Mopac 4-8-2

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 1:28 am

This one didn't survive of course. It's just a nice photo of a just shopped Missouri Pacific 4-8-2 at Jefferson City, Missouri in November 1947. Sharp looking engine, rebuilt and modernized by the railroad.

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?m ... ac5337.jpg

Stephen Hussar · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:40 am

Great find, Bob. Question for the experts: It looks like the second driver is "different." I've never noticed anything like that before...am I seeing things?

John Bohon · **Joined:** Sun Aug 29, 2004 1:04 pm **Posts:** 625

The main driver has been replaced with a disc driver. I can not quite see it well enough to tell what kind of driver it is. This was done often on locomotive upgrades, sometimes to increase balancing ability and usually to reduce cracking of the spokes on the old drivers. Among the many surviving locomotives with this arrangement are WM pacific 202 and Frisco 1522.

John Bohon

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:58 am

The Rock Island upgraded some of its later 4-8-2s in a similar fashion, at its Silvis, Illinois main shops.

http://www.divisionpoint.com/photos/CRI ... P_4055.jpg

I think the Mopac engines were rebuilt at Sedalia, Missouri, where they also converted 2-8-4s into higher speed 4-8-4s. Some of the buildings at each site still remain for locomotive and car repair, but the handsome engines are long gone.

Frisco1522 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 4:08 pm

I'm having a serious senior moment. I've been sitting here for an hour trying to remember the foundry in Kansas that cast these drivers and am stuck. The Santa Fe was big on using drivers cast by these folks.
Getting old ain't for sissies!

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:30 pm

The initials are LFM and I think that stands for Locomotive Finishing Materials. The foundry is still in operation at Atchison, Kansas, under another name. They also made EMD Blomberg trucks.

Txhighballer · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:49 am **Posts:** 773

They also built cylinder saddles. While I was with ASTA we contacted them to see if they would still have some drawings of the saddle. Sadly,they were destroyed in a flood in the '50's.

Fitz · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:46 pm **Posts:** 188

Those were beautiful engines and remind me of New York Central Mohawks. Were any preserved?

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

Fitz wrote:

Those were beautiful engines and remind me of New York Central Mohawks. Were any preserved?

The MoPac had some extremely good looking locomotives. Unfortunately, the only ones I believe that survive are a 4-6-0 that was sold to a short line in Arkansas (supposedly in poor shape), and another elderly 4-6-0 at the MofT. Oh yes.....and the front end ONLY of the 2-8-0 that helped pull the last steam run on the railroad (IF it even still survives)!

Les