Hello Frisco Folks Here are some pictures of Frisco 4-8-4 Northerns SLSF 4500, 4501, 4502, & 4503 Enjoy, Rich Ship it on the Frisco!
All dolled-up and no place to go, the 4-8-4 SLSF 4500 looks as if she has just been delivered from Baldwin. However, it is June 1954, and she is awaiting her trip to Tulsa, OK and Mohawk Park. My father and grandfather pose by the locomotive in one shot, and in another shot, my mother and I are present.
At the Van Buren, AR Frisco depot on main street they have some tickets with the Meteor sign on them. And the depot still has a excursion train using Frisco passenger cars from the 1920s.
SLSF 4500, Owasso, OK After that brief digression to Van Buren ;-), we continue with the 4-8-4 SLSF 4500. During 1988, the SLSF 4500 was leased from the City of Tulsa and moved to Owasso, OK for restoration by a private group. By 1999, the group was out of funds, and the restoration effort was abandoned. The details of which may be read at the following link. http://www.steamlocomotive.info/F22003.cfm During July 1993, I located the SLSF 4500, and grabbed a few shots. The noon-time sun made photographic conditions less than ideal. I believe that the bands seen around the boiler allowed the Frisco, during the 1954 cosmetic restoration, to place a boiler jacket on the locomotive without that nasty asbestos lagging. It is a shame that restoration was stillborn, but realistically, finding a place to run would have been problematic.
All is not completely lost for the 4-8-4 SLSF 4500. She is back in Tulsa now. Getting "dolled-up" once again. Though she is not getting restored completely to run again. She is getting a make over, to once again put her on display here in Tulsa, OK. Which seems to be coming along fairly well. There were plans to put her along Riverside Drive. But now I think they are going to place her around 23rd Street and Southwest Boulevard. To be completely honest. I do not think anybody knows really where she will end up, for her final resting place. But I do know that it will be good to see her looking good once again. I guess her story is still, "to be continued".
Here is a link to the Town West Sertoma Club in Tulsa, the group doing the "cosmetic" restoration. http://www.townwestsertomaclub.org/Frisco4500.htm
Frisco 4500 from the air Microsoft Live map view of SLSF 4500 in Tulsa, OK. Click the links below. Be patient while loading, it will take you there. If you do not have Microsoft Virtual Earth 3D loaded, it will ask you to do so. It should take you to the link, if not, re-click on these link after you install it. http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...072290772104&phscl=3.46736850452531&encType=1
It is sad to see her in such bad shape in the pictures of her in Owasso, OK. I remember taking a train or two down to the Owasso Yard when I worked on the South Kansas and Oklahoma (SK&O). I had the opportunity to get up close to her and really take in what was once there. It will certainly be good to see her with her fresh makeup on and looking alive again! Long Live the Queen!
She is in a heck-of-a lot better shape than she was in last time I saw her. Hopefully, they will get her back to lookin like her old self pretty soon.
I did not see any signs of work. I read that sometime in the future it is supposed to go on display in Southwest Tulsa. Where it sits now the vandals will find it.
Apparently the 4-8-4 SLSF 4500 along with a passenger car and a Frisco outside braced caboose are being put on display today in a new park along Southwest Boulevard, Old U.S. 66 Highway, in West Tulsa. The Tulsa Sapulpa Union (TSU) Railway has a switch installed in their tracks along Southwest Boulevard. Temporary panels have been laid over the road to reach the park. I cannot believe they are putting this equipment in an unsecured area for display. I am sure Krylon sales are going up in the West side of town. Steve.
Here are some videos of the 4-8-4 SLSF 4500 being moved to its final resting place on Route 66 in Tulsa
Boy, even bracketed by a couple of switch engines, the 4-8-4 SLSF 4500 really looks good. Powerful looking beast! Sure wish I could have seen No 9 go by behind one of these guys. Ken
The Tulsa West Sertoma group needs to be commended for taking on the herculean task of restoring the 4-8-4 SLSF 4500, the other equipment and putting them on display. As for the equipment being in an unsecured area, they are working with a company and raising money to install a fence around the display. They have also acquired a tank car and boxcar that will also be added to the display. When the equipment is secured then work will commence on restoring the interior of the cars and the cab of the locomotive with the goal of having all of this open for tours on special occasions. They are also planning on hooking up an air compressor so that the whistle on the SLSF 4500 can be blown. John Chambers
Thanks yardmaster. We also won an award, Saturday 9/10/2011 from the Tulsa Preservation Commission for the preservation and restoration of the 4-8-4 SLSF 4500. Quite an honor. I am proud of the accomplishment. 90% or more of the work on the locomotive was accomplished before I came on board, so the credit on SLSF 4500 goes to those who came before me. I was deeply involved in restoration of the tender, Murray Hill and the Frisco SLSF 1157 caboose. See the before and after pictures at http://www.southwesttulsa.org/Frisco4500.htm and https://www.route66village.com/train-and-depot Bob Schwarz Edit 3/15/2024: Corrected the reference links so they are active. MKD
I have taken my grandson pastor's kids to see this display, and enjoy it every time, except for the intense heat. I have wondered about security, though, as I know vandals cannot leave things alone. So far, so good. Is there a plan to protect the engine and cars? Great job on all of them. Terry Jankowski
