Yardmaster Chris asked about a cold storage warehouse. I believe that's the MFA milk processing plant, later called Mid-America Dairyman's Coop. Tom
Just noticed that there is a sand tower, water tower and elevated tanks (diesel, oil ?) in the background of the second photo from the left in the second row. Is it safe to believe that these facilities were used by the passenger steam engines coming through the South Yard? This is really cool because I did not know that these facilities existed in the South Yard area. I would have thought that engine service happened at the main yard to the north.
Tom, thanks for the information. There's the "MFA" stack in the background. I saw it but just made the mistake of assuming that it was part of a feed mill or elevator complex. Didn't know that the co-op ever had a milk plant; that's good to know! Thanks,
I agree with Tom on the dairy plant. My late father worked for a masonry construction company in Springfield that added on to Mid American Dairyman's over the years. There were always lots of stainless steel milk tank trailers in and out of this facility in the 1960s and 1970s.
I'm almost convinced that the water tank,oil tanks and buildings are the MP engine terminal at Springfield. I've seen it in the background of a couple of old shots of the shops.
I'm pretty skeptical about the tank being MP. The crane is working on the south side of the dismantled engines. You can determine that by the Low winter sun. The MP tracks are (were) all south of the Frisco tracks and yards. Looking at a Springfield map, the MP fuel tanks were very near the corner of Fort Ave. and Olive St. I believe the tank in the picture is in the vicinity of Fort Ave. and Phelps. My opinion. Tom
Here's a picture of a Firefly engine taking the Sunnyland west out of Springfield toward Nichols. W-a-ay in the background is the same water tank as in the picture with the dismantled engines. Tom EDIT: I found my copy of this Arthur Johnson snapshot and the date is:12-5-46.
I have a pretty poor scanner, that's about the best I can do. I have it on a disc, I'm not not sure but I think that photo was posted elsewhere on this chat board. Maybe it's a better version. Or maybe if I email it to you, you can "Photo Shop" it?? Ken Wulfert may also have it. I think that was a postcard from the ex-Frisco Museum. Tom
OK, help this dummy out. As it is, I had to look up "Cosmoline." Rust preventative on locomotives that's being scrapped? If it's being stored, that's another thing...help me on which shot it is again, Don? Best Regards,
Cosmoline is a hydrocarbon wax like material that is a rust proofing agent. Commonly used in the industrial, railroad and firearm industries. It is very thick, almost stringy in texture, often brown, but can have other color variations. It's a pain to put it on, and even more of a pain to remove it. Just ask any Marine who is on the board. They'll tell you.
Manny, thanks for the input. I'm still at a loss on why it would be applied to a locomotive destined for the cutting torch. Best Regards,
Given the information at hand, I would say that the locomotives in question were in storage at the time the pictures were taken. They are not at the same location as those that had already suffered mortal wounds from the gas axe. We all know that they eventually suffered the same fate, but were obviously stored as servicable for a time. |-|
The first bunch of pictures were of engines being scrapped, I believe the second group wasn't being scrapped at that moment, but stored servicable for the Korean War era. Tom
Ahhhhh. Thanks, Kevin and Tom. I should have looked more carefully and noted that the fellow with brush in hand was not standing amongst cut-up locomotive carcasses. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Best Regards,