From Richard Crabtree on the Frisco Rails Across Missouri Facebook group: With the Frisco Railroad coming to Springfield in 1870, Springfield Missouri and the Frisco Railroad saw incredible growth. At one time the Frisco Railroad was the largest employer with over 4,000 people. Learn about building and dismantling of a once great railroad and the town it helped grow.
From Richard Crabtree on the Frisco Rails Across Missouri Facebook group: I did a talk yesterday on the how the Frisco Railroad greatly impacted the growth of Springfield. We must not forget the many employees that made this possible like Joseph William Vinson. Joesph (38) moved to Springfield around 1905 with his wife Elizabeth Cora Nichols-Vinson (27) and his children ~ Alma Maxie Vinson, Ruby Lee Vinson, Helen Baker Vinson, Willie Elizabeth Vinson, Wilma Eveline Vinson, Thelma Ida Vinson. They would have one more child Robert Leslie Vinson born in Springfield but did not make it to his first birthday. They would live at 1228 Summit here in Springfield. Joseph started out as a fireman and by 1910 was an engineer. He was an engineer on the Frisco for over 30 years. Jose ph lost his wife in 1942 at the age of 75. He would December 19th 1951 at 84. Today photo is of Frisco No 658 4-6-0 Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works 1904 ~ Joseph William Vinson standing on top his locomotive around 1910. Karl Brand: The locomotive depicted in the image was built by Baldwin (BN 2304) and delivered to the Frisco during Dec 1870 as Number 39; it was renumbered to 139, then to 658, and then finally to 2658 after the merger. The locomotive depicted in the image had 18x24 cylinders; carried 135 psi boiler pressure; had 54" drivers a second source lists 52.5" drivers; engine weight was listed as 80,355 lbs. The locomotive developed 15,400lbs of tractive effort. It was retired during June 1907 The 1904 Baldwin-built 4-6-0, was a "much bigger" locomotive and weighed in at 173,600 lbs, and it developed 29,500 lbs of tractive effort.
