Steam & Excursion > The Wayne Leeman Files

Wayne Leeman, a local St. Louis newspaper reporter always took every opportunity to write articles about railroads and took many trips with his 35MM courtesy of the railroads. He was very personable and was a great guy and storyteller. He passed away a couple of years ago and is missed.
In 1942, he was down in Springfield, MO covering something on the Frisco. He took some photos around the N. Side yards and roundhouse area and found some interesting subjects. I came into several rolls of his 35MM negs a while back. They were stored in film cans, rolled up and had taken a set which made them like a coil of blue spring steel to unroll. They had been rolled and unrolled quite a few times in the past and had picked up some awful scratches and defects. I finally ended up 35MM Gepe snap together slide mounts and cut them into single frames so I could scan them. I put in many long hours working on these in Photoshop. They aren't the best in the world, but are very interesting, and to me a priceless find.
All three of these views are from the N. Side yard and engine terminal.
1034, a semi-streamstyled 4-6-2 is sitting with the 1515 on the ready track.
4416 is backing down to tie onto a freight and 4416 and 4304, two Springfield shop builds are readied for service.
I will post more of these from time to time if interests warrant.

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Your efforts are appreciated & Thanks.

John.

Dumb question time:

Wasn't he something of a caboose fan?

As well as locomotives, I mean.

Beautiful job of restoration! The first image with the streamlined Pacific leading another locomotive captures a past event that few new railfans might imagine. Thanks for posting these.
Bob

Great photos of time long gone...plus who doesn't like some Frisco power.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> I will post more of these from time to time if
> interests warrant.

Don, please consider me as being interested.

Bob Callahan
Monticello, IN

More, please
hollywood
NS B-Line MP 74

Realist, I'm not sure how big a caboose fan he was. He spent a lot of time riding them and they seem to crop up frequently in his shots. He took some nice stuff in the St. Louis area during the '40s.

There's interest here too! Seeing the 1522 here in Nebraska was an unforgettable experience.

Add me to the list of a resounding YES!

Don-

Nice shots! Keep them coming!

-JH

Seriously, more. I love these old shots, and really enjoyed Don Kalkman's Emil files. These look similar, Don, railroading as it used to be.

Add me to the list as well. I've always liked the look of Frisco steam power. Nice job of getting the most out of these negatives.

Jack Bejna
Los Angeles, CA

Very nice work in restoring these images. I hope you will continue your efforts!

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

Realist Wrote:
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> Dumb question time:
>
> Wasn't he something of a caboose fan?
>
> As well as locomotives, I mean.


The April 1979 TRAINS has an article titled 'The Caboose World of Wayne Leeman' with some very nice human interest photography. (Egregious copyright violation attached.)

Don, if you can veer away from the head end long enough to scan some rear end photos, that would be great.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/19/13 07:03 by johnacraft.

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I remember seeing a really good looking Frisco locomotive and meeting a great bunch of guys on the crew. Perhaps one day we will have a reunion.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

I still have a headache from that night in the Biergarten.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> I still have a headache from that night in the
> Biergarten.


Ah but we all had a good time. Take my word for it.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY