SLSF 1- Davenport Locomotive Works - 44-Ton Switch Engine Locomotive

SLSF 1 44-ton Davenport-Besler

SLSF 1 44-ton Davenport-Besler switch engine locomotive.

Builders photograph at Davenport, IA.

Frisco file photo from 1942.

Western Historical Manuscript Collection.

 

On the back it reads:

Frisco No. 1, Diesel, Springfield MO, Jan 17, 1948. Arthur B. Johnson

 

Wonderful photo, Bob -- thanks for sharing it.

I didn't realize that SLSF 1 had originally been blue and white, though if I had thought about when it was built it makes sense.

I love the partial steam locomotive pilot between the footboards.

Also, I don't recall seeing "Lines" being included as part of the coonskin.

Later it was to be seen in Fort Smith from time to time while assigned, I think, to Fayetteville to Bentonville Branch.

I am trying to attach a photograph from 1958 in Fort Smith, but keep getting "Error #2038" when I try to upload it.

Gordon

 

I love it when I can find stuff like this for less than $2.

 

Now I am able to attach the photograph that I was trying to include in my post a month or so ago.

It taken at Fort Smith 7/1957 and a rare occasion when both SLSF 1 and SLSF 2 were present at the same time.



Gordon

 

Keith

It was probably me though it could have been Louis Marre.

I think we were both there and unless I am mistaken we also took 35 mm slides and Lou would have been more likely to have been taking them.

Anyway, it was one or the other of us.

Gordon

 

I am after a model of the Whitcomb or Davenport 44-tonners to complete my roster.

Has anyone tried the new procedure of 3-D printed parts?

From what I've read this might be a viable option.

Thanks,

Larry F.

 

Both of the photos are great, but I REALLY like that picture of SLSF 1 in the blue and white scheme!

Thanks to both of you for sharing!

 

One can be scratch built, but it's not for the faint of heart.

I think the description of how I made mine is on here somewhere.

You can use the trucks from a Bachmann 44 tonner, but pretty much everything else you have to come up with on your own.

If your willing to settle for a Whitcomb SLSF 3, Overland Models imported one years ago.

They can be found from time to time on the usual secondary brass venues.

Brad Slone

 

Brad,

I thought about scratch building the body.

It would not be that much of a problem but what would defeat me would be all those little oval vents along the hood.

As near as I can tell there is no difference between a Davenport and a Whitcomb

I have checked the used brass market - hah, good luck with that.

You would really think that Bachman would follow up with their GE 44-tonner and offer a Whitcomb as I think most carriers had at least one.

It was just a thought about the 3D printing.

Oh well.

Larry F.

 

Yup, they're cool little switchers.

One in HO scale would be the bomb.

It is so itty-bitty it would be tough to fit in a DCC decoder, sound and speaker.

Whizkid to the rescue!

 

Jim,

I went to Google and looked up 3D printers.

There were several companies that provide low production quantity runs.

However, I did not get into prices.

Anyone who is interested might want to check into it and start a whole new thread on the subject.

Joe

 

Larry,

As for myself, I found it to be rather challenging.

The problem with the body is not just the ovals and there are a lot of them, but also all the curves and rounded corners on the hood.

Other than detail parts, I would have to say everything else was built from scratch.

As far as the differences between the Davenports SLSF 1 and 2 and the Whitcomb SLSF 3, they are slight but noticeable.

The hoods on the Davenports had a plain grill, while the Whitcomb had a vertical style with the WHITCOMB spelled out.

The handrail arrangement was different between the two, but that changed on both through their lifetimes.

The other major difference was in the steps, the Davenports had kind of welded fabricated stirrup type steps, while the Whitcomb had a substantial cast metal type.

I did see a Whitcomb on Brass Trains a few months ago, I don't recall the price.

But you are right they rarely come up, good luck whichever direction you choose to go.

Brad

 

It would not be easy but installing a decoder in one could be done.

Sound might be a whole other story.

I actually built in a cavity under the cab floor of the Davenport I built that was just big enough for a small decoder of I ever got a wild hair.

Brad