What is southern pacific cab forward 4294?

Southern Pacific cab forward 4294 is a steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in 1923. It was designed with a unique cab-forward configuration, where the cab is located at the front of the locomotive, giving the engineer a better view of the track ahead.

The 4294 had a 4-8-8-2 wheel configuration, which meant it had four small leading wheels, eight large driving wheels, and another eight small trailing wheels. It was also equipped with a superheater and a "Vauclain compound" system, which improved its efficiency and power.

The locomotive was used by the Southern Pacific Railroad to haul freight trains over the steep grades of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. It was retired in 1956 and is now preserved at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California.