Steam & Excursion > ATSF 5000 - the Queeney

In case anyone is interested in the condition of #5000, here is a photo from yesterday, parked in downtown Amarillo, TX.

Cosmetically, she is in tip top shape. I can't speak to the mechanics of her gorgeous body though.

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Beautiful locomotive.

Would be great to see her run.

Here is how she looked in 1932.

4,845 RR ads here:
http://waidephoto.smugmug.com/Trains/Vintage-Railroad/14655704_xRs6bD#!i=1436802479&k=TCSNDKr

Enjoy!

JMW

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Thanks for the photos. While several other Santa Fe locomotives were retrofitted with high-mount Elescos at various times, I think 5000 is the only one delivered from the factory that way.

The nickname "Madame Queen" came from a character on the Amos and Andy radio show...which of course was also the origin of the nicknames for the Santa Fe's pair of Super Chief boxcab diesels. I guess no one could bring themselves to name a locomotive after the Queen's husband, George "Kingfish" Stevens...at least I've never heard of a Santa Fe locomotive called "The Kingfish."

And isn't it ODD that railroads seem to think they have to remove the knuckles of equipment placed on display - far from any live track. Real FAR ! ! I don't think the switcher could ever be hijacked and run over to this location.

The group responsible for 'Madame Queen's' upkeep is supposedly beginning a restoration. Phase 1 involved cleaning the paint off the couplers for crack inspection. This may be why the knuckle on the front coupler is currently missing. It appears to be there in a recent picture from the thread below.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,2695822,page=1



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/28/12 13:13 by davew833.

The railroad did not remove the knuckle when #5000 was put on display. Here is a recent photo oh her with the Knuckle intact.

It may have been stolen are simply removed so it did not create a hazard as it is a movable piece of equipment.

Martin

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In the first two pictures the knuckle appears to be laying on the ground under the pilot on our right.

According to their facebook page (and we know facebook is the BEST source of information) they have been removing paint from the couplers so BNSF can inspect it. Why it is getting inspected now is the better question.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=255988741151156&set=a.190469034369794.48868.190410547708976&type=1&theater

Bruce Bryan
Greensburg, IN

There are buildings at both ends. How would it move to the main line exactly? Thanks.

columbusrailnut Wrote:
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> According to their facebook page (and we know
> facebook is the BEST source of information) they
> have been removing paint from the couplers so BNSF
> can inspect it. Why it is getting inspected now is
> the better question.
>
> https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2559887411
> 51156&set=a.190469034369794.48868.190410547708976&
> type=1&theater


I think the coupler would be the least of their worries.

Not a big fan of the filled in gray rods.....but that's OK.....Sure hope the re-build happens!!

Rod were painted that way anytime engine was shopped.

She's got some nice lines...and a crown befitting the queen that she is.

Is #5000 a 3 cylinder locomotive?

Con

xtra1188w Wrote:
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> Is #5000 a 3 cylinder locomotive?
>
> Con


No.

I like the lagged firebox and smokebox.

It's nice that the fencing is far enough back to allow a clean photo of the locomotive.

Spikes Wrote:

> There are buildings at both ends. How would it
> move to the main line exactly?

Just for reference, all the buildings surrounding 5000's present site were there before the engine was moved to the spot in 2005. If they got it in there, I suspect with enough planning and resources they can get it back out again. This streetview shows the 5000, the remains of an abandoned spur just a short distance north, and the ex-BN main line a block and a half away. From an armchair perspective, it doesn't look like an impossible task to get the engine through that gap and over to the main, given enough planning, etc., etc.

http://g.co/maps/ra7bp

columbusrailnut wrote:

> According to their facebook page (and we know facebook is the BEST source of information) they have been removing paint from the couplers so BNSF can inspect it. Why it is getting inspected now is the
> better question.

According to the announcements on the Railroad Artifact Preservation Society website, the restoration is to take place at the Progress Rail facility located along the ex-FW&D line east of Amarillo.

http://www.railroadartifactpreservation.org/Steam-Restoration.html

My guess (and it is only that) is that they are hoping to move the engine there by rail, hence the need to inspect the coupler and probably a lot of other things.

xtra1188w wrote:

> Is #5000 a 3 cylinder locomotive?

Santa Fe had lots of four cylinder locomotives, but no three cylinder ones. After getting burned by their early experiments with 4-cylinder single frame and articulated compounds, Santa Fe retreated to the familiarity of simple, 2-cylinder designs. The 5000 reflected their ongoing efforts to wring as much power as they could out of that arrangement - two big cylinders cast integral with the frame delivering 219,000lb piston thrusts.

George "Kingfish" Stevens wife was named "Saphire" Stevens in the Amos & Andy radio and TV shows.



Evan_Werkema Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for the photos. While several other Santa
> Fe locomotives were retrofitted with high-mount
> Elescos at various times, I think 5000 is the only
> one delivered from the factory that way.
>
> The nickname "Madame Queen" came from a character
> on the Amos and Andy radio show...which of course
> was also the origin of the nicknames for the Santa
> Fe's pair of Super Chief boxcab diesels. I guess
> no one could bring themselves to name a locomotive
> after the Queen's husband, George "Kingfish"
> Stevens...at least I've never heard of a Santa Fe
> locomotive called "The Kingfish."

Phil Wrote:

> George "Kingfish" Stevens wife was named "Saphire"
> Stevens in the Amos & Andy radio and TV shows.

Oops - you're right, Madame Queen was one of Andy's old flames. Have to confess I'm not a big fan of the Amos & Andy show. Give me Jack Benny any day.

atsffan Wrote:

> Wasn't there a TV show that aired when they moved
> it from the previous station location to the
> present spot? It was only a few years ago (less
> than 5 IIRC).

The Railroad Artifact Preservation Society has a DVD about the move for sale on their website. They have a short clip viewable for free:

http://www.railroadartifactpreservation.org/Shopping.html

It was also covered in an episode of Mega Movers, available on DVD from the History Channel:

http://shop.history.com/mega-movers-locomotives-dvd/detail.php?p=69665