Steam & Excursion > This Is What A Freshly Displayed Steam Locomotive Looked Like!

A new phenomenon appeared in the mid-1950's until the early 1960's.  This new practice was the placement of select retired steam locomotives on display in towns across the country.  With very few exceptions this practice had really never taken place before. Thus, there was really no "standard" way to display these retired steam giants.

Seen here is an example of what a freshly displayed steam locomotive often looked like.  Notice the lack of fencing and instead the stairs built to insure people had free access to the cab and rest of the engine.  As the years would go by, these displays were often changed to prohibit such access both to protect the public and the engine itself.

The engine on display here in this 1961 photo is the recently retired Southwest Lumber Mills 2-6-6-2 #12. She appears to be entirely complete with the exception that her bell cord has been removed to prevent kids from endlessly ringing the bell during their visits to her.

#12 started life as a 2-6-6-2T built by Baldwin for the Hammond Lumber Co. operations out of Mill City, Oregon.  She later went to Hammond's redwood operations out of Samoa, CA before finally heading to Flagstaff, Arizona to serve Southwest Lumber Mills.  It was at Flagstaff that her tanks were finally removed and she was given a tender and new number.

Today she is still on display in Flagstaff.  Se has been moved to a new location and no stairs exist as part of her new display.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/17 04:05 by LoggerHogger.

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Nice photo as always from you Martin.  In this day and age they can no longer put anything like a steam engine on display for people to climb on for the simple reason, Liability.
​Even a city or town could be taken to court if some person climbed aboard and fell from the display.  It's a total shame, not like the good-ole-days where people assumed their own risks.
​John

Here is a picture of her in on July 2, 2016 in Flagstaff.

Chris

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I don't think the gauges and anything glass ever survived engines being open to the public.  And, that's a doggone shame.

That sure is a large sunshade on the cab.  Bet it was really usefull.

The two locomotives in Flag have been the beneficiaries of the determination of a local to their care.  The gentleman worked hard with preserving a lot of history.  He not only supported efforts in Arizona but also efforts in New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada that I am aware of.  I remember calling him one day and he was working on getting a La France fire truck its radiator so it would run in a 4th of July parade in Flag.  With the 25, he set up a California Business to purchase it and was able to convince BNSF to tow it to East Flag so they could cross over the other main to shove it to its current location.  

​Dreamer

Dreamer: Can you name the gentleman? d

Ah yes, kids ringing the bell.  Working on 1522 many years out close to ATSF 5011 which had a bell rope.  Endless, constant ringing.  I once wrapped a rag around the clapper and we had relief for a couple of hours until one of the guides saw it.
It was maddening.

Here is Southwest Lumber #12 on December 30, 2016.  The bell is there, and there are steps allowing a view (but not access) to the cab.  Although fences are nearby, you can go right up and touch the locomotive from the sidewalk.  All the cab guages are removed.

On the other hand, only a few miles away in the center of Flagstaff, Southwest Lumber #25 is surrounded by a fence.  But #25 looks well-cared for.

 

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