Photo of Missabe Road 2-10-2 #502 at Proctor, Minnesota on 9/17/51:

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... +ir502.jpg

One of two Santa Fe's donated by the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range, number 502 ended up at the Museum of Transport in Kirkwood, Missouri. For some reason, both of the donated locomotives had their distinctive Elesco feedwater heaters removed, making their display appearance much different from their in-service appearance. It is curious as to exactly why this was done. Someone once explained that the Elesco's were removed for use by other locomotives. But by the time the two 2-10-2's were donated (both in 1962) steam was all but a dead issue on the Missabe. And if the Elesco's were such an issue, then why weren't one of the Santa Fe's that DIDN'T have Elesco's, donated in their stead? There were at least 5 other 2-10-2's still on the roster in 1962, that did NOT have Elesco feedwater heaters. Well, the answer as to their removal will probably never be known. What's also interesting is that the DM&IR had two different styles of 2-10-2's; those built in 1916 by Baldwin (500-505) and USRA engines (506-515) built in 1919 by Brooks. Fortunately, one of each type was preserved. The forementioned 502 and number 506 at the museum in Green Bay.

Les

The Museum of Transportation in St. Louis got its DMIR 2-10-2 in 1962. Some years earlier the railroad's management, seeing that steam was being replaced by diesel power, became more concerned with the cost of maintaining accessories such as feedwater heaters then how much these increased the efficiency of the locos. As a result of this analysis they removed them to save money. Once they were gone there was no way to get them back and the musuem had no choice in the matter. This wasn't only being done by this one line, as the C&O removed the feedwater heaters from many locos as well, including 4-8-4 #614, which still has a bracket on the lower fireman's side for the appliance.