Nostalgia & History > Frisco Friday: at the coaling tower

One way to spice up a basic roster shot is to have a really interesting background. And I’d say this one more than qualifies! I had a coin-flip choice here: Do I post a cleaner, cropped version? Or do I post the original? But this is one of those rare times when the “coin” ended up neither heads nor tails. It landed on the floor on edge, straight up & down, so here are both versions! And y’all can decide which version you like better. For any further technical details I’ll rely on the good words of TO’s resident Frisco steam expert Mr Wirth…

1a. SL&SF 4-8-2 #4411 posing in Kansas City, MO on June 27, 1948.

1b. Same as above, cropped.
Photo by the late Ray Hilner, from the Art Gibson collection.

Thanks for looking back!
Lance Garrels (santafe199)
Art Gibson (wag216) remembering Ray Hilner



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/23 04:37 by santafe199.

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Either one will do just fine.   Built at Frisco's Springfield West Shop, late thirties.   They built 23 of the 4400s and 11 of the 4300s.

Frisco 1522 -  Did the home built Frisco locomotives have a shop builder's plate?   I have been collecting plates since 1963 and have never seen one.  Your input and knowledge is most appreciated.

Ron

Just as this shows, sometimes both are worthy of posting. First-rate images.
Bob

I kind a like the first one, it shows some of the servicing area, shows a few landmarks, both are great shots. KCRW287

Great photos, and I would prefer the first if I were forced to choose.  Is that an auxilliary tender behind the 4411?

Rich

I've never seen or heard of a shop builder's plate, such as the N&W made.  The 4400s were actually built from 2-10-2s built by Baldwin and carried the Baldwin number stamped on their steam domes.   The 4300s had all new boilers, except for the steam dome, which was from the 2-10-2s, allowing them to use the BLW buider's number and gave them a tax break of some sort.   Boilers were nickle steel, which developed cracks around rivet holes and such.   Other roads had the same problems.  The 4300s were retired earlier than the 4400s because of that.
If you look at the photo of 4401, it carries the builder's plate from the 2-10-2 that it was made from.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/22/20 20:36 by Frisco1522.

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Many thanks for the explanation!  I had seen the Baldwin plate and had wondered about that!!   Even the Frisco coonskin number plates are very difficult to locate.

Ron