This is my favorite Frisco steam negative. When I bought the negative, I didn't realize the rarity of the photograph until after it was scanned. Frisco Pacific, 1006, Brooks class of 1904 with train 309, The Kansas Limited, calls on Neodesha, KS on a summer day during August 1929. The Kansas Limited carried a 16-section Pullman between St Louis and Joplin, and it provided coach or chair car service between St Louis and Wichita; between Wichita and Ellsworth, trains 309/310 were handled by a Bull Moose. Food service was provided with meal stops at Joplin and Wichita. At this time, Pullman service between St Louis and Wichita was handled by trains 7/307 and trains 310/10. Train 309, when on time arrived at Neodesha at 9:55 AM, and the train lingered there for 5 minutes to exchange passengers, mail and express, and engine crews. It appears that the departing engineer is oiling around and inspecting his charge before departing for Wichita. The inbound crew and the outbound fireman appear to be exchanging pleasantries such as the locomotive’s performance, local gossip, the results of yesterday's Cardinals' game, or perhaps the ever rising stock market, which peaked on September 3rd. Given the 5 minute sojourn at Neodesha, no one looks to be in any kind of hurry. Times are still good, and someone has a new 1929 Chevy sedan parked by the depot. While looking through the FM and FEM digital collection for information about the 1006, I found one brief item. On Mar 7, 1927, the 1006 on train 306, while in control of Engineer E. N. Walker and Fireman Oscar Hall between Wichita and Neodesha and in control of Engineer J. P. Dwyer and Fireman C. F. Linthcum set a fuel performance record. During the run from Wichita to Monett, the 1006 consumed 9 tons of coal, while making 31 stops. That is an average of 10.1 lbs of coal per passenger car-mile. It's very possible that Messrs. Walker, Hall, Dwyer, and Linthcum are in this image. It doesn't stretch the imagination too far to believe that we see E. N. Walker oiling the 1006, while Hall, Dwyer, and Linthcum chat on the platform. In this view, the appearance of 1006 is much changed from it as-delivered appearance. As-built, the 10 locomotives of this class had canted steam chest, which was typical of Alco products of that era; the engine was equipped with piston valves actuated by Stephenson valve gear. The pilot truck wheels and trailer wheels were spoked. The "split" counterweights, arched cab windows, and a boxy-looking, high mounted, carbon-arc head lamp rounded-out the as-delivered appearance. For early views of this class, see page xii and page 125 in Collias's Frisco Power. After several trips through the West Shops, the 1006 received a new steam chest and Walschaert valve gear. The locomotive received a Pyle headlamp, which was placed at the center of the smokebox front, the cab received the "full-window" treatment, the firebox was lengthened from 6' 4-9/16" to 7' 2-1/8", the pilot wheels were replaced with solid-centered wheels, and the main driver was replaced. Other locomotives of this class received a second New York air compressor, and some received the "man-hole cover", solid-centered trailer wheels; the 1007 was converted to oil. The entire class was retired between 1946 and 1947; the 1006 was retired 30-DEC-1947. In spite of the physical changes applied to the 1006, the most notable feature shown in this photo is the "extra" striping applied to 1006's tender. I call it the "Deluxe Doric Livery". This is only the second time that I've seen the Deluxe Doric Livery applied to a locomotive. See Don Wirth's image of the 1502 at St Louis http://www.frisco.org/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=2772&d=1143033744 Seeing the extra touches added to a 1500 may not be a surprise, but finding a “Little Ten-Hundred” with the additional stripes was a pleasant surprise. I have searched the digital FM's and FEM's for articles that might discuss the first application of the gold striping to passenger locomotives. Surely, a new paint scheme would warrant an article in the Frisco's house organ, but thus far, I have not found one. It seems that this version of the Doric scheme was short-lived; perhaps the economic realities of the depression killed the Deluxe Doric scheme, or perhaps it was too difficult to apply. Even without the additional striping, Frisco passenger locomotives received a livery that was second to none. Anyone know more?
Karl, What a classy locomotive and a classic narrative of the history behind the photo! I can certainly see why it is your favorite. Kudos for posting!
