4-8-4 SLSF 4516 Yours truly with 4-8-4 SLSF 4516. Missouri State Fairgrounds, Sedalia, MO in 1999. Photograph by Ron Kelly, my father-in-law.
4-8-4 SLSF 4516 4-8-4 SLSF 4516 on display and in rather sorry condition. Missouri State Fairgrounds, Sedalia MO in August, 1999. Hitched to it is a Missouri Pacific caboose with a MoPac logo on the tender sides.
After chasing the 4-6-6-4 UP 3985 from Gray Summit, MO to Sedalia, MO my brother and I stopped by the Missouri State Fairgrounds to pay our respects to the 4-8-4 SLSF 4516. Since Chris’s visit during 1999, the SLSF 4516 has been repainted, and its MP Eagle and Buzz Saw have been removed. It still lacks the “FRISCO” name below the cab window. After being exposed to the elements for the last 52 years, it does not look too bad, although a cover would go a long way toward keeping its appearance. When the Frisco completed the dieselization of its locomotive fleet, it placed several 4500s in storage at Ft Scott, KS including SLSF 4509, 4510, 4511, 4516 and 4519. By 1956, it was apparent that there would be no need to recall to duty any of the inactive steam locomotives, and three of the 4500s were scrapped in Ft Scott. Among them was the SLSF 4511. I am unable to determine which other two were scrapped at this time. During 1958, the SLSF 4516 was sold for $1.00 to the Missouri State Fair association. Ft Scott shop men cleaned and painted the SLSF 4516, which made its last revenue run on November 29, 1951. The locomotive was turned over to the Katy for delivery to Sedalia and the State Fair Grounds. As Don Wirth points out, this was indeed a great irony to place a Frisco locomotive and caboose in the “back yard” of one of the Missouri Pacific’s major locomotive shops. The largest steam locomotives operated by the Katy were in 1920-built Lima L2c class, 2-8-2s and its 1923-built Lima L2d class, 2-8-2s. Both locomotives weighed 324,ooo pounds. The 4-8-4 SLSF 4516 weighed 479,000 pounds. One wonders what the Katy did, if anything, to its line between Ft. Scott and Sedalia in order to handle the much larger SLSF 4516. No doubt, it was a slow trip to Sedalia. Images 1-3 were taken during 1974, the SLSF 4516 still had its jacket and many of the pipes still had their lagging. The over-fire jets can be seen on the firebox. Someone had liberated the classification lamps, and most of the glazing in the cab was gone. Caboose SLSF 734 had been replaced with the SLSF 1109. Image 4 shows the SLSF 4516 on 10-9-2010. The locomotive has been repainted recently, and the stack has been capped. The track under the front part of the locomotive has disappeared under the sod. Image 5 shows the distinctive Pyle National headlight and number plate bracket. Image 6 depicts the tender sans the MP Buzz Saw Images 7-9 show elements of the locomotive valve pilot. The elements include the box, which contains the cam, which is linked to the valve gear, the speedometer "wheel", and the speed recorder in the cab. The device was intended to help the engineer set the right cut-off for a given speed. The speed recorder in the cab recorded the locomotive speed and cutoff on a paper tape. Image 10. The Nathan DV-5 lubricator held 26 pints of oil, and was driven from the valve motion on the right side. Image 11. The 4500's carried a Ohio Injector Co., T-60, 10,000 gallon injector on the fireman's side. The double drawbar, the radial buffer, the stoker housing, and the Franklin booster can be seen also. Image 12. On the right side, the 4500s carried a Coffin feedwater heater pump. Image 13 shows the trailer, the Coffin feedwater heater pump, the over-fire jets, and the valve pilot shaft as it snakes its way back to the speed recorder. Image 14 shows the Pyle turbo generator, the Oakadee blowdown muffler and separator, which is used in conjunction with the Signal foam meter. The over-fire jets can be seen too. Image 15 shows the Manning, Maxwell & Moore whistle and the Ashton safety valves. Image 16 shows the stack with its Frisco-styled smoke lifter, the booster exhaust, and the remnants of the smoke-density lamp. Image 16 shows the steam chest sans jacket.
Nice photograph essay Karl! While we are chatting about 4500s, do you have any information about one of the 4500s parked for several months up around Lockwood, MO or Greenfield, MO somewhere around the 1959-1960 period? I saw it there in a trip on train No 108, but I cannot remember the year. I had heard it was being transferred either to or from Ft. Scott, KS and there was some kind of problem so they had to leave it there for a while. Sketchy information I know, but it attracted attention and was unusual because it was so long after dieselization. Thanks, Tom
That was probably the 4-8-4 SLSF 4519 going to Springfield, MO to be cut up. It was around that time frame. She was my Dad's favorite of the coal burners. Good to see some paint on the SLSF 4516 Karl and the removal of the obnoxious buzz saw. Also has the obligatory white tires. People just cannot resist doing that for some reason. Wish it was up here at the museum.
I am sorry, but leaving a steam locomotive in such condition as that, is a criminal act. They are part of history and every surviving unit should be restored to active operating duty under modern requirements. I would rather see our tax dollars go to fix these beauties than to go to some bridge to now where, wasteful political benefit, or some red tape. Ah alright, enough of the soap box talk.
As much as I think all of us steam fans would like to see that happen, but it is not never going to happen. Politics is a business. I do hope that they put a cover over her sometime soon. Steve
And if the political hacks are not going to be able to pay the police, the firemen, the teachers, etc., they are not going to take care of old steam engines in a park. Our beautiful National Parks are even falling into bad shape. Sad, but true. Ken
I know, but really how much money is wasted on stupid stuff? Even at $500,000 to repair one engine, that is pittance in comparison to all the stupid stuff we shell money out for.
If some politician saw that they could get more than a few votes out of fixing her up, it would be done. Stupid, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Steve
Nice photographs Karl. We missed the Missouri State Fair this summer due to vacation, but SLSF 4516 appears nicely spruced up from when we last saw her in August 2009. It has always seemed quite incongruous to see Frisco motive power enshrined in a Missouri Pacific / Katy town, but I am glad it is there. The Nathan lubricator is intriguing. I need to research this gadget further online. Can you or anyone else advise, was this standard equipment on most 1940s era Frisco motive power, or was it exclusive to the 4500 class? Best Regards,
These Nathan lubricators found their way onto most engines from the 1930s on. We installed a second one on 4-8-2 SLSF 1522. They are good lubricators.
I do not think the whistle in photo #15 is an MM&M whistle, because it has a cast iron bowl and valve. I have an same exact whistle in my collection, and have been told it is a shop built "Frisco Hancock". Apparently, they copied the Hancock bell portion, cast them themselves, and either cast or went commercial with the valve and bowl. Every Hancock or MM&M whistle I have seen has an all brass shallow bowl instead of this deeper, cast iron version. Also, the the bell portion is not as finely cast or finished as a true Hancock. Does anyone have any firm information, or photographs of the shop built whistles?
