A recent post of an ad with SLSF 99053 made me review this thread. I believe that by January, 1961 SLSF 99053 had been converted to Caterpillar Diesel power but the pile driver being used is steam driven. Someone may be able to confirm the conversion date of SLSF 99053 from steam to diesel.
Keith, I have always used the list that Mike Condren has compiled on his website. http://condrenrails.com/Frisco/Frisco_Derricks.htm However, it does not list SLSF 99053 anywhere. I think we can safely add it to this list, but perhaps add some further detective work to try to nail down a more precise date. Best Regards,
Jeff was kind enough to lend me these slides for inclusion in my book, Frisco in Color, Vol. 2, which will be released later this year. The thing I found most interesting was the second image, which shows the contents of one of the cars, flour or maybe kaolin, being spilled into the Gasconade River. One has to wonder how that would have been handled these days when we are much more sensitive to environmental issues. Good stuff! GS
My dad said grandpa worked this wreck. I get the impression a lot of the wreck got cut up with a torch. That makes sense because of the wreckage tangled up in the bridge.