1522 May 2001

Discussion in '1500 Class Mountains' started by Joe Lovett, Oct 3, 2009.

  1. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett Member

    Hello,

    Here are some 4-8-2 SLSF 1522 photographs I took May 19, 2001, when it was on a run from Springfield, MO to Tulsa, OK with a water stop in Fairland, OK.

    Photographs 1 through 4 were East of Wyandotte, OK, MP 332.9.

    Photographs 5 thru 9 for water and other service work are in Fairland, OK, MP 340.2.

    They also show remaining train behind 4-8-2 SLSF 1522.

    The last photograph 10, I believe was in Vinita, OK, MP 359.7.

    My daughter and I chased the train along the Cherokee Subdivision from Wyandotte, OK, MP 332.9, to Claremore, OK, MP 387.6.

    Truly a great day!

    1522-a-may01.jpg

    1522-b-may01.jpg

    1522-c-may01.jpg

    1522-d-may01.jpg

    1522-e-may01.jpg

    1522-f-may01.jpg

    1522-g-may01.jpg

    1522-h-may01.jpg

    1522-i-may01.jpg

    1522-k-may01.jpg

    Edit 3/19/2024: First 4 photographs are at the Missouri Highway CC overpass at Racine, MO, MP 319.2. The bridge is just 0.15 miles south of the four way junctions of Missouri Highway 86, Highway CC and Highway K.

    Added states, mile posts and subdivision references.
    MKD
     
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  2. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    WOW - Thanks, Joe.

    You can put on about a hundred more of these, I will not mind.

    The only thing that would have made them better is not to have the "Great Pumpkin" following the tender water car. :mad:

    It sort of ruins the "period" aspect of the photographs.
     
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  3. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    It would look better with a black and yellow GP7 behind it.

    Oh well, a great pumpkin is better than a green monster. :eek: :rolleyes: :p
     
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  4. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett Member

    Hello,

    I agree with your statements about the pumpkin.

    The whole day and weeks after there were complaints. From what I understand the railroads, insurance and higher agents required a spare locomotive in case the 4-8-2 SLSF 1522 broke down and backed up regular traffic.

    During the entire tour the pumpkin was nothing but dead weight and an eye sore.

    Thank You,

    Joe
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 17, 2024
  5. U-3-b

    U-3-b Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Looking at these photographs and thanks for posting,

    I just wanted to let everyone know that I can not believe what an idiot I was to not drive the 4 hours over to Tulsa, OK to see this great girl in action.

    I am kicking myself right now.

    Steve
    Formerly living in Western Oklahoma
     
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  6. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    The "Pumpkin" was along as a rolling BNSF billboard because remember, these trips were BNSF Employee Appreciation Specials.

    We utilized the air pump in the diesel, that saved wear and tear on SLSF 1522's. The diesel was actually useful at times for dynamic braking, and since we could control it from our cab, all three of us utilized it to get us up to track speed from a dead stop more quickly again saving wear and tear on the steam engine.

    It felt sort of neat to reach over and advance the diesel throttle and feel the nudge in the butt. The other times we had a diesel along were on Amtrak covered trips and it was needed for head end power for the cars.

    If you want to play in today's railroad world you have to play by the railroad's rules. The rest of the time, we ran by ourselves on freight or positioning moves and just had the railroad's pilot crew on board.
     
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  7. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    Don,

    The way you feel about diesels they must have had to hold you down while they inserted that "Pumpkin" in the consist.

    I am surprised that you did not walk off the job. :D:D

    Please be advised that I am sending you a SD70MACDEF, or whatever, for you to add behind the tender of 4-8-2 SLSF 1522 leaving Newberg, MO in your latest photograph post. :p :p :p

    Cheers man.
     
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  8. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    It is a shame that there is not an available diesel disguised as a steam engine for providing the apparently unnecessary "reliability" factor.

    At least that way, all the railfan photographs would not be tainted so badly.
     
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  9. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    Distasteful or not, it is a fact of life in today's railroad world.

    Besides, up in the cab I did not see the Pumpkin unless I looked back.

    I was busy conducting the Baldwin Symphony Orchestra heavy metal concert and enjoying it.
     
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  10. WindsorSpring

    WindsorSpring Member

    I know you probably had a hard time writing:

    "Diesel was actually useful at times for dynamic braking, and since we could control it from our cab, all three of us utilized it to get us up to track speed from a dead stop more quickly again saving wear and tear on the steam engine. It felt sort of neat to reach over and advance the diesel throttle and feel the nudge in the butt."

    but it sounds like it gave the best of both worlds.

