Special Guest Post: Knott's Berry Farm Locomotives - Part 2

It's time for Part Two in a series of Special Guest Posts from GDB friend Steve DeGaetano, featuring his collection of vintage postcards from Knott's Berry Farm. relating to the wonderful narrow-gauge locomotives. Part One was a banger, and this installment is equally great! As before,  Steve has done plenty of research to enrich our appreciation of these cards. Let's go!

Knott's 7: This next card is undated, but somehow seems newer than the previous card. Still wearing the fake stack and oil headlight, we are also treated to a good view of the long, red “cowcatcher” out in front. The combination baggage/passenger car right behind the Chief’s outstretched arm was converted from the parlor car Chama, and was then known as Calico. It has since been repainted a dark Pullman green with its original name. The caption is identical to the card #6.

Knott's 8: This is a nice overview of Calico Square. No. 40 is in the background, not quite in position to take water from the water tower. The tender carries about 700 gallons of fuel and 25,000 gallons of water. We have one of Bud Hurlbut’s little mine train tank engines in the foreground.

Knott's 9: Another wide shot of No. 41 in Calico Square. The D&RGW reclassified its “Class 70” locomotives to the “C-19” class in 1924 (“C” for “Consolidation”—the name for a 2-8-0 wheel configuration and “19” for 19,000 pounds of tractive effort, or pulling power). Both engines today wear the C-19 designations on their cabs.

Knott's 10: This lovely view of Calico Square features another view of No. 40. I’m not sure when Gold Nugget became Green River, but I much prefer the latter name, which Wikipedia states was in fact the engine’s original name when built in 1881. Dated by the postcard writer May 1977, we get a great view of the converted parlor car Chama, with the front baggage section having been added, here named Calico.

Knott's 11: This postcard features a photograph that appears to be from the early 1950s, but the card design and the barcode on the back is in the style of cards from the 2000s. Again, a nice portrait of No. 40, with the kids showing just how close you could once get to the engines. Note the curved handrail on the front of the engine, above the number plate.

Knott's 12: This is the first of two “vertical” postcards, one of each locomotive. This card featured No. 41 in the glossy black finish she wore when I first got to know her in 1980 (giving us a rough date period). This also represents the engine’s first steps towards a more authentic paint scheme, with accurate Rio Grande Southern tender lettering. While not authentic, I was nonetheless mesmerized by the brass boiler bands and handrails against the deep glossy black.

OK, that's the end of Part Two! Next Tuesday, you'll see the third and final installment of Steve's KBF postcards (plus a little bit extra). THANK YOU, Steve, for all of your hard work! I hope you all have enjoyed these as much as I have.

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EXTRA! EXTRA! GDB friend Pilsner Panther, who is crisp and refreshing (by all accounts) sent along a neat image of silent-film luminary Buster Keaton, in danger of being flattened by one of the locomotives at Knott's Berry Farm! I think that the Gold Nugget (ol' # 40) is bearing down on Buster, but it's hard to be sure. Steve D. will probably know! After a little research, I found a description that said: In 1956, legendary silent film comedian Buster Keaton visited Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, where he was photographed playfully recreating a classic railroad gag. Pictures show Keaton feigning to have his foot stuck in the railroad tracks of the Calico and Ghost Town Railroad, near Western Ave.

What a great photo of a great filmmaker/actor/genius! Thank you, Pilsner Panther.