David Wilkins posted the news in the sp 4460 thread that the NRHS St. Louis Chapter is attempting to raise the funds needed to do a cosmetic restoration of Wabash Railroad 2-6-0 #573; one of only two surviving steam engines from that railroad. Here is the Chapters website with info:

http://www.stlouisnrhs.org/wabash_573.htm

The Wabash Mogul is certainly looking scruffy these days, so hopefully the funds sought will help restore her to a more pleasant appearance. This also gives me the opportunity to mention a story about the engine. One of the members at our museum had an uncle who worked as an engineer for the New Jersey, Indiana & Illinois, a short-line railroad in South Bend, Indiana with a connection to the Wabash at Pine, Indiana. The Wabash Railroad eventually acquired control of the NJI&I and assigned a number of different steam locomotives to their roster. Included were a number of Wabash 2-6-0's including numbers 817 and 826, and there were probably others. Anyway, the forementioned uncle of our member stated that the 573 ran on the NJI&I, being retired when the railroad finally dieselized and he too retired. We know that the 573 eventually was one of the 2-6-0's that ran on the Wabash branchline in Illinois which remained steam after the rest of the Wabash was dieselized, because of a light load-rated bridge over the Illinois River. Eventually, the bridge was strengthened and the last remaining Moguls retired, except for 573 which was donated to MOT. I have contacted the Museum of Transport about whether their records show where the 573 served on the Wabash during its in-service years, and if in fact, they show any service for the engine on the NJI&I. I have never heard anything back. Just wonder if anyone out there might have info either refuting or confirming, this short-line service.

Thanks.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, IN)

Real nice looking loco's those Wabash 2-6-0's. Suprised she is that heavy 107 tons? While I am sure she had some snot to her, I would of guessed way less in the wt dept. Thought maybe 70 ton or so. Thanks for the picture. Cheers, John.

I'm guessing the other preserved Wabash engine isn't one of their beautiful blue Pacifics?

No, but she's adorable.

No. 534, the other remaining Wabash steam locomotive, resides in our shop. Here she is after being reassigned to the Lake Erie & Fort Wayne as no. 1.

Thanks for piping up, Kelly. One website lists that engine as "dismantled." I wondered if that meant disassembled, or scrapped. Since it was at FWRHS I assumed the former, but you can never be too sure! Whew.

Walt

Dismantled is somewhat foreboding, indeed!

The 543 received more attention in 2009 than she had for a decade prior and will very likely remain indoors as time and resources permit to continue removing, documenting, and organizing parts and appliances. There are no immediate plans for restoration to operation.

In case anyone is looking for it the Morgan / Hastings Trains Magazine "Smoke Over the Prairies" installment that included 4 full pages on the Wabash's 2 Moguls operating the Bluffs / Keokuk branch may be found in the July 1955 issue.

Steve

I'm certain that the museum has no knowledge of where the Wabash engine was used other than the well covered and reported use on the branch in central Illinois. I would also mention that this is one of only a handfull of Rhode Island Loco Works engines that survives, and was built as a compound, later converted to simple. MOT also has another Rhode Island engine, Lake Street Elevated RR #9, the "Charles H."

Thanks Ron. It was a longshot, but I'd thought I'd ask.

Les

This is rather interesting, and I guess I missed the question when we were talking in this thread about the two surviving Wabash steam locomotives; 0-6-0 #534 at FtWRHS in New Haven, Indiana and 2-6-0 #573 at MOT in St. Louis, Missouri. I once ran across a photo of a blue Wabash 4-6-2 parked outside of the Wabash shops in Decatur, Illinois for photographs. The engine, #667, had been spotted for some fan trip that ran down to Decatur. The date of the fan trip was 1954 as I recall, which was kind of a surprise to me because it seemed rather late for a 4-6-2 to still be in existance. So I did some checking. Turns out that all of the Pacific's on the Wabash were scrapped in 1951 and 1952. Number 667 however, didn't go to scrap until December of 1954. Only the 700 class Hudsons, the 2900 class 4-8-4's, and the Moguls on the Keokuk branch in Illinois, were scrapped later. So why did this one particular 4-6-2 last so much longer than its sister Pacific's? My theory is that she was held for preservation, to be put on display at the Decatur shops, and for some reason, the plan was later cancelled. Well, that's my theory, and one that probably can not be proven, or refuted, now. If that WAS the plan, she would have been one of those few steamers that were held for preservation, only to be scrapped instead. What a shame! She sure was a beauty!

Les

I remember the 0-6-0 in front of the historical museum in Ft Wayne, I recall getting in the cab poking around and the rusted out tender coal bottom. Not a pretty sight.
I'm glad the society could get the engine and give it needed attention.

Having spent much time around Wabash 534 nee LE&Ft.W #1 I thought I would also share some images of her. An interesting thing is 534 is the only ALCO from the Rhode Island works to exist.

107 (actually almost 108) "in working order"...that means full boiler, and tender loaded with Coal and Water.

W&W's 98 weighs over 100 tons when "in working order" but the engine itself weigh's I believe 78 tons?....same with their CN 2-6-0...weighs 72 tons alone...add on the tender, you get the point...

Wabash #573 Restoration

In another thread, the good Mr. Wilkins posted:

I just contacted the St. Louis Chapter, NRHS by email to find out if funds are still being raised for restoration of Wabash #573 in St. Louis. I promptly received two replies that said:

"YES", funds are still being accepted for the Wabash 573 restoration project!

So I am sending a small check today, and maybe a larger one after I get my tax refund back from the IRS in a few months. Would anyone else like to join me (and Mr. Wilkins above) and others who are contributing?

The project website has instructions on how to contribute -- funds go directly to #573.

Quote:
The chapter is a 501(C)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization located in the St Louis area. Please send your tax deductible donation to:
St Louis Chapter NRHS
P.O. Box 220168
St Louis, MO 63122-0168
Please note in your check memo line "for Wabash steam engine." Thank you for helping.

http://www.stlouisnrhs.org/wabash_573.htm

Below are two vintage photos of #573, courtesy "Railfan.net ABPR Archive":

At Elvaston, Illinois, 8/17/54: Link
At Bluffs, Illinois, 4/9/53: Link

Thanks. - LO


Wabash 573 by Dadmandu, on Flickr

A couple of updates since my last post. The 573 now sits under cover at MOT, but not readily accessible to visitors, so at least she won't get any worse until the money is raised.

Also, the St. Louis Chapter of the NRHS is now selling reproduction Wabash dining car China as a fundraiser. They have their own eBay store if you are interested:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/stl-nrhs/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1