From a forwarded message to the Railspot mailing list:

From: "Conductor"
To: "FMIG Mailing"
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2002 6:09 PM
Subject: [FRISCO] Fw: Frisco Meteor 4500

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Reel"
> To:
> Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:32 AM
> Subject: Frisco Meteor 4500
>
>
> I'm with the City of Tulsa and have been given the task of exploring

options

> to unload this 4-8-4 steam locomotive. I need leads, advice and guidance.
> Can you help me?
>
> 918-596-7233
> FAX 918-596-7224
> mikereel@ci.tulsa.ok.us



Surviving World Steam Project
james1@pernet.net

What happened to the Sunbelt group? They were working on it for several years, and I believe moved it on compressed air. Have they given up? Was this one of those overenthusiastic volunteer groups that got in over their heads? Anyone have a first hand report on 4500's current situation?

> From a forwarded message to the Railspot
> mailing list:

> From: "Conductor"
> To: "FMIG Mailing"
> Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2002 6:09 PM
> Subject: [FRISCO] Fw: Frisco Meteor 4500

> options


http://www.drgw.net/trip-reporter/trip-report-index.shtml
ryarger@rypn.org

I inquired on railspot about Frisco 4500's current situation, and recieved the following response from Brad Bourbina :

The 4500 currently sits on the SKOL on the north leg of the Cherokee Industrial Lead wye at Owasso, OK. I can say two things: First, the SKO has given the Heart of the Heartlands of Carona, KS the green light to obtain the 4500 if the City of Tulsa so wishes them to. Second: The President of WATCO, Inc., owner of the SKO railroad has stated that WATCO will make every effort to make sure this piece of history is not scrapped. So, there is great interest and an extremely good possibility the 4500 will survive. Obviously, the decision will be up to the City of Tulsa. We should send Mr. Reel a thank you for making the effort to try and save her instead of just junking her.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a



Surviving World Steam Project
james1@pernet.net

For comparison, here is sister 4501 new, broadbelt photo.

> I inquired on railspot about Frisco 4500's
> current situation, and recieved the
> following response from Brad Bourbina :

> The 4500 currently sits on the SKOL on the
> north leg of the Cherokee Industrial Lead
> wye at Owasso, OK. I can say two things:
> First, the SKO has given the Heart of the
> Heartlands of Carona, KS the green light to
> obtain the 4500 if the City of Tulsa so
> wishes them to. Second: The President of
> WATCO, Inc., owner of the SKO railroad has
> stated that WATCO will make every effort to
> make sure this piece of history is not
> scrapped. So, there is great interest and an
> extremely good possibility the 4500 will
> survive. Obviously, the decision will be up
> to the City of Tulsa. We should send Mr.
> Reel a thank you for making the effort to
> try and save her instead of just junking
> her.

> -James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a


frisco 4-8-4
b.hume@rogers.com

> For comparison, here is sister 4501 new,
> broadbelt photo.
lets try that again

frisco 4-8-4

b.hume@rogers.com

> lets try that again
The Frisco 4-8-4s look alot like the all scrapped R1 Atlantic Coast Line 4-8-4s to me.I think they both were built by Baldwin.Would anyone like to consider a gray and black ACL 4-8-4 replica somewhere in the east?Maybe the Gold Coast or NCTM museums.Just an idea if the 4500 was to face scrapping.

WINK638@aol.com

Nothing like thinking "outside the box" to save a historic locomotive! What do we need to do to make this happen?

> The Frisco 4-8-4s look alot like the all
> scrapped R1 Atlantic Coast Line 4-8-4s to
> me.I think they both were built by
> Baldwin.Would anyone like to consider a gray
> and black ACL 4-8-4 replica somewhere in the
> east?Maybe the Gold Coast or NCTM
> museums.Just an idea if the 4500 was to face
> scrapping.

> Nothing like thinking "outside the
> box" to save a historic locomotive!
> What do we need to do to make this happen?

I've spoken at length with the City of Tulsa authorities about this loco. Several museums have expressed interest, and I have to say that it's a particularly nice design (essentially, a CB&Q O-5a with an added booster) that would look good alongside Frisco 1630! Sounds like the City is exploring every possible option, but is leaning towards selling it to recoup some money, rather than a donation.


kevinmccabe@avenew.com

> Nothing like thinking "outside the
> box" to save a historic locomotive!
> What do we need to do to make this happen?

As Brad Bourbina at WATCO has indicated, a Kansas group has expressed interest in 4500 for preservation purposes. Let's wait & see how this shapes up.

hi_plain@yahoo.com

> Kansas group has expressed interest in 4500
> for preservation purposes. Let's wait &
> see how this shapes up.

This is EXACTLY the thing I brought up a few months ago on this website.
Locomotives like this that are no longer wanted by the cities and towns where they are displayed.
The collection at Steamtown could be improved so much by the addition of more USA-built examples.
And my opinion remains that the funding for such projects should come right from the Federal Gov't.
Steamtown could be the "smithsonian of steam rr'ing" if they would just get on with it.
The gov't can P155 away $$$$$$$$$$$$ on other stuff...