CARONA, Kan. – Kansas City Southern 0-6-0 No. 1023, the last remaining KCS steam locomotive, was moved from Schlanger Park in Pittsburg, Kan., to Carona on Sept. 8. The locomotive was transported on a 20-foot-wide trailer and tractor manned by crews from Tilton and Sons House Moving, the Pittsburg Morning Sun reports. The tender from the locomotive was moved in February to the Heart of the Heartlands Railroad Museum in Carona.
The engine has been in Schlanger Park since 1955, when Kansas City Southern sold it to the City of Pittsburg for $1. The locomotive had deteriorated, and city officials said there was no money to maintain it. Pittsburg City Commissioners voted unanimously in December 2011 to let Heart of the Heartlands group move it to Carona for display at their museum.
Once the locomotive has been moved to its new home, volunteers will sandblast and apply a coat of weather-resistant paint to the locomotive. The museum eventually will construct a shelter over the engine. Alco’s Pittsburgh, Pa., works constructed the engine in 1906 as No. 488. It was renumbered to 1023 in 1925.
