Southern Pacific 1010

Originally constructed in 1882 by the San Joaquin & Sierra Nevada Railroad in their Woodbridge, California shops as a full passenger coach (possibly numbered #2), this 36-inch gauge car cost approximately $1,425.00 to build, though one source suggests $2,250.00. It was later converted to a combination baggage and passenger car at the SP facility in Lodi, California at an unknown date. When Southern Pacific acquired the SJ&SN on May 15, 1888, the car became Northern Railway #1010.

A major operational change occurred on August 31, 1904 when the narrow gauge was replaced with standard gauge on the Northern Railway. The car was then leased and transferred to the SP-owned South Pacific Coast as car #1010, necessitating its movement from San Jose to Mound House, Nevada. The transfer involved mounting the car on standard gauge trucks along with another car, while a flatcar carried both sets of narrow gauge trucks. During this transit, the car was wrecked on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad in Reno, Nevada on January 4, 1905. Following repairs at the V&T shop in Carson City, Nevada, the car continued its Nevada service.

The car operated on lease from SP to the Nevada & California Railroad until ownership was officially transferred to the SP-owned N&C on July 17, 1907, when it was renumbered as #16 (first car to carry this number). N&C ownership transferred to the Central Pacific Railway on March 1, 1912. The car was declared "worn out" on October 23, 1913 and officially retired on December 23, 1913, with a retirement valuation of $1,000.00.

The carbody entered a 77-year secondary life, first serving as a crew shed in "car town" at Mina, Nevada from 1913 to 19*X*. Following SP ownership, the carbody was sold to various SP employees over time, with the last employee owner and occupant being a conductor. The structure was then sold for use as a sheepherder's cabin near Mina, Nevada in 19*X*, followed by purchase by an antiques dealer in Wadsworth, Nevada in 1960 (though it was not moved from Mina). A railroad preservationist acquired the carbody on August 19, 1966, and it was moved to storage at Laws Railroad Museum in Laws, California on March 14, 1969.

SPCRR purchased the car in 1990, and it arrived at Ardenwood on October 7, 1990. A complete restoration was undertaken to represent the car's appearance as SP combine #1010 during its 1904-1905 operation on the South Pacific Coast. The restored car was displayed and operated at the prestigious Railfair 1999 event at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento during June 1999. After being stored outdoors for many years after Railfair, weather began to deteriorate the car. Once stored inside at our car barn, it became a prime candidate for restoration. The car is now under active restoration and is on substitute trucks.

* Unknown date information, closest confident date range used. 
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