The Southern Pacific Steam Engine no. 1673 that once resided in Himmel Park was manufactured in 1900. The engine was based in Tucson and operated in southern Arizona and was used primarily to haul freight trains. The engine was retired in 1955 and was used in various Hollywood films including “Oklahoma”. The engine was then donated to the Arizona Historical Society in 1962 where it sat until construction on the Historical Society’s building resulted to its move to Himmel Park. The engine proved to be a popular attraction and had to have a fence constructed around it to prevent vandalism. By the 1990’s, the engine was in an advanced state of deterioration and was almost scrapped. Tucson citizens intervened and formed the 1673 Task Force which had the engine registered on the National Register of Historic Places. By 1994 the engine was taken apart and restored and looked exactly how it did when it was retired in 1955. In December of 2000, the engine was moved out of Himmel Park and relocated to the Southern Pacific Depot in downtown Tucson. In 2005 the engine was opened to public display and currently resides there.
Sources:
Diamond, L. (1979, September 6). Catch 22 Holds Engine 1673 on Tracks at Himmel Park. The Tucson Citizen.
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