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SLSF (Frisco) 4500 4-8-4

Started by J3a-614, May 10, 2010, 10:57:45 PM

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J3a-614

May 10, 2010, 10:57:45 PM
Linked from Railway Preservation News; cosmetic restoration of a 1940s vintage Baldwin 4-8-4.  Three engines in the order, including this one,  were intended for passenger service, and were delivered in this different paint scheme:

http://server.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29387

Other photos:

http://www.pbase.com/sammy1974/frisco_4500

General appearance is typical of modern Baldwin power, including the cab, dome shapes, air compressor shields, lacey valve gear (looking a lot like something from a PRR K4s or a B&O P-7 from almost 20 years earlier), and trailing truck design.  This engine is also rolling on Baldwin's own design for a disc driver; don't confuse this with anything like a Box Pok (pronounced "box spoke") driver, this design of driver really is a pair of discs with holes in them; the discs touch only at rim and hub, all the space in between is just air.  This was an attempt to produce a lighter drive wheel with improved counterballancing.  Similar looking engines included 4-8-4s on the RF&P, fatter versions ran on the ACL, D&RGW (both numbered in the 1800 series), and MP.  The MP engines were copies of the D&RG engines with some detail changes that made them better looking than the originals, the principle one being a traditional cab that was open at the rear, as opposed to the vestibule cab D&RGW ordered.

Enjoy--but this thing is so bright, I almost need sunglasses to look at it!

pdlethbridge

#1
May 11, 2010, 12:07:04 AM
darn near put my eye out! ::) ::)

OldTimer

#2
May 11, 2010, 10:54:34 AM
The Frisco sure had a flare for things.  No color shot that I could find of this lady, but the design is priceless.  This pacific is also from Baldwin, built in 1910.  Not sure when she got dressed up for the prom.

http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/lochist/frisco/friscoline/images/photos/P00461.jpg

Old Timer
Just workin' on the railroad.

J3a-614

#3
May 11, 2010, 11:34:53 AM
Bachmann Industries ought to hire me as a research librarian :-)!

The engine is one of a series streamlined for a train called the "Firefly;" beyond  that, I don't know much about it, other than that I found of some Frisco engine  pix, and one is of one a streamlined engine dated 1939.  Perhaps there is a Frisco modeler out there who can help.

In the meantime, a quick search found a couple of links to Frisco photos.

http://condrenrails.com/Frisco/Frisco%20Steam/Frisco_1000_Steam_Loco_Pixs.htm

Here's one that looks like it's from the same place you found yours, dated 1938:

http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/lochist/frisco/friscoline/images/photos/p01362.jpg

Working back on the page takes us to a general link to the library:

http://thelibrary.org/

A jackpot!

http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/lochist/frisco/frisco.cfm

http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/lochist/frisco/friscoline/rolling.cfm

Steam locomotives!

http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/lochist/frisco/friscoline/steam01.cfm

I don't have the time to look at it now, but it looks like a place to explore.  I wonder if there is other rail material there, including trolley lines in the area.

Have fun exploring, and let us know if you find anything in a line (i.e., USRA engines or something similar, and of course 2-10-0s) that could be a candidate for production by somebody.
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