Here's a photo of Rock Island 4-6-2 #905 when in active service:

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr1007/misc113.jpg

A group called the Save the 905 Inc. has this website set up:

http://www.rockisland905.com/

The group is active and as can be seen, is working to remove the asbestos from the boiler. Of the 3 mainline Rock Island steam locomotives still extant, perhaps this one would be the only one with a chance to run some day although from the website it seems that only a cosmetic restoration is currently in mind.

Les

There appears to be a park gauge train track in the pictures too. Any details on that?

Hello, I'd like to thank Les for posting the website. I am president of the group restoring the Rock Island 905 in Duncan, Oklahoma. I could go on about the project, but that can be read on our website:

http://rockisland905.com/

For now I'll stick mainly to questions. The park guage train: Just to the north of us in the park is the Kiwanis Kiddyland. A great little amusement park. It has a merry go round, tilt-a-whirl, small little jets on chains that swirl around and a park train. A really fun place to take the grandkids on a summer's evening.

Yes, our conservation effort is strictly back to display status. The 905 has been in Duncan since 1954. It still has the asbestos and the city is tired of cleanup jobs and began searching for ways to get rid of it. It is all we can do money-wise to save it. We are beginning work with $74,000 and need another $133,000. That money was and is very hard to come by. The website doesn't bring in any money. Only face to face solicitations seem to work.

I just can't envision this project going further than park display.

Enid, Oklahoma had the second of the three Rock Island Pacifics saved from being cut up. It was # 938. Enid sold it to a group in Ft. Worth, Texas who wanted to put it into running condition. They decided it couldn't be done with the means they had. In turn they sold it to the Illinois RR Musuem. It's sitting outside with about 20 other old steamers rusting. So now, not only is # 938 not going to run, it's not on display either and probably never will be.

Again thanks for posting our website. We always accept ideas, volunteer labor and money.

Mike Stuckert, President, Save the 905, Inc.

Thanks for the correction. And I'm glad to see you are building a new barn. Anyone who has a chance to visit the Illinois RR Museum should do so.

The Illinois RR Museum and Mr. Tom Schneider helped us get started on this project and have offered us support in the form of their knowledge and experience. We are appreciative.

Mike -

I didn't see on your website, what the dues are to join your group.

Les

Les,

Thanks for asking. That might be part of our problem, but we don't charge anything. Email me that you want on our information list and you will receive the same emails that the other active members and interested persons receive...which will be one to four a month depending upon what we are doing. I send postage mail out to those who have contributed and don't have email. I do that about 4 times a year.
We don't mind sending information to those who are just interested. We have a couple members who can't afford dues if we had them, but they show up and bend a wrench when we have work sessions. Our active members have contributed over 20% of the collected money.
Don't get me wrong, we'd love to have a donation. On our donation information page is a list of some contribution levels. One of my favorite things is the pewter replica of the 905's builder's plate.
Anytime you're down this way, let me know and I'll show you the project. Show up on a work session day and we'll accept your help.
I will say that your posting of our website was a real help. Our website visits hit a high on the first day and have been up since then. The Railway Preservation News site seems to be well read and visited.

Mike Stuckert

Here's a photo of CRI&P #938 at IRM:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomas-mer ... 425158@N25

Also note the arch bar trucks on the tender. The 905 in Duncan has more modern trucks.

Les

I can see I need to change up some of the photos on my website.
Evidently the newer tender trucks happened somewhere between 1945 and 1953. In our history section there is a 1945 photo in Waruika with the 938's style arch bar. By 1953 at Blue Island (photo gallery section) the 905's tender had acquired the newer trucks or a different tender.
Does anyone know the date on the earlier posted photo of the 905 in the Weldon Thornquist Collection? That photo has the arch bar type of trucks.
Also a question about the steam dome on the 905. Does anyone know positively if there was asbestos under the steam dome covering?
Currently the asbestos probably will not begin actual removal until March 11th. They are just finishing up the second layer of poly on the inside and still have to build the load out section, hook up the decon trailer and the neg air.

Mike Stuckert, Save the 905, Inc.

Mike -

I guess it's hard to believe that the Rock Island updated the trucks on the 905, but not the 938. Perhaps the Rock substituted an older tender (or changed trucks) when the 938 was put on display at Enid. Wonder if the 887 currently has arch bar trucks?

Keep us posted on the progress of the asbestos removal on 905 if you will.

Les

The 886 has the newer style trucks that the 905 currently has. I have a photo if I can figure how to upload it.

Mike Stuckert[/img]

here is the photo. I just published it as a solo page on our website:
http://rockisland905.com/886.htm

mike

Mike -

Thanks for the info and subsequent photo of the tender of #887 (886). Now the fact that the 938 has the older arch bar trucks is even MORE curious!

Les

Les, well sort of. I think in the last 5 to 10 years of the steam era for the Rock Island, they did whatever they could to get by.
The 1954 photo we have of 5 locomotives side by side in the yard waiting to be scrapped, there is the 905, 938 and 887/886. There are several differences between them. None of the three even have the bell in the same place.
I'll know in a couple of weeks what the bell mount looks like on the 905 and can compare with the same section of the 938.
In that photo of the 938 the boiler is accumulating rust. When I saw it last (2006), it had a nice primer coat and almost look decent for just a boiler with no skin.
Do you know anything about the 938? Did it stay in service through 1953 like the 905? I presumed it did otherwise it probaby would have gotten scrapped.
Mike

guess her tender didn't have older trucks because the 938 was inactive for the last 2 or 3 years.

mike

forget that last statement. as i reread it, it can be taken two ways....one of which is dumb.

Jeff, what do you know about asbestos under the steam dome covering? As I look at the 938, it looks like the covering was probably taken off as I see a bunch of rivets or nuts sticking up.

Mike