Grasonia, Nashville & Ashdown 26, 2630

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:11 pm

No date or place for No. 26:

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... gn+a26.jpg

No. 2630 (which did not survive) appears to be an ex-Mopac 4-6-0, at Ashdown, Arkansas 3/13/37.

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... +a2630.jpg

Didn't this shortline get absorbed by Kansas City Southern a few years ago?

Bob Kutella · **Posted:** Fri Aug 31, 2007 7:03 am

The 26, of course, has been preserved and is part of the collection at the Illinois Railway Museum. I was involved in replacing or repairing most of the woodwork in the cab, and most of the staybolts have been removed for firebox repairs below the running board level. Before that was done a hydro was very promising in the 200 psi range.

Anyone into numerology? Locomotive 26 - built in 1926 - and with 2-6-0 wheel arrangement???

Bob Kutella

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

I think that #26 is one of the best looking short line 2-6-0's. The Vanderbilt tender sure helps. I have often thought that she seems to be a perfect locomotive to run at IRM. Hopefully they will get her in service one day. But I think she probably ranks behind the Russian Decapod, the Shay, the UP 2-8-0, Tuskegee #101, and who knows what else.

Les