The Arkansas & Choctaw Ry Co. incorporated in Arkansas on August 31, 1895. On October 2, 1902, the name was changed to St Louis, San Fransisco and New Orleans RR. Between 1901 and 1903, the road completed what was to become the Akinda-Ardmore Subdivision. The initial A&C roster contained an interesting collection of 7 locomotives. Frisco 158 & 159, nee A&C 8 & 9, nee UP 628 & Unkn. These two, 4-4-0’s were built by the UP during 1890. Frisco 160, nee A&C 5 was a Schenectady, 4-4-0 class of 1889. The remaining locomotives were four, 2-8-0’s, Frisco 2734-2737, nee A&C 4, 2, 1, & 3, nee PRR class H1 (old I Class) built by the Altoona Shops during 1876-1877. The class contained 545 locomotives, and after looking the through an extensive Pennsy roster, I am unable to determine their PRR number. It’s possible that the Pennsy sold them to a “dealer”, who then sold them to the A&C. I have a Pennsy buddy, who may be able to assist. The locomotives use what is called an Altoona Boiler. Both the Pennsy and Frisco diagrams show this type of boiler. The locomotives operated with a boiler pressure of 125 psi , which was later raised to 145 psi. This photo is a recent acquisition, and it shows the 2735 at Fayetteville circa 1910. The second sand dome is a Frisco addition, and it along with the footboards, suggests that the 2735 has been relegated to yard service. She was retired during the mass extinctions that occurred during the 1914-1916 period, i.e., October 1915. She certainly doesn’t bring to mind what is expected of a Pennsy steam locomotive. A close look reveals that the coonskin has replaced the the keystone. L. Stagner used a H. K. Vollrath roster when he wrote his book, and the Vollrath roster places these locomotives on the AV&W roster. A check of the 1903 and 1904 rosters confirm the A&C affiliation although it must be said that the 1904 roster contains some strike-overs, which might lead to confusion. The recapitulation of that roster by road name does imply that these locomotives were assigned to the A&C and not the AV&W,
