the #38 limped home under her own power after repairs were made on the 20th. Another has it that the #38 was towed home by the #111 on the 21st. Either way February 20, 1967 was the last time the #38 saw steam.
Posted: Jul 25, 2004 @ 24:07:12 by Michael Ledingham

The 38 was actually one of three mallets built to the same specifications that were owned by Rayonier.  The other two were #14 (ex-Bloedel-Donovan Lumber Mills) and #120 (ex-Weyerhaeuser).  Both of these were retired in about 1962 and scrapped in 1968.  Rayonier also owned an ex-NP 2-6-6-2 that was about five tons heavier.  The 38 was operated intermittantly by Rayonier until Railroad Camp's closure in 1968.  It was on display at Crane Creek until being sold to Fred Kepner (owner of the Great Western Railway Museum) in 1982.  It was moved to McCloud, along with some other pieces of Kepner's equipment, in 1985.  Its current location is private property, not the McCloud River RR.

Posted: Jul 14, 2004 @ 08:07:55 by craig smith
#38 was the largest engine on the Rayonier inc. #38 was also the largest engine on the Sierra Railroad from 1952 - 1955. #38 made her last run on the Rayonier on March 31, 1962. Now the Railroad Camp 14 is abandon today.
Posted: Sep 28, 2002 @ 18:09:17 by Dale Brown
I realize that this is a ugly image but it wasn't possible to get a better angle.  The engine is in the background not the forground.