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Arts & Culture

ULTIMATE RESTORATIONS: The Sierra #3 Locomotive: A Star Is Reborn

The Sierra #3 Locomotive remains an icon of the era of expansion, optimism and big dreams.
Courtesy of Glen Beier, California State Railroad Museum
The Sierra #3 Locomotive remains an icon of the era of expansion, optimism and big dreams.

Airs Monday, March 23, 2015 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV

KQED presents a new eight-part series, ULTIMATE RESTORATIONS, featuring the spellbinding restorations of irreplaceable masterpieces. ULTIMATE RESTORATIONS showcases the rescue and restoration of some of the most valuable mechanical icons of the Golden Age (1880-1940), a high point in innovation and craftsmanship. The series, hosted by Bob McNeil, tells the spellbinding stories behind eight of American history’s greatest historical and engineering treasures — the world’s largest pipe organ; a surviving 1920s fire engine; a “fish car” designed to transport live fish by train; a priceless carousel; a World War II spy plane; one of the first U.S. yachts to round Cape Horn and a famous steam locomotive. The passionate restorers and committed craftspeople discuss the challenges associated with reviving these massive icons to their original glory: moving huge pieces of equipment, salvaging from sea-floor beds, searching for rare parts, and dealing with complicated mechanical systems.

"The Sierra #3 Locomotive: A Star Is Reborn" - A group of passionate restorers resurrect one of the oldest operating steam locomotives in the United States, built in 1891 in New Jersey and made famous in movies like "High Noon" and "Rawhide." Remaining true to the original’s complex engineering and construction requires incredible precision and patience, and the team struggles to complete the project before its scheduled Fourth of July debut.

The Sierra #3 Locomotive: A Star Is Reborn Preview
The Sierra #3 Locomotive takes a ride on the roundhouse turntable
Animation of How a Steam Locomotive's Boiler Works
ULTIMATE RESTORATIONS Series Trailer