This came through on my Flickr feed.

If it is the same locomotive I think she is formerly #77 and now wears #41.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/one42chrisp/4235329495/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/one42chris ... otostream/

Note that in the comments they report that the tracks and grain elevators are now gone.

One of the charming things about the Mississipian locomotives was the presence of "doghouses" on the tenders. Was that unique in operating steam? Nice broad-side photo, none the less.

By operating steam, do you mean tourist and museum operations? PRR had them, and I'm sure others did too.

As for preserved steam, the D&RGW 3 foot gauge engines come to mind. I think they still have the doghouses on the tender at both D&SNG and C&TS, though I don't know for certain if all the engines have them etc, never really paid that close attention.

The DRGW 2-8-2 (463? 464?) at Huckleberry has a brakeman's doghouse as well. The one time I was there (1990), Marty Knox very graciously offered me a cab ride. I asked if I could ride the doghouse instead, never having done that on any steam locomotive. I think it would get old pretty fast if one had to do it 5-6 days a week, in all weather.

Howard P.
Third Seat, CT

A trip in a doghouse gives you an interesting view of the train, as well as the feeling of the power of the engine and how the train is being handled. I think three of the engines in Durango have them on each season, and they get rotated around to different tenders at times.


Norfolk & Western also used doghouses.

Most of Norfolk and Western's larger freight locomotives including the A's and Y6/Y6A/Y6B carried doghouses on the tenders and in 1958 after the J's were bumped from passenger service, doghouses were added to their tenders as well as being equipped for auxilary water tender connections to serve out the last couple of service years of their life in freight service. Early photos of 611 at the VMT or then Roanoke Transportation Museum show the doghouse still on it's tender, but it disappeared sometime between then and when it was removed from Wasena Park in October 1981.

Southern 4501 also sported a doghouse on it's (old) tender during it's stint on the Kentucky and Tennessee into the early 1960s.

If I can ever afford to get the movie camera fixed or the Super-8 movie films transferred to DVD, I would like to see whether it was Mississippian #76 or #77 that I had my first train ride in.

It was late 1961 (I was about 5) when Mom (from a railroading family Pennsy in Harrisburg, PA) saw a newspaper article about the last steam powered short line in Mississippi.

Mom and Dad took me out of school and we went to see it. Dad and I got to ride in the cab in the yard.

After lunch, we drove outside of town to watch the train depart town. The train stopped at the crossing and I had my first train tide ever in the cab of a steam locomotive on a freight only line over some 40-odd miles.

What better gift was that?

Doug vV

Frisco 1522 also received one when it was demoted to freight service. It stayed with the locomotive through its donation to MOT, and was taken off during the restoration. The past few years, the restored doghouse was around the shop, but I believe it has been put on the tender of the Frisco 2-10-0 in the collection. The decapod would have had one during its years on the Frisco, and it looks very nice with it.

One question since we're on the subject of the 77. Prior to moving north of the border, the engine was apparently operating around Huntsville, AL in the late 80s with advertisements of a ride going down to the Tennessee River, presumably after the return to Amory/Magnolia State operations ending circa 1986. I've seen photos of the engine lettered as Huntsville Depot #9, but that's about as far as it goes. The whole thing either didn't last very long, didn't get much publicity, or both. Can anyone clear up the history on this engine, and the Huntsville operation?

Thanks,
Kevin

Kevin -

I seem to recall seeing some photos of either the 76 or 77 on a photo freight, which I think was back on the right of way of the original railroad. I think there was a 40' Central of Georgia "The Right Way" box car in the consist. Maybe someone can straighten out the history of the two engines after they left regular service status. BTW, just to set the record straight, the name of the railroad was the Mississippian Railway. I often wondered if the 13 letters of the railroads name was the longest single name of a U.S. railroad in history.

Les

When does the Steam Railroad Institute think they will have #76 back in operation?

Martin M

Martin -

I haven't seen any evidence that they have even started yet on the restoration of #76 and now that they have problems with the 1225, I think we shouldn't be expecting anything to be done on the Consolidation soon.

Les

Actually the #77 WAS ORIGINALLY # 41 for the Jonesboro, Lake City and Eastern.
Here is a site with some great photos and loco history for you to look at.

http://www.msrailroads.com/Mississippian.htm

I purchased some motorcar parts from the railroad back in the mid 1990's and got to THOROUGHLY go through their shop. Pictures of the steamers graced the walls and it pretty much looked the same as in the photos on the link page except for the diesel sitting in the left hand stall.
Bruce

It always amazes me how a little bit of paint and minor cosmetic changes can change how a locomotive, especially a steam locomotive looks. From the builder's photo, 76 and 77 would have looked like any standard Baldwin small locomotive of the era, made by the thousands for short lines, loggers, industrial users, and for export. Put a "coon skin" number plate on her, paint her solid black, loose the striping, throw a doghouse on the tender, and you have a completely different look.

While I'm sure it is far, far away, I'm curious what SRI will restore the 76 to, appearence-wise.