Grandson of a Frisco employee

Hello Frisco.org members,

I recently retired from the Marine Corps and have been using a little bit of my newly granted extra time to learn more about my fathers side of the family. My grandfather John T. Hilderbrand worked for the Frisco railroad before serving in WWII and after he came home all the way up until 1975 when he passed away in his late 50’s. It is to my understanding he started as a Fireman on the steam locomotives and eventually became an Engineer and was so until the day he passed away. I’m looking to connect with members of this great community to learn more about him and what engines he may have run.

 

Hi, John!

Can you tell us anything about WHERE on the system he worked?

 

He lived in Valley Park Mo. My aunt told me he was an Engineer for both passenger and Freight. When he run passenger lines it was overnight to Newburgh and when he did freight lines he’d be gone for 4 to 6 days. I found an old employee magazine from the late 30’s which would have been when he started which indicated he was on the river division. I don’t know if he continued in that division for the rest of his career or if that division even remained in the Frisco lines. Thanks for your quick response.

 

Thank you Mr Wirth. The Great folks over at the Iron Spike in Washington recommended I get in contact with you but I didn’t want to bother you. Glad to see your name show up in this thread. The attached thumbnail is a screen shot of a page out of a late 30’s employee magazine. It mentions two Hilderbrand’s on two separate engines but there are no initials. An Engineer on one train and a fireman on the other. My grandfather would have been just 18 or 19 at this time so id say he would’ve been the Hilderbrand listed as a Fireman. I believe my great grandfather John T. Hilderbrand Sr. also worked for the Frisco so it is possible that one of the Hilderbrand’s listed could also be him.

 

Here is a picture of him taken in Newburg Mo April 1946. Can anyone identify the type of engine?

 

One of the coal-burning 4500’s.

 

Thanks Karl. Really wish I could see the number on the side. In honor of him I’d like to have this photo and a model of this engine displayed in my home. I guess any number between 4503and 4524 would be ok then? Any idea if I could find the like in O-Scale?

 

There are lots of excellent photos of this class on the Frisco Archive....http://frisco.org/mainline/

The running board was a bit different on the 4503 than the rest of the class, so we can be relatively confident that the picture is not of 4503. I don’t believe that there is an O scale model of the 4500’s available. Lionel has a passenger version promised. It is not an accurate model...https://www.micromark.com/Lionel-Frisco-Legacy-4-8-4-4500-O-Gauge. Don With has worked with Glacier Park, who has produced both freight and passenger models. He might be able to find one for you. They are gorgeous models.

Glacier Park Models Photo:

 

Wow, that is truly impressive. It will be my first and probably the one and only train I buy so I want to get it rite. I’ve got to have it regardless of the price.