    Since using anything brings it closer to using it up, and if the diesel helped keep the steam locomotive in better shape, it is well that it was there.

    I noticed on the 2002 final runs the Amtrak locomotive was at the end of the train. You mentioned it provided head end power for the passenger cars.

    Were you also able to use it for braking and starting tractive effort as well?

    George
     
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  11. frisco1522

    frisco1522 Staff Member Staff Member

    The only time we used the Anthrax diesel was once on a photo run by at St. Clair, MO.

    Do not ask me why, it just pissed people off when they heard it working. One of our guys was in the cab of it on the final trip and pushed going up Rolla Hill, which pissed me off!

    I asked for Amtrash help one time on a Hannibal, MO trip. I was on the elevated trackage in downtown St. Louis, MO and had to slow down. The rest of the train was hanging downhill in the tunnel under the Gateway Arch grounds. The engine actually stalled on a sharp curve near Gratiot Tower. Did not slip, just stalled.

    I asked for a bump and it got me working again. It was quicker than idling the booster and going through all of that. I did not want to push my luck that far above the ground. Also, it was there for the asking.

    But yes, to answer your charge, it is hard to admit a diesel is good for anything in my world. I would have been a lot happier with another 4-8-2 1500 or maybe the 4-8-4 4500!
     
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  12. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    Okay.

    You have redeemed yourself.

    Well said. :)
     
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  13. Brad Slone

    Brad Slone Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Though unpleasant as it may be to see a pumpkin stuck behind 1522, I sure wish we could be talking about it in the present tense.

    Brad
     
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  14. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett Member

    There are more photos of the 1522 as soon as I can go to the library so I can load the photos from my files.

    Joe
     
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  15. tmfrisco

    tmfrisco Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I was on the safety committee in Tulsa, OK when the 4-8-2 SLSF 1522 came to Tulsa for the employee appreciation activities.

    We had a safety fair and picnic which included several trips to Sapulpa, OK and back. My wife got to ride on the train, but I did not get to because of my responsibilities of the day. I must say that I was absolutely blown away with the beauty of the engine.

    My wife and I had visited the transportation museum in St. Louis when the engine was being restored and seeing it in its completed state was fantastic. I am sure I saw Don, but that was in my pre Frisco.org days and had no idea who was in the cab or working on the engine.

    Anyway, it was a great day for us in Tulsa to get to see such a beautiful engine.

    Terry
     
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  16. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett Member

    Here are the photographs I referenced to in my last post.

    Enjoy!!!

    1522-a-may01.jpg

    1522-b-may01.jpg

    1522-c-may01.jpg

    1522-d-may01.jpg

    1522-e-may01.jpg

    1522-f-may01.jpg

    1522-g-may01.jpg

    1522-h-may01.jpg

    1522-i-may01.jpg

    1522-j-may01.jpg

    1522-g-may01.jpg

    1522-h-may01.jpg

    1522-i-may01.jpg

    1522-j-may01.jpg
     
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  17. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Nice photographs.

    Be still my heart!

    Mike C
     
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  18. tmfrisco

    tmfrisco Member Frisco.org Supporter

    The blue flags on the engine reminded me of when I hired out in June of 1971.

    The only rule I was "familiarized" with was the blue flag rule. I had to sign a document that I had been instructed in this rule. After that I had to make six student trips as a fireman which was done as quickly as I could so that I could mark up on the fireman's extra board and start making money.

    My first student trip was on train No 438 called at 8:15 in Tulsa, OK east to Monett, MO. I stayed in the depot at Monett waiting for the first west bound train to get back home as fast as I could so that I could continue making those trips. Little did I know at the time that lack of sleep would be my lot in life for many of the next thirty eight years.

    All the other rules I learned on the job.

    Terry
     
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  19. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett Member

    Terry , I like your post.

    Joe​
     
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  20. tmfrisco

    tmfrisco Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Thank you, Joe.

    I am surprised at the memories that come to mind by some of the most innocuous things I see here on Frisco.org.

    Of course, your photographs, which are fantastic by the way, are the reason for this particular memory. One question I have is the location of the bridge in these pictures.

    I did not see the bridges from this angle while running trains, so I am finding it impossible to figure out where they were taken.

    Terry
     
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