SLSF on the MoPac

Discussion in 'GP38AC' started by meteor910, Nov 21, 2010.

  1. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    The Missouri Pacific Historical Society (a fine organization by the way) is recognizing class. Yesterday, I received my 2011 MPHS color calendar. As I looked through it, I was surprised to see Frisco orange & white colors on display ..... twice!

    The MPHS February, 2011 picture shows MoP GP38-2 2059 (a bit dirty) rolling through Osawatomie, Kansas on a nice clear Feb, 1977 day. Behind 2011 are clean-looking o/w Frisco GP38AC SLSF 648 and GP38-2 SLSF 417. Those o/w units sure do brighten things up a bit! Good picture!

    Then, I flip the page to the March, 2011 picture. Guess what! - there is another nice photo from March, 1977 showing MP 2020 heading out to Kirkwood on the Carondelet Branch here in St Louis. And, who is behind 2020 pulling 2/3's of the MoP load that day? - Frisco o/w GP38AC SLSF 648 (again) followed by a Frisco o/w 400 class GP38-2. Again, the Frisco units sure do brighten up the pic!

    Both of the blue MP GP's do have the "buzz saw" on the cab sides - something I always liked. Since they were both non-turbo units, they did not have the "screaming eagle" on the hood sides.

    Ken
     
  2. frisco4301

    frisco4301 Member

    So the "screaming eagle" logo signified a turbo-charged locomotive?
     
  3. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Yes. I think they started doing that on their GP35's. Nice touch!

    Ken
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 23, 2010
  4. wmrx

    wmrx MP Trainmaster

    Thanks for kind words in reference to the MPHS. It is a great group which I am proud to be a member of. That calendar should prove that we are "equal opportunity" when it comes to the Frisco and other fallen flags.

    You are correct about the eagle graphic on the side of MP diesels. It was applied to units with turbochargers as a general reference to their higher horsepower. This was done away with in the late 1970s when the new logo with the eagle superimposed over the buzzsaw came into use.
     
  5. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    FYI, I've been a sustaining member of the MPHS for several decades. I think the only HS I've been in longer is the GM&OHS, which was the first one I joined - about 1980 I think.

    I'm not a MoPac "fan", since the Frisco rivalry keeps getting in the way, but I liked the MoPac as a kid and enjoy reading about it now. The MoP has a very strong presence here in StL. The MPHS publication, "The Eagle", is really good - my friend Ed Hawkins did a great job as editor for many years, and now Kevin EuDaly and his WhiteRiver Productions company are doing a super job on "The Eagle" as well.

    Some day I'd like to see us evolve "The Meteor" into one of WhiteRiver's publications like "The Eagle" and the other ten or so RR historical society publicatios they do.

    Another real good one is the Illinois Terminal HS's "The Flyer" (also by WhiteRiver). They just did a terrific issue devoted to the IT in its heyday here in StL and on the east side. Super! I remember my dad talking about the IT; now I understand.

    Ken
     
  6. Mike.P

    Mike.P Member

    I too am a member of the MPHS and a volunteer for the city of Kirkwood, Mo. at their Missouri Pacific (Amtrak) station. Being that all the calendars or either UP or Amtrak, I decided to donate my 2011 MPHS calendar. It just seemed right.

    Mike.P
     
  7. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Good move, Mike. What days are you down at the KW station?

    Be sure to point out the good looking Frisco orange & white locomotives to people in the station during February and March!

    Ken
     
  8. Mike.P

    Mike.P Member

    I work train #311 on Wednesday mornings. I open the station around 7:00 am and lock up around 10:00 am after the 9:44 leaves.

    Mike

    PS
    Will be sure to point out the Frisco power.
     
  9. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I received my copy of the 2012 Missouri Pacific RR Historical Society calendar today. Nice job, as always, but no Frisco locomotives included this time! Come on guys!

    Ken
     
  10. wmrx

    wmrx MP Trainmaster

    Come on, Ken. You can't expect us to do that every time. :)
     

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