And, how about this? Ugh! Look what 4-8-2 SLSF 1501's caretakers in Rolla did to her in the mid to late 1980s. Eeeek! I realize these are painful to look at and post them only with great hesitation. Thank goodness, sanity returned soon thereafter with, I believe, some help from the St Louis Steam Train Association (SLSTA). The folks at SLSTA were the wonderful caretakers of 4-8-2 SLSF 1522, and SLSF 1501 was quickly returned to more appropriate dress. Ken
Man, what were they thinking? Or I guess the question should be why were they not thinking? Trains look that way in India, but not here. That was horrible. I realize that there was no Internet then, but I know of at least one and possibly two books that had been published by that time. Each would clearly show how to paint it. I am glad it is better now. Steve
I think that a playmate friend of mine back in the late 1940s had an American Flyer set that was a close second. Still looks better than a rusting hulk with graffiti all over it.
I think one of the boiler builder's ID plates has run off within the last several years as well. It is sad when people have nothing better to do than cause damage and steal.
Here is the standard with which to compare its condition today, with this day in June 1955. This was 56 years ago yesterday. And yes, there are those ****ed whitewalls!
National Geographic did a special on the last steam locomotives in India. Each engineer had his own girl to decorate as he so choose. India is one of the largest democracies in the Western World despite some religious differences. That does not happen in the USA of course. Some of the steam locomotives looked like some of the tourist railroads do in the U.S. today. The Smokey Mountain should have used Southern green, period! Branson Scenic Railway should have painted their diesel in the Frisco's passenger scheme! Is that asking too much? Texas and Pacific (T&P) 638 that the Tee Pee donated to Fair Park fell into the hands of vandals too. My grandfather took his little grandson down to see it shortly after it was put on display. We climbed to the top of the tender. I thought I was on top of the world! Alas, the idiots at Fair Park sold it for scrap. The T&P replaced it with a New York Central (NYC) locomotive. Horrors, in Texas? It started what became the Age of Rust Museum. The current Fair Park idiots took legal eagle action to have them removed from the fairgrounds. Perhaps the move to Frisco is a blessing in disguise though, since two (2) Frisco steam locomotives will find a well deserved home next to home rails! I apologize for some non-Frisco content. I am only human and not a machine! I will donate my feather bed. The diehards will have to buy the tar and at today's high cost of petroleum products. It will not be cheap! Joe Toth The Trinity River Bottoms Boomer of Dallas, Texas Derailed in Deutschland, shoved onto the Rip Track and Forgotten
Whoa, Joe. You need to rethink that Branson Scenic comment. If a repaint is necessary, the color of choice would be blue and gray with yellow stripes. Need I say more?
I have a photograph of 4-8-2 SLSF 1501 and the crew who put her there in 1955. My grandfather, great-grandfather, and great uncle were members of the crew. I will see if I can get it to scan and attach it if you would like. I remember hearing stories about all their memories of her and feel it would be a great way to keep the 'family tradition' for the love of trains going. I am new to the group and would like to see about building a smaller scale of the Blue Bonnet Special. Anyone have any advice for getting started?
Please do post your 1501 shot at Rolla in 1955. She sure looked fine when she arrived there and went on display. Her Doric striping was not totally complete, but enough to give you the idea! Ken
Nice pictures everyone. Should really help in the modeling realm. Glad that there are folks who still care about steam locomotives. Maybe someday they will return to ride the rails.
To add to the timeline of the bell theft there is a picture on Dr. Condren's Frisco Locomotive Page showing the bell missing as early February of 1969. One month before St. Patricks' Day so it maybe it was taken during 1968 instead. I know this is most likely a lost cause, it would just be nice to find the old bell. It is probably long gone, or tucked away in someone's attic. Ship it on the Frisco! Murphy Jenkins
I am probably way to late to say this, but as we all know 4-8-2 SLSF 1501 does not have a bell anymore. There is a local construction firm called "Alberici" that makes environmental buildings and things. I had to go there a while back, and in their office was a big bell. http://www.alberici.com/Pages/default.aspx Upon closer inspection, the words "FRISCO" were engraved in it. I always wanted to go back and ask where they got it from, but never had the time. I will try to see if they still have it, or where it is now. Frisco152251
Several years ago, I posted a series of photographs of 4-8-2 SLSF 1501 at Rolla, MO. They were taken over time, showing among other things, the steady loss of various parts of the locomotive. The bell has been gone for some time. Ken
For anyone looking for 4-8-2 SLSF 1501, she is at the end of East 16th Street in Rolla, MO. Please see the following link. https://www.google.com/maps/@37.9561417,-91.7660708,180m/data=!3m1!1e3
Now the class lights are gone also. Headlight lens and reflector gone and it almost looks like the right side builder's plate is gone. And of course, the ubiquitous white paint bandit has struck. However, she looks better than the last iteration where she had the circus paint job done by the Lighthouse for the Blind.
