GE 44-Ton SLSF 5

Discussion in '44 and 45 Ton' started by don, Jun 26, 2004.

  1. don

    don Guest

    GE 44-ton SLSF 5 44 ton Blue and White _ 1943

    Here is a nice little GE 44-ton SLSF 5 in the blue and white scheme.

    I think the coonskins are yellow, but I wonder what the stripes are?

    This is the only diesel I have a model of and I will paint it in this scheme to conform with my 1943 time period.

    I do not know where, when or by whom this was taken.

    16930.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 15, 2024
  2. chris

    chris Guest

    GE 44-ton SLSF 5

    Don,

    Perhaps Ken McElreath can confirm or deny but I think this might be in Cape Girardeau.

    The building in the background still exists today on the grounds the Missouri Dry Dock and Repair, just south of the old Mississippi River bridge.

    My notes somewhere had a 44-ton center cab switcher assigned to Cape, which was my only justification for having any diesel power for a 1943 River Division layout.
     
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  3. timothy

    timothy Guest

    GE 44-ton SLSF 5

    Chris,

    I do believe you are correct.

    This building looks a lot like the one on the Missouri Drydocks property. I will try to go by there and get a photograph to post.

    Has anyone checked the serial number of the 44-ton locomotive at the LoneStar (nee-Marquette) cement plant in Cape?

    Could it be ex-Frisco?

    Just a thought.

    I will check it out.

    Tim
     
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  4. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    GE 44-ton SLSF 5

    That picture was taken on the west side of the Missouri Drydocks machine shop in Cape.

    My grandfather drove their semi-trailer rig for years and often took me there to visit one of the machinists, Brian Hassel, working in the building.

    Picture 1 below is a new picture of the building in August 2009.

    According to Marre and Harper in Frisco Diesel Power, the Frisco leased GE 44-ton SLSF 4 in black and yellow livery to Marquette Cement for a period of time.

    The GE 45-ton at Marquette Cement (Lonestar, now Buzzi Unicem) was purchased by Marquette new from General Electric (GE) in June, 1955.

    Notice it did not have external side rods. Instead it had internal chain drive between axles in each truck.

    It was painted in the "Frisco" color scheme of black with the yellow diagonal stripes on the nose and running boards like SLSF 4.

    It is in very sad appearance now, having been painted a miserable white and blue scheme by Lonestar and left to fade since.

    The General Electric builder number on it is #32338.

    Edit Update: The Missouri Dry Dock and Repair long machine shed in the picture #1 background was demolished mid-year 2011.
     

    Attached Files:

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  5. FriscoGeorge

    FriscoGeorge Frisco Employee

    GE 44-ton SLSF 5

    I wonder how this would look in Mandarin orange and white?

    Just a thought.

    George
     
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  6. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    GE 44-ton SLSF 5


    George,

    The only way they came was blue and white with red lettering or black with yellow diagonal strips on the hood ends and side sills with yellow lettering.

    Thankfully, none were ever repainted to the Mandarin orange and white scheme.
     
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  7. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 15, 2024
  8. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    GE 44-ton SLSF 5

    Great find, Keith!

    I do not suppose you or other sharper eyes can make out the locomotive number on the steam dome of the "Sunnyland" power?

    The semi-streamlined Hudsons is my knee-jerk guess. However, I have neither seen nor read of them being used outside of the "Memphian".

    I do not have my resources handy but maybe one of the lower-numbered 4-8-2s?

    Thanks for sharing,
     
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  9. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    GE 44-Ton SLSF 5 - Head On Collision At Cape Girardeau, MO - 12/16/1949

    So far I have only seen black and white photographs of SLSF 5.

    I have never found any color photographs of it in blue and white with red lettering or in black and yell0w.

    SLSF 5 was damaged in an accident at Cape Girardeau on December 16, 1949.

    According to a Southeast Missourian article it says a Frisco representative, Mr. Pickett, stated that its repair would take "several days".

    The southbound passenger train appears to have been headed up with one of the 4-6-4 Hudsons in the 1060 series, semi-streamline livery, possibly 1060, 1063, 1064, 1065, or 1067.

    Article courtesy Southeast Missourian Archivist, Sharon Sanders.

    Frisco Wreck 12-16-1949 Southeast Missourian.png
     
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