El Gobernador's construction was completed in February 1883, amid much fanfare from the railroad, but it did not enter service until March 1884, just over a year later.

As the train arrived, El Gobernador would steam past the depot dragging a long line of empty freight cars behind it and causing quite a stir in the process.

Operationally, the locomotive did not fare as well as was hoped due to its large cylinder size and small fire grate area (one fireman even commented in anger, "All Hell couldn't keep steam up in that engine!

During initial shakedown runs around Sacramento, it was found, for example, that the engine's cylinders, which were originally built with innovative rotary valves, were not working properly.

As soon as master mechanic A. J. Stevens was able to figure out a part, Stanford would order it built and installed on the new engine, without giving any proper time for testing.

Once, while Stanford was away, Charles Crocker came through the locomotive works on a tour of inspection and saw the partially completed El Gobernador under construction.

Meanwhile, Stanford returned to find that no new work had been done on the engine and when informed of the events that transpired, Crocker's orders were countermanded in no uncertain terms.