There is an individual on Facebook, Wayne Glenn (The Record Collector), whose wall is dedicated to old photographs of Springfield and the surrounding region. From what I gather, Wayne is a local historian, who has published works about Christian County, and who was a local radio personality. Many of the images that he has acquired have been obtained from local flea markets and antique shops. Every now and then, Wayne posts an image of Frisco interest. Recently he posted an image of a spot class locomotive and an image of one of the 1040 class locomotives. Both images show a variation in Frisco steam locomotive lettering heretofore not depicted in the present body of Frisco literature. Below the cab window, each locomotive is lettered “SOUTHERN DIV”. The photos date from the late teens through the twenties. Given the source area of Wayne’s photos, I suspect that they were taken in Springfield or Thayer. The photographs create questions. How long did this practice last? Were only Southern Division locomotives so lettered? Was this an official practice? The photos are posted here courtesy Wayne Glenn. Used with permission.
Talk about having one's paradigm shifted. This has really gotten up my curiosity. Wonder if it was one of those things that coincided with the Hancock number plates? On the photo of #1040, I also noticed something below the FRISCO at the bottom of the cab wall. Looking more carefully at older photos of both the Frisco's Mallets and Spot-series engines, I see the same small print - especially on builder's photos. Maybe others have noticed it before and can explain what it is while we're at it. In any event, the divisional lettering is interesting - might have to start re-reading the FEM's online. This might be what finally pushes me into Bifocal territory. Best Regards,
The lettering at the bottom of the cab is the tonnage class of the locomotive. The link to the Frisco Archive shows a very clear shot the 1102. ..."T.28" Photographic evidence shows that tonnage class was applied until about 1929, and there are shots in the FEM that show tonnage class was applied to passenger locomotives, which have the Doric livery. I believe that the Doric livery first appeared on 182 & 187 in Aug 1928, and was applied quickly to other passnger locomotives. http://i2.wp.com/frisco.org/mainlin.../4-6-0-1102-location-unknown-in-the-1920s.jpg
Thanks, Karl - thar she blows. Oil tender in an 1100-class ten wheeler. Enid, OK roundhouse? I was equally interested in seeing that 1102 is sitting on an "Armstrong" turntable. Best Regards,
