Museum of Transport's M-K-T 4-4-0, from an old calendar photo. Probably taken late-1940s in the Panhandle of Oklahoma. There was a move to restore this locomotive to operation several years ago, but I guess they gave up.

http://www.katyrailroad.org/images/mktstm311.jpg

The 311 is the only surviving Katy steam locomotive, but here is a list of links to some other surviving equipment and structures.

http://www.katyrailroad.org/images/mktstm311.jpg

There was a period in the early 1990's when the Frisco 1522 group, the St. Louis Steam Train association did an evaluation of the Katy 311 engine. There never was a move to restore this engine to service. The reason being, the engine could only have operated with in the confines of the museum of transport, and with the high driving wheels of the 311, after a few revolutions, the engine would have been at the opposite end of the museum. The engine would have been too small to pull a train large enough to cover the expenses of an excursion. The St. Louis Steam Train Association was not about to fund the restoration of the engine on our own. Had someone come up with the money, we would have done it. But it would never have been able to get out on mainline service.

Maybe I missed it in the last message - why could a restored 311 not be used in mainline service?

Scott

The Katy engine certainly would have been able to operate on a main line. The problem was that it was not capable of pulling a train that would hold enough passengers to make an excurdion proffitable.
The restoration was to have been funded by another organization (not SLSTA) and some work was done. When it came time to need some money, the third party backed out on the deal. The project was then dropped.
It was never anticipated to use the engine in regular excursion service, it was to be used as an operating exhibit at the museum.
The 1522 was operated at the museum on several special occasions with no problem as to space. They both have 69" drivers.

The Frisco 1522 was operated at the Museum of Transport. In the spring of the years, we would test out the engine before getting out on the mainline. For excursion service, or a break in run, etc. The loco was also run in conjunction of special events at the museum. Transportation Days weekend, or a dedication of some thing or other.

The difference, the 1522 was cqapable of running on the mainline with an excursion train, that would at least cover expenses, the 311 Katy engine, although a nice little engine, and incidently, the engine with the most recent overhaul when recieved by the museum, most probably could not cover expenses.

One interesting thing, the Katy 311 came to the museum on its own power. When at the museum, the fire was put out, it being an oil burner, and the crew went back to their normal workplace. When the Katy 311 was looked at in the early 1990's, I got oil on my coveralls while cleaning the drawbar before removing it. What was this? There was still 900 or more gallons of oil in the tender tank. The oil tank had a leak. The fire was put out, and everyone went home. Period.

Regarding Katy 311, to set the record straight, it did not run to the museum under it's own power. the event coincided with the release of a history of the Katy. The train (311 and five antique cars: two cabooses, a box car, a flat and a gondola) made a tour around the St. Louis terminal (both sides of the river) carrying a bunch of dignitaries and people from the museum. then back to union station for speaches etc. and a banquet.
The train was supposed to move to the museum under it's own power, but at the last minute the Misssouri Pacific changed it's mind and the train was towed out. I was in the cab when the fire was put out. Needless to say, the museum people were disappointed. At that time the engine was dressed up to look like frontier days, fake diamond stack, cord wood stacked on the tender on top of the oill tank, fake oil headlight, big wood pilot etc. etc.
It wasn't at the museum very long before we had restored it to its proper
appearance.. The fake headlight has been set up as an exhibit in the automotive building. The tender does have about a half a tank of bunker C.
It's a shame it was never again operated.
If I remember correctly, the 311 was built about 1898 and rebuilt with a new boiler and piston valves about 1925.

Sound like you got a surprise. That sounds like New Hope and Ivyland Railroad with # 3028 the 4-8-4 oil burner they own. the tender is full of oil.
Information from engineer Chris Bost.

Leonard

The 1920s rebuilding of this loco was even more extensive then described. It got a new tender, cylinders and piston valves, boiler, steel cab, and was converted to oil fuel. Earlier work had replaced the driving wheel centers and at this point only parts of the frame are likely to remain of the 1890s loco they started with, if there are any remaining parts. The old joke about jacking up the number and running a new locomotive under it should apply. As to the loco's delivery to MOT, we have photos of its arrival and it was not under steam at the time.

The extra Katy links can be found here. Sorry for the incorrect link above.

http://www.katyrailroad.org/links.htm

Question?
The person that`s from St. Lou. MO.
When the Reading Company Museum findly gets in operation at their site in Hamburg, Pa.
Is there any way that the Reading Locomotive that`s in your museun could return to Reading to it`s home state?

Leonard

Well, interesting how rumors get perpetuated. I was not at the Museum of Transport until the rebuild of the Frisco 1522. So, I was going by what was the prevailing stories.

I will be back at the Museum of Tranpsort, working in restorations after March 17, 2005. I would be interested in talking about old Museum Memories with danska after that. I am sure that some of the stories that I have heard over t he years have become some what embellished.

Jim (jim1522) Butler