Karl Fascinating! I assume by "extra Doric" you refer to the stripping around the coal bunker. I have seen this photo before, and Don's of the 1500 as well, but never tumbled to the extra stripping. I wonder how wide-spread this was. 60+ years of looking at this stuff and I never noticed. Just goes to show . . . . Gordon
Gordon, Exactly...the "Extra Doric" or "Deluxe Doric" consists of the additional striping placed on the raised (fuel bunker) portion of the tender sides. I have only seen this variation applied on two locomotives, i.e., the 1502 and the 1006. It begs the question you posed.... How widespread? as well as... When were the doric stripes first appiled to Frisco passenger power? and When was the "Extra Doric" variation discontinued.
Karl, Gordon--Do you think these extra stripes in these two examples were just random customizing "touches?" Like something to do with a little extra time on a Friday afternoon just before quitting time? Tom
Or an experiment to see what the added striping looked like in service and what the reaction was? Ken
I can’t recall any reference with regard to a date when the Doric stripes were applied first to Frisco passenger locomotives. I always assumed that the practice began not long after the delivery of the 1500’s during 1923, 1925, or 1926. My second assumption was that originally, the 1500’s were the principal recipient of the Doric stripes, and the practice spread to other passenger classes after the 182-class rebuilds appeared. As stated previously, I have conducted a cursory search through the digital FM’ and FEM’s for any reference to the Doric stripes. Unfortunately, the search engine supplied by the Springfield/Greene County Library is not very powerful, and queries require a lot of “manual” searching. The collection of digital magazines is incomplete, so the issue that might contain useful information may be missing. The search continues. During 1928-1929 the Frisco rebuilt the 4-4-0’s of the 182 class. An article entitled, “NEW PAINT GIVES ENGINES NOVEL APPEARANCE”, appears in the Nov 1928 FEM. The picture on page 18 of the FEM depicts the 187 with the standard Doric livery. The article states, “To further improve their appearance of these engines, they are painted Pullman green and lettered and striped with gold leaf to harmonize with the rest of the train.” The article does not state that the engines were painted to match the existing passenger livery. Is that fact important? The opening sentence of the article also states, "In keeping with the modern vogue of colors in the industry (the italics are mine), Frisco Lines have placed in service on trains 11 and 12, running between St Louis and Springfield, engines 183 and 187 painted Pullman green, striped, and lettered with gold leaf...". I get a sense that this livery is new to the Frisco. Arguments may insue with regard to the "newness" of the livery as a whole, or the Pullman green base color, or the stripes themselves. http://thelibrary.org/lochist/frisco...%5F11%5F16.pdf 1. The photo dates of the 1006 and the 1502 occur during 1929. The dating of the photograph of the 1006 is helped by having the 1929 Chevy in the picture; it can’t be earlier or much later than ca. 1929. The Chevy hasn’t been modified. For example, its original headlamps have not been replaced with seal-beam lamps which might put a later date on the image. 2. Photographs taken during the 1920’s of Frisco passenger locomotives are rare in the published body of Frisco images. 3. There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of evidence that “free-lancing” occurred with regard paint schemes, i.e., “one-off” schemes. Having said that, I’ll contradict myself by noting that some, but not all locomotives received a red cab roof, but I believe that practice occurred at a later date than the 1920’s. One might also point to some of the variation with the 1060’s, but again this occurs at a slightly later date. 4 .The notion of having several striping and lettering examples for comment might be possible, but at that time, was it the practice of the Frisco to solicit public comment? Perhaps the two examples were done for a look-see by management. Lacking any further evidence, my current thesis is that the 182-class of 1928-1929 was the first group of Frisco locomotives to receive the Doric striping. Frisco management liked the new paint scheme, expanded it to the “Deluxe Doric” pattern, and during 1929, the railroad applied it to other passenger locomotives, i.e., the 1500’s and the Ten Hundreds”. The stock market crash and ensuing depression killed the Deluxe Doric pattern, but the “Standard Doric” pattern was retained. Thoughts? Comments? Additional evidence is requested.
Karl--Here's another engine with the extra tender stripes. I can't recall any details about this picture or where came from?? Not sure if it's from this chat board or somewhere else. Tom
Sweet! Does the pic have a date? It has to be early, since the locomotive still has the Sellers exhaust injector(replaced by '29?). The locomotive also carries the class number under the "Frisco" lettering. As Don pointed out to me, the cab fretwork on this locomotive and the 1006 is also different that the "modern" style.
Sorry no date or details for the picture. I can only imagine what a nightmare it would be to decal a model with those stripes! Tom