28 was built in January 1922 for the Sierra Railway Company of California by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[1][2] It was built in response to the increase of freight traffic on the Sierra with the construction of the Don Pedro and O'Shaughnessy Dams requiring carloads of rock and cement.

[1] After the dam projects were finished, the 28 was placed into service on March 7, 1922 and was assigned to freight traffic on the Sierra's lower division between Oakdale and Jamestown, California.

28 made several appearances in movies and television shows, including Overland Trail, Nichols, Little House on the Prairie, Bound for Glory and The World's Greatest Lover.

28 was taken out of service after its crown sheet and other areas of the firebox were found to be too thin for continued operation.

28 remained stored in the Jamestown roundhouse awaiting restoration funds until August, 2013, when it was torn down for repairs to its firebox.