Frisco 4-8-2 Mountain type steam locomotive No. 1522 hauls a tourist train near Swedeborg, Missouri, in 1994.
Jim Wrinn
4-8-2
•YEARS BUILT: 1911 to 1948
•MANUFACTURERS: Alco, Baltimore & Ohio, Lima, Canadian, Montreal
•OPERATED ON: Numerous large railroads requiring power for fast freight and passenger trains
•NAMES: Mountain, Mohawk (New York Central)
•QUANTITY: 2,201; New York Central had the most with 600
•BOILER PRESSURE: 200 psi
•KNOWN FOR: High speed, dual service engine
•STATUS: A few have been preserved, but only one remains operational, Canadian National No. 6060.
I remember when 1522 was still active and I remember when she was pulling this particular train. It was the “Peach Blossom Special” from St. Louis to Atlanta, where I live, for the ’94 NRHS Convention. I remember seeing this locomotive and 611 in the rail yard near Peachtree Station. Kind of ironic that later in ’94 Norfolk Southern pulled the plug on steam excursions and 611 got retired, yet here she is once again in steam while 1522 continued on trips after ’94 and then in 2002 got retired and is still in retirement.