Hello Frisco Folks Here is a photos of Frisco 2-8-0 Mougle #76, & 77 Enjoy, Rich Ship it on the Frisco!
Great color shot of Mississippi 76 switching a Frisco boxcar in 1962. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=281360&nseq=87 Steve
It is so clear and fresh looking that it is hard to believe that it was taken 47 years ago, a year and a half before I was born. Steve
Last weekend I visited the Train Festival 2009 at the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan. A very impressive gathering of steam power! While poking around the SRI's turntable and engine shed, I came across this little boomer engine (ex-Gettysburg 76, ex- Penn View Mountain 76, ex-Mississippian 76, ex-SLSF 76, ex-JLC&E 40). I snapped a few quick pictures, without much attention to artistic quality. Raindrops on the camera lens didn't help matters. The 76 looks pretty rough in her current partially-dismantled condition, but an SRI staffer told me that they consider her to be restorable. Let's hope so. At least she's in covered and protected storage, although as you can see her tender is less fortunate.
I spent some time in early '63 and late '65 in Amory on the way to or back from Ft. Rucker, AL. Rode around on both 2-8-0s and thought it was a slick operation. Neat little engines and I hope the SRI gets the 76 back in service some day.
It would be pretty sweet to see the #76 run again. Might I ask what was the fate of #77. Was it scrapped or is it sitting around rusting somewhere? Would be kinda nice to see another Frisco steamer running in my life. Sofar I've only seen the 1522. I read the 1630 was in restoration too. So hopefully we'll get to see some engines run. Ship it on the Frisco!!! Murphy Millican
# 77 is happy in Stettler Alberta in tourist train operation on the Alberta Prairie...I had the pleaseure to operate her in 1997, 76 unfortunately sits dismantled in Osweego, Wi at the Steam Railroading Institiute, where they say she needs a boiler...dennis B|-|
Thanks for the reply glad to know they both exist. It would be amazing to see the #77 & #76 together in action. Ship it on the Frisco!!! Murphy Millican
that was our dream back in the early 80's...to get them both on home trackage and develop a fully functional tourist operation...however due to small town politics and jealousy, it never came to pass...to my knowledge they were never double headed when they were in service on the Mississippi. the Alberta Prairie was going to buy the 76 from OC, but osweego got it first|-|
Don Wirth -- When I visited the Mississippian back in the early '60's I was told that the whistle on 77 had come from a Frisco hudson. Did you ever hear anything like this? Gordon
Does anyone know who the builder of #76 is? I'm trying to find a better boiler than the metal Mantua boiler. Thanks! Manny EDIT: NEVERMIND. FOUND IT. BALDWIN.
Manny, just started to reply and then saw you edit. You are correct, sir: Baldwin, 1920. If you have not already checked it out, see the old FMIG Newsletter #28. Doug Hughes wrote a fantastic piece on Frisco 2-8-0s, with major dimensional data, drawings, photos and such. Incidentally, this article was one of the first in-depth pieces that I can recall reading after Mike C. published on one of the earliest Frisco websites c. 1994 or 1995. It's a real gem. Best Regards,
Here's a link to the Facebook page of an Explorer troop that is reportedly working on restoring the much-travelled #76: https://www.facebook.com/explorerpost1225 It was sent to me by the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso (link: http://michigansteamtrain.com/). BAS
Interesting video at their site. Looks like a restoration under way! If they need help?? I'd join in!! Dan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4G8hREPjHw&sns=fb
I had earlier posted this photo of #77, but here it is again looking very nice (though you may want to overlook the whistle) but a long ways from home out in Alberta. Gordon
Thanks, FMIG NL 28 was a fun one to research. Frisco never used 0-8-0's since they had so many 2-8-0's. Doug
