To spot Southern Pacific 1673, simply look for the massive, gleaming black-and-silver steam locomotive resting under a covered shelter near the historic depot-its number “1673” boldly displayed on the front, just above the large, circular headlight facing the tracks.
Alright, now that you’re standing right in front of this iron giant, close your eyes and imagine it’s the year 1901. The sun bakes the Tucson rail yard, and the air is alive with the rattle and clang of metal-Southern Pacific 1673 is rolling in, her whistle slicing through the desert stillness. Built way back in 1900 by the Schenectady Locomotive Works, this steam engine didn’t waste any time making Tucson her home. Big, burly, and stubborn as a mule, No. 1673 spent the next forty years hauling heavy freight all across southern Arizona. She steamed to wild west spots like Nogales, Yuma, Benson, Patagonia, Elgin, Fort Huachuca, and even that legendary outlaw town-Tombstone. Imagine her rumbling across the desert, her wheels chugging and clanking, a plume of smoke trailing behind.
No. 1673 saw a lot of “makeovers” through her working years. In 1905, the crew swapped her coal for oil-a much cleaner upgrade (though the pigeons probably missed the coal soot). Then in 1922, she got pulled out of service and rebuilt in Sacramento-fitted with a high-powered superheater that made her huff and puff even better, and her old slide valves were replaced with new, shiny piston valves. She really was the diva of the rails.
By the 1950s, though, times had changed. Diesel engines were the cool new thing, and our old 1673 was called back for easier jobs, reduced to shuffling train cars around the yard as a switcher. Her once mighty Vanderbilt tender was traded for a squat, squarebox tender-almost as if she’d retired her ballroom gown for sweatpants! She also had one last glamorous moment on the big screen-yes, really! In 1955, 1673 starred in the movie “Oklahoma”-painted up to look like she’d rolled right out of the 19th century for those Hollywood close-ups.
As Tucson celebrated Southern Pacific’s 75th birthday, the railroad made a big show of 1673-she puffed an excursion train up to the Pacific Fruit Express yard, cheered by locals from the tracks. Afterward, in a fitting twist, they gifted the locomotive to the city. That’s like giving your grandma a parade and then letting her live on your lawn, don’t you think?
After her Hollywood phase, 1673 was put on display outside the old Pioneers Historical Society. She was in tip-top shape then, but a few years later got bumped to Himmel Park in Tucson-right in the open air. There, she got a little roughed up. Years of Arizona sun, monsoon rains, and, of course, pranksters making off with anything shiny meant she fell into tough times. Someone even stole the builder’s plates and gauges! As one would expect from a seasoned engine, she shrugged it off-even surviving a short derailment in 1965 when volunteers, eager to show off her whistle, accidentally ran her off the tracks. Not the smoothest ride, but a crew got her patched up within a year.
Fast forward to the 1990s-1673 was looking rough, rust eating through metal, her glory days just faded whispers. Locals worried she’d be scrapped for good. But never underestimate a determined Tucsonan! The 1673 Task Force gathered, determined to save this iron legend. She got her second wind-disassembled, sandblasted, and lovingly restored until she shined almost as brightly as the day she first rolled into the city.
In December 2000, the engine was carefully moved right here-to the Southern Pacific Depot. Over the next two years, volunteers built her a protective shelter, fencing her in so future pranksters and rainstorms could only admire her from afar. The city welcomed her back with a bash in September 2002, and by 2005, the grand old engine was officially reopened for display as part of Tucson’s restored depot.
And her story doesn’t end there. The Southern Arizona Transportation Museum keeps a loving eye on No. 1673, repainting and restoring her bits and pieces. Bright red injectors, black and silver wheels, glistening rods-each restoration brings her closer to how she looked in her prime. They’re even working on replacing missing parts-hunting down pieces lost to time or making new ones from scratch.
So there she stands, Tucson’s iron matriarch-over a million miles under her belt, a movie credit, and enough dramatic retirements and comebacks to rival any superstar! Give her a nod-or a tip of your hat-before you continue your adventure through railroad history.
