2-10-0 SLSF 1621 Here are various views of "Russian" decapod SLSF 1621 over the years. She is looking good these days with a cosmetic restoration and the headlight lowered. All photographs were taken at the Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood, MO on the following dates. Photographs 1-3 - June 26, 2006 (3), Photograph 4 - October 22, 2002, and Photographs 5-6 - April, 1988. Photographs by Rich Lawler.
Here she is in Eagle-Picher garb, date unknown. The assortment of rolling stock nearby suggests to me that it was sometime shortly after she arrived at the National Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood, MO. Bradley A. Scott
When we were restoring SLSF 1522, I took it upon myself to lower the headlight on the SLSF 1621. In retrospect, I wish I had drilled new holes about 6-8" lower and mounted it just below center. I used the holes that were plugged by the Frisco when they moved it up way above center. I wanted the museum to resurrect the doghouse that came off the SLSF 1522 and put it on SLSF 1621. I am not sure it is still out there any more. IRM built a doghouse for the SLSF 1630 and restored the sideboards on the tender to give it the original profile. It looks great.
SLSF 1621 now has SLSF 1522's doghouse up top. SLSF 1621's looking a bit worse for wear, some metal is rusting through on the tender, and she could use some paint. All in the money and volunteers.
Is this actually SLSF 1621 (2nd), acquired from the Fort Smith, Subiaco & Rock Island? If so, what year was this locomotive acquired by Frisco? Does anyone have details of this transaction? Does anyone have an accurate date for when it had been acquired by the FSS&RI?
It is certainly the second SLSF 1621. Joe Collias, in Frisco Power, second edition, page 64 relates that "...the original No. 1621. ... was completely destroyed in an as yet unexplained dynamite explosion in the Alabama coal fields in the 1920s." He earlier gave information that SLSF 1617 to SLSF 1623, presumably including the original SLSF 1621, were built by Richmond. SLSF 1621 at the NMOT has Baldwin builder plates. More details about the acquisition of the second SLSF 1621 would be interesting, indeed.
A quick perusal of the Annual Reports indicates that the original 1621 was destroyed during 1921. We must make an inference since the roster of Bolsheviks was 20 during 1920, and that number dropped to 19 during 1921. Likewise, during 1927, the number of Bolshevks rose from 19 to 20, and by inference we can assume that the addition came from the FSS&RI. Will have to read the fine print to see if I can find more details. It would seem that the process to replace 1ST-1621 took several years to complete. I also wonder if the extension to Pensacola played a part with the acquisition of FSS&RA 101? The FEM show that the coal burning Bolsheviks handled many of the trains on the Mud Line. Did the Frisco anticipate that traffic demand would require another 2-10-0?
The Bolsheviks were purchased under two separate equipment purchase contracts with the US War Department. The first ten arrived during 1919, and the second ten arrived during 1920. Both contracts were identical... Ten locomotives for $250,000; $25,000 down with 9 equal installment payments paid annually with an interest rate of 6% per annum on deferred payments.
May 19, 2018 - Our museum received a telephone call from Clinton, MO concerning a medallion found with a metal detector . It reads W. W. Wilcox Chicago SLSF Ry 1621 Special. He asked for any information available and the significance of "Special".
Brass baggage tag which may not have anything to do with the 2-10-0 SLSF 1621. W. W. Wilcox manufactured these.
Russian Decapod 2-10-0 SLSF 1621 is getting repainted. I hope the bell and headlight are in a safe place.
I wish I had lowered that headlight another 6" when I lowered it from the Eagle Picher location. It is still too high. I did that one day when we were working on 4-8-2 SLSF 1522.
