I am starting this thread as a "fan" of 4-8-4 SLSF 4519 decorated as when she pulled the one time "Will Rogers Special." I know that this scheme was only a temporary paint job, but I was wondering if anyone here liked the paint scheme as much as I do? I always wished that the Frisco had decorated two or three engines with that scheme and permanently assigned them to the "Will". Tom G.
Tom, I had not thought of this photograph in a while until you mentioned it. I think it is one of the few instances of steam motive power on the Frisco having the train name on the side. The other examples I can think of, and more permanent examples at that include the following. a) The Meteor, obviously, on 4-8-4 SLSF 4500-4502 b) The Sunnyland - also on the tender of 4-6-2 SLSF 1042 on its inaugural run. Since SLSF 4519 was not regular power, what was typically assigned to The Will Rogers, post-war and pre-dieselization? I am referring to steam power only. See E7As (EA7) SLSF 2000 and SLSF 2003 lettered for The Texas Special.
I think they just used whatever engines that were ready at St. Louis, MO or Oklahoma City, OK. The "Will" was an overnighter and they really did not need anything fancy. A photograph of that engine and lettering is on page 212 of Joe Collias' book Frisco Power. Too bad, the script lettering was very neat! Tom G.
I have always had fond memories of 4-8-4 SLSF 4519. In the early 1960s when my brother and I were six and eight our Dad would take us to the scrap area at the Broadway Yards. SLSF 4519 was waiting to be salvaged for several years there. We would climb all over, inside and out. From the tender water tanks to inside the firebox we explored every nook and cranny that we could fit into. It seems like we would do this every month on a Saturday during the summer. Can you imagine doing that today with the security and liability issues?
