0-4-2 Steam Locomotives in the USA

Class Lili (Locobase 11818)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 11, p 244. Works number was 6944 in September 1883.

J De Rivera was the purchasing agent for this locomotive, but it was delivered to the Waimanalo Company on Oahu. Possibly to avoid fuel that threw cinders, the buyer specified a firebox capable of burning "hard coal", presumably anthracite. Its depth measured 31 1/4" (794 mm). Two other saddle-tanks shown in Locobase 13128 burned soft coal and had shallower fireboxes.

Lili spent the next 50+ years toiling as a sugar-cane plantation workhorse.

In 1948, Ward Kimball bought several of the Waimanalo's small saddle-tankers to run on his San Gabriel, Calif railroad.

Class Puaalii (Locobase 13128)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 10, p. 98; and Volume 30, p. 216. See also "Waimanalo Sugar Co. 0-4-2T No. 2

Perris, CA, United States" on the steamlocomotive.info website at [], last accessed 7 June 2025. Works number was 30340 in March 1907.

This Oahu-based sugar manufacturer bought two locomotives produced to the same specification used for engines used on several other Hawaiian plantations. The first bore the name Puaalii until she took a new number 3 in 1910 and acquired the nickname "Olomana", which is said to be a corruption of "old man."

Almost 25 years after J de Rivera bought the "hard coal" Lili (Locobase 11818) for the Waimanalo, W G Irwin procured another sugar-plantation saddle tanker of the "soft coal" variant..

Baldwin tweaked most of the dimensions in the latter locomotive, but a significant difference derived from a change in the specified fuel. While the Lili used a deep firebox to burn "hard coal", the Pokaa burned "soft coal" in a firebox whose depth was 20% --5 3/4" (146 mm)--shallower at 25 1/2" (648 mm).

After decades of service, both locomotives were idled in favor of trucks in 1944. In 1948, Gerald Best bought the Olomana and brought it back to Hollywood where it remained in storage until 1951. In 1952-1953 Best and

Disney animator Ward Kimball restored the Olomana to operating condition and began running it on Kimball's 500-ft long Grizzly Flats railroad on his San Gabriel property..

When Kimball bought the Pokaa, he removed the saddle tank, extended the frame to take a small bunker and tank, and renamed the engine Chloe and gave her #1. Kimball also converted Chloe to wood burning and fitted her an outsized balloon stack to give her a 19th century look.

Peter M Preston's 10 November 2006 post on the steamlocomotiveinfo site quoted from the October 2006 Orange Empire Railway Museum Gazette regarding the Chloe's final destination:

"The Kimball family has decided it was time to move Chloe out to Orange Empire Museum. Three 4-wheel passenger cars, Buda Handcar and velocipede were also donated. The Chloe was initially donated along with Emma Nevada and coach No. 5 in 1991, but by verbal agreement between the museum and the Kimballs, Chloe stayed with the family. The locomotive has been the center of Kimball gatherings since 1950. It has operated during holidays at their San Gabriel home.

The call to come and get the Chloe took the Museum by surprise, but quickly with the contractor and money to safely make the move. The engine was received on Saturday September 23 [2006]."

After placing her on display in a narrow-gauge display barn, the SRCM contracted in 1917 with Hillcrest Shops in Reedly, CA to restore Chloe to running condition.