On 18 February 1948, while operating as a mail train, GN 2507 struck a landslide 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Mukilteo, Washington.[2] The locomotive and a baggage car went over the rock sea wall into Puget Sound and two unoccupied coaches were derailed.[7] An engineer, 60-year-old Albert White of Everett, Washington, and a fireman, 28-year-old W.P. Murphy of Seattle, Washington, were both injured in the derailment but survived.[2][7] White suffered from back and internal injuries, while Murphy lost one of his thumbs.[8] The locomotive was eventually repaired and returned to service.
Preservation
GN 2507 was retired in December 1957 and was kept in storage for several years in Minnesota.[1] It was sold to the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway (SP&S), who had promised a steam locomotive to the county of Klickitat, Washington to display at Maryhill State Park.[1] The locomotive was towed to Vancouver, Canada, and repainted with SP&S lettering, even though it had never been operated by that railway.[1] It was formally donated to Klickitat County on 3 September 1966,[4] and dedicated "to the days of steam locomotives and to the men who operated them."[4] US Rep Catherine Dean May played an important role in securing the locomotive for the county, and gave a speech on the day of the handover.[4][9]
In the early 1990s, the locomotive was leased to the Northwest Railway & Locomotive Preservation Association, who planned to restore the engine to service.[1] In October 1992, it was repainted to restore its original Great Northern logo.[1] On 29 January 1994, the locomotive was transported on a river barge to Pasco, Washington for restoration; however, the planned restoration never took place.[1] GN 2507 was subsequently leased to the Washington State Railroads Historical Society, but little restoration work was undertaken.[1]
On 7 July 2003, the locomotive was pulled by a BNSFlocomotive to its current home in Wishram, Washington, about 126 miles (203 km) away.[1] During this journey, the locomotive was restricted to 20 mph (32 kph) to prevent damage to its bearings.[1] A new paint job, costing about US$70,000, returned the locomotive to its 1950s all-black appearance.[1] The locomotive is now displayed near Wishram station, at a one-acre site built by Klickitat County for nearly $US300,000.[1] GN 2507 is one of only two preserved P-2 class locomotives – along with Great Northern 2523,[1] which is on display in Willmar, Minnesota.[10]
^Sheely, Charles L. (1924-02-14). "G.N. 600,000-pound locomotive spells romance to reporter". Spokane Daily Chronicle. p. 3. Retrieved 2021-10-24. The 2506 walked the Oriental Limited up that grade at 35 miles an hour and hardly drew a long breath at the Gulena siding [...] Engineer Jacob (Jake) Sherrer and Fireman John Hardman handled the 2507 on the return trip in a manner to convince even the most unfamiliar that they were journeymen in their calling.
^B., M. (1929-10-17). "Love is true to old engine". The Spokesman-Review. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-10-24. Great Northern engine No. 2507 is hauling the Empire Builder into the Great Northern railway station and back again on the division run and Mr. Scherer is not at its throttle.
