The National Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood, MO has in its collection an 0-6-0 switcher, Scullin Steel 95. This was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1905 or 1906 as SL-SF 3695, sold to Scullin Steel and then donated to the NMOT in 1956. As you can see from the photographs, the locomotive is in poor shape. I do not know why they took off the cylinder covers, but it seems like a good way to lose them. Note the unusual tender trucks, a Scullin design. Photographs taken on May 2, 2009. Photographs by Rich Lawler.
I wish they would fix up 0-6-0 SLSF 3695. It would be another added survivor to be in good shape. One of these days I will get to go to National Museum of Transportation (NMOT).
A fresh coat of paint would go a long way! If possible I will try to start a Frisco steam restoration fund. For both the engine that may be scrapped and for the 0-6-0 SLSF 3695. At least the SLSF 3695 seems to have somewhat of a home at NMOT with all the other Frisco engines. Ship it on the Frisco! Murphy Millican
I posted similar thoughts, and pictures, as those Rich posted above regarding SLSF 3695 at the NMOT back in October, 2008, when a few of us met there. We are thinking alike! I wonder if we ought to consider a small St Louis-based frisco.org task force to approach the NMOT to try to convince them to move 0-6-0 SLSF 3695 up higher on their restoration list? The logic is hard to beat: o The NMOT does not have very many 0-6-0 types. o It is a unique looking 0-6-0 with a number of interesting features. o The 3695 is a former Frisco locomotive - a St. Louis fallen flag road, that was a local favorite. Aw, shucks, it was THE favorite! o The 3695 served the bulk of its later years switching Scullin Steel, a former prominent St. Louis railroad-related industry, that is now gone. o It is a small locomotive, that, hopefully, will not require extensive repair for a cosmetic restoration. At least they pulled it out of the poison ivy! Ken
Don Wirth, please chime in. You know better than any of us what would be involved in doing a proper cosmetic restoration of 0-6-0 SLSF 3695. What are we talking about, both in terms of money and man-hours of volunteer labor? There are certain aspects that simply have to be done professionally, and that costs money. It is always dangerous to speculate from photographs, but she does not appear to be in terribly bad physical condition, at least for a cosmetic restoration. Of course it would be great if she could be restored to operating condition to serve as the museum switcher. This means she would only, I assume, have to pass inspections by a state boiler inspector and an insurance inspector, but not the FRA. But that goes way beyond where anyone is now. The point is only that any cosmetic restoration should be careful not to preclude later doing an operational restoration. Gordon
Wow. I was looking in closely at the photographs of the 0-6-0 SLSF 3695. I noticed on the coonskin photograph that the 95 section of the engine's number plate is original. Also in small letters it still shows markings of the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis (KCFS&M) Railroad. On the steam restoration group plan, I would try to set up a separate page once some members can be confirmed, then try some various fundraisers to try to start some work. Are you listening Mike? I could not do much for the engine as I live in Van Buren, AR, but I would try to make a trip or two up to St. Louis. I would love to see this engine saved. Ship it on the Frisco! Murphy Millican
Count me in on this, whether restored to display or running. I do machine rebuilding and maintenance for a living. Dan
This would be nice to restore 0-6-0 SLSF 3695, then submit what is needed to a manufacturing company to have her modeled in all scales! Will
A bit old time but I love the Hancock-style number plate showing cylinder diameter, type, driving wheel centers. Looks like it is missing the tonnage class, but does have the KCFS&M sublettering for lagniappe. Can you imagine trying to squeeze that extra information on an HO-Scale number board if the Frisco had consistently followed this format through the years? 8^)
I went to the National Museum of Transportation yesterday and noticed this detail on the Frisco 0-6-0 SLSF 3695 which I had missed before. This photograph indicates the last time the locomotive has been cosmetically restored. Rich
Chris, That is why I am so anxious to see the NMOT do some work to restore SLSF 3695 to a better museum display than it is now. Frisco 0-6-0 SLSF 3695 was a switcher that ended her career working for Scullin Steel. So, the NMOT, who has few 0-6-0 types, has one that not only is from a St. Louis "Fallen Flag" railroad, a very much respected railroad, but also worked a St. Louis "Fallen Flag" industry, a company of considerable fame in the transportation industry. You would think they would leap at the opportunity to make SLSF 3695 one of the stars of their collection. But so far, no go, and you can hear her hissing as she rusts. Ken
Ken, Indeed. The 0-6-0 SLSF 3695, class of 1906, and member of the 3686-3695 group of engines would be a great cosmetic restoration for the museum. I grabbed a few shots 2 years ago. She bears a Hannock number plate with KCFS&M sub-lettering.
For some reason or another, that tender just jumps out to me. It is just screaming to be modeled. It has such character! Any takers?
Here is a picture of SLSF 3695 in better times. Cute little gal, eh? I do not know who took this photograph. NMOT is letting a gem rust away. I am going to try to get their attention again. I have not done a good job of that so far. This is going to be a spring project for me. Others in the St. Louis area, let us work on this. Ken
The one and only 060 SLSF 3695 is under a roof now, as a side note. Using a drone I can get in-cab photos without actually having to climb on the engine. I got this one of SLSF 3695's pressure gauge. It is marked as tested June 4th, 1949. Does anyone know when the SLSF 3695 was finally retired from Scullin Steel?
Great news! Neat use of a drone! Where is 0-6-0 SLSF 3695 placed under roof at NMOT? I remember it being about one-third covered with poison ivy back in the 1970s! I hope this means SLSF 3695 has a better future than I feared. If so, well deserved. About time! Ken
She is underneath the Northwest corner of the Roberts Building, the biggest shed there with the red roof. I am currently working to find out who I can get to move the old gal higher up on the priorities list. At least a coat of paint to help combat further rusting, similar to what the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania has done with their collection. But that could be a ways off.. SFSF 3695 is not the only one in need out there. On the bright side, she is under cover now, and will not get much worse. The cab and tender are where she has gotten the most rot. Fortunately most of the damage is not structural, from what I can tell. Just wait until they let me pick up a paint brush around there!
For the interested, 0-6-0 SLSF 3695 was moved last May to pull some equipment out for the nighttime photograph shoot at the museum. It really opened up some space around the locomotive, and you could easily move around her. Here are some photographs. I will be out again in the next week or so to get some in-depth photographs of the engine. Might break out the drone to get better cab photographs if the weather is nice. Just glad there is no asbestos lagging to rot the boiler shell out any further. Where did this locomotive spend its career with the Frisco?
