I'm just wondering... what's the difference between an SP class C-5 and one we all know: a C-9? I know C-8's, C-10's, and C-9's are all similar, though. Also does anyone have a C-5 picture?
Basically, there's not a lot of visual difference for engines that survived into the late steam era. Class C-5 (#'s 2624-2693) were built between 1901 and 1904. Engines 2624-2676 were originally built as Vauclain compounds. Check Guy Dunscomb's "A Century Of Southern Pacific Steam Locomotives" page 187 for pics. There's a pic of #2631 in Oregon in 1931 equipped with slide valves and a pic of #2646 in SLO in 1949 with piston valves looking very much like a C-8/9/10. It's equipped with one of the weirder looking semi-cylindrical tenders. It also lacks train indicators which points to assignment as a yard engine. C-5's were scrapped between 1935 and 1953. BTW, there's an as built pic of #2659 (Vauclain compound) on page 186 of the aforementioned book. Incidentally, from the pic of #2659, they were built as "upside down" Vauclains with the high pressure cylinder below the low pressure cylinders. HTH. Andre
