Frisco was the only railroad to receive new engines in 1930, the 4200-4219 series. They tried to cancel due to the depression but the materials were already ordered and in production, so Baldwin wouldn’t cancel. The engines actually proved to be some serious workhorses, and until the Great Northern O-8 mikes came along, were the largest 2-8-2s in the world. The first engines received were turning in exceptional performances, and the Frisco was impressed enough with them to order a 21st engine with some modifications. It was put into service immediately and performed no better than the rest, and in fact it had less weight on drivers and proved to be less impressive. In 1932, this engine was sold to Mexico where it only ran for a few months and proved to be too hard on their lighter rail and was subsequently scrapped. I finally found a photo of this engine from an obscure collector’s estate and eagerly bought it. It’s only a small print, dark and a little fuzzy, but it’s the only shot I’ve ever laid my hands on. I apologize for the quality.
Interesting story. One thing, I looked at the picture and it looks like this is actually a 2-8-4 Berkshire. But to my know ledge the Frisco never had any 2-8-4's. EDIT: A question that popped into my head: I know Frisco1522 noted the CB&Q O-8 mikes. So does that make the 4200 class the second largest ever or was there something even bigger?
Now that evidence appears the Frisco initially had a 2-8-4's delivered to them and possibly changed later by the shops, we can build at initial delivery! Too cool!
Uhhhh...ohhhkkkkkayyy...I know...tomorrow is April 1st. So....are we having some fun here because in all the diagram books, references, personal rosters and other c..p I have...I see NO BERKSHIRES. However, does everyone remember this little gem of a publication?
Very cool photo by Rancho Bob, but that's not a Berkshire, but a 4-6-4 hudson that's been semi streamlined. Either that or I got tricked into being captain obvious......... Ethan
UH, what did I miss here? That photo clearly shows a 2-8-4 wheel combination. Isn't it possible that the Frisco took delivery of it that way and they shopped it out? No April fools please. I've had a very hard day that started at 4:30 AM with a nasty kidney stone and a 7:30 rush to the hospital by ambulance. Manny
Many, look closely. You can see the 4 trailing wheels at the back, only 3 sets drivers and 2 sets of lead wheels at the front.
I see Frisco 4220 with 2 pilot, 8 drivers, and 4 trailing. Alligator leads, with Walschaerts Valve Gear. Y'all are messing with me!
Hahahahaha. No worries. I've been laughing all along. Just scratchin' my head as all. Oh, and I want to correct myself. The 2-8-4 is equipped with Laird style cross-head guides. I mistook the service step as a guide slide. My bad. Looked too fast.
The Frisco 4200 class locomotives were indeed the second heaviest mikado after the GN O-8 class. The Frisco 4200's had a higer tractive effort if the force of the booster engine is included. On the other hand, I believe that the 4400's were the heaviest 4-8-2's. I'll have to check my notes to be sure. Don, Nice "find".
Don, Your photoshopping is almost perfected, but the giveaway is the alignment of the trailing truck with the tender. The trailing truck rear wheel is higher than the tender. Something would have to be derailed to look this way. Keep at it. Pretty soon you'll be as good at rewriting history as our government officials. Ken McElreath
Don, Happy April 1st to you, too. Somehow I just found your post; I was getting worried that you wouldn't have any goodies for us this year. Judging from photo evidence, alone, I'm with Brad: did you use Mr. Peabody's Way-Back machine to make it into the cab? Best Regards,
Rancho Bob--What are the details of "The Frisco And Steam?" When was it published? ISBN etc? Is it a book? Magazine? Thanks, Tom
Tom - "The Frisco and Steam", published 1982 by Midwest Railroader Magazine, Hallmark Books, Shelby, Ohio, 44875. Paperback, letter size, a few b&w pics and lots of tables, about 50 pages (a guess, not numbered). ISBN: 0-942322-02-9 Not a real high quality booklet but obviously, the subject, and content, was terrific! The binding is horrible - my copy is falling apart. Very hard to find. A few friends know I have a copy, and through the years I've had two or three calls wanting me to look something up in the tables. Each time, what they wanted was in there. Ken