Steam & Excursion > Frisco Friday-their last new steam engine.

Baldwin delivered Frisco's last new steam engine in 1943 and it immediately pitched in with the war effort.
4524 is attacking Valley Park Hill E/B with a freight and living up to the Frisco Faster Freight which is lettered on her tender. That symbol and striping made them very attractive, but after the war when Clark Hungerford became President of the road, he said "No more striping or plumage, that doesn't pull tonnage".
Can't have nothing nice.
The last 10 of the 4500s came equipped with boosters. Frisco was a big believer in them and truthfully, the booster on 1522 came in reallly handy a couple of times. 4524's is either idling or engaged in this photo and they eventually equipped all 25 with them.
Another L. Beebe shot, cleaned up in Photoshop and colorized.
Note the Missouri Pacific freight drifting down "Kirkwood Hill" in the background.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/25 15:28 by Frisco1522.

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Beautiful!
Bob

Your colonization of these photos takes it to another level.  Nice work.  Much appreciated l
 

Totally agree here as to the 'beautiful shot", and thanks for the posting!  
Funny, as I enlarged and noticed the glistening paint of the front "poling pocket" on the pilot area, I wonder how often this pocket could have been used with a wooden pole on such a large loco in 1943?   I tend to think the design was cast for use of this pilot on some smaller locos, but even then, I'd think the usage was most likely very, very minimal in 1943 and thereafter..

rrman6 Wrote:
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> Totally agree here as to the 'beautiful shot", and
> thanks for the posting!  
> Funny, as I enlarged and noticed the glistening
> paint of the front "poling pocket" on the pilot
> area, I wonder how often this pocket could have
> been used with a wooden pole on such a large loco
> in 1943?   I tend to think the design was cast
> for use of this pilot on some smaller locos, but
> even then, I'd think the usage was most likely
> very, very minimal in 1943 and thereafter..

Big Boys have poling pockets.

So is he pulling around a horseshoe curve, you can see cars and caboose in the background.

Sharon Evans
Glen Allen, VA

Tominde Wrote:
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> Your colonization of these photos takes it to
> another level.  Nice work.  Much appreciated l
>
I debated long and hard as to colorize or not. There are other shots in the book that are colorized as well.  The opinion seems to be that they are OK.

I try to understate it rather than mike things vivid and jump out. I'm not a fan of that method. I like subtle.

Thank you all for the compliments. I'm not old enough to have taken the pictures but my desire was to produce a Frisco book with nothing but steam action views and minimal text. There are far more detailed books on the Frisco, the best being Joe Collias' Frisco Power. Basically I wanted to put together a book that I would like with lots of photos.

Kudos, it's absolutely gorgeous.  This is the best job you've done so far with one of these, in my opinion.  I sincerely hope you plan to do a few more.

-John

Ya did "goot"  Don.  They are nicely done.

Another beauty !

Very nicely done.

Colorization is tricky to do right.  Part of what gives colorization a bad name happens when garish colors get used.

In this case, the colors look "period", so I'm cool with it.

People also forget artists used to colorize B + W pix when color photography either was not available, or expensive.  Solid work, indeed.

RNinRVR Wrote:
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> So is he pulling around a horseshoe curve, you can
> see cars and caboose in the background.

That looks line a westbound train on the Missouri Pacific main.

Posted from iPhone

I referenced the WB MP train in my text.  MP used helper engines on Kirkwood Hill and either cut them off on the fly in Kirkwood or in Valley Park. As a kid, I could lay in bed with the window open and hear them charging through Maplewood making the run for the hill. On a good night, I could hear them for 15 minutes dropping speed and attacking the hill. Lovely sound.
Could also hear Frisco leavig Lindenwood yard working up the hill to Webster Grove and Kirkwood.  Wish I could download that.

I like the color.  Great job.  The black and white film was better than the color film back then, so your colorization might have ultimately made a better color photo.  Thanks for making me smile.

Craig Hanson
Vay, Idaho