American Steam Railroad
Special Announcement

Greetings!

A Bright Future for a Frisco Locomotive!

 

The closing days of 2012 have brought the next chapter in the life of a veteran railroad locomotive. The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association (ASR), a 501c3 Not-for-Profit Corporation headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and Midwest Railway Preservation Society (MRPS), a 501c3 Not-for-Profit Corporation headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio are proud to announce an agreement to house the restoration and continued preservation of ASR's steam locomotive SLSF 1352.   

 

Built in 1912 by the American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, NY, this 2-8-2 Mikado type served the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad (commonly called the Frisco) until 1956 when she was retired and placed on public display in Swoop Park in Kansas City, Missouri. In an effort to save the 1352 from neglect and vandalism, she was later moved from the park to a storage location in rural, Illinois. 1352 will now be brought to the MRPS's former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad roundhouse located in Cleveland, Ohio for completion of her restoration to operable status.  After this restoration is complete she will begin a new career pulling passenger excursion trains.

 

 

This agreement unites SLSF 1352 with another well-known Mikado type locomotive, former Grand Trunk Western (GTW) steam locomotive #4070, which is under restoration in the Cleveland facility as well.  The B&O Roundhouse will be one of very few locations in the United States where visitors will be able to view the full restoration of two large steam locomotives being conducted simultaneously.

The ceremonial signing of the contract between these two organizations will take place at Noon on Saturday, November 24, 2012 at the roundhouse, located at:

 

2800 W. 3rd Street

Cleveland Ohio 44113

 

After the signing representatives from both groups will be on-hand to take questions about locomotives 1352 and 4070 from 12pm - 4pm during the previously scheduled Open House event. We encourage everyone to stop by and see the roundhouse and meet both groups!

 

SLSF 1352 was built in 1912 as a Consolidation-type (2-8-0) steam locomotive and rebuilt in during World War II into a Mikado-type (2-8-2) locomotive. In her present configuration the locomotive weighs about 161 tons.  The locomotive's operating boiler pressure is 195 pounds per square inch.

 

GTW 4070 was built in 1918 to the standard United States Railroad Administration "Light Mikado" design.  She is also a product of the American Locomotive Company's Schenectady Plant. The locomotive weighs about 146 tons and has an operating boiler pressure of 200 pounds per square inch.

 

 

Founded in 2005, the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association goal is to restore, preserve and operate steam locomotives and other historic railroad equipment for the public's enjoyment and education.   ASR will bring 1352's smaller parts to Ohio to begin work on them while they continue to raise the money to move the locomotive to the Cleveland roundhouse.  Several ASR fundraising events will be announced in the Spring of 2013 to kick start this project.

 

ASR President Steven M. Harvey, commenting on the partnership between these two organizations, said "Since its inception, the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association has encouraged partnerships within the railroad preservation industry for the benefit of both sides. With this agreement in place, both ASR and MRPS will benefit from their mutual knowledge and expertise.   

 

In a nod to history, they'll also be sharing a facility that was designed for steam locomotive rebuilds and maintenance. 1352 will now be moved to the B&O Roundhouse where we will complete her restoration to service. This is great news for all who love steam locomotives. SLSF 1352 and GTW 4070 are great representatives of America's railroad history, and we're excited to help preserve that history for future generations.  I urge anyone who shares our passion to join both groups in working toward two operating steam locomotives."

 

For further information or to join us, please write or email

American Steam Railroad Preservation Association

3869 Highland Bluff Drive

Suite 201

Groveport, Ohio 43125

Web: http://www.americansteamrailroad.org

E-mail: ryan.king@americansteamrailroad.org

 

Sincerely,
 

American Steam Railroad Staff & Volunteers
Continued Fundraising Efforts
Please remember to support our other fundraising efforts through the American Steam Railroad store or by donating towards ongoing projects like #1352 and our ex-CN Caboose!  Links can be found below: