This shot recently came through on railpictures.net. She is looking well cared for and displayed nicely.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 38&nseq=18

Tom -

Although I would prefer to see the O1A Mike lettered for the Q and restored with her original 4994 number, I will gladly settle for her preservation as FW&D #401. The whole display there is neat. Stock cars, waycar (caboose), depot, stock pens, semahore. This might be the best outdoors static display of the steam era in the country! Some might say that the stock pens might be a little too close to the depot, but somewhere, that must have actually occurred.

I am a bit curious as to the building in the background with the "666" numbers. I wonder if that might also be a part of this whole display and if so, what is it?

Finally, the 4994 was one of three O1A class 2-8-2's that the Colorado & Southern leased after two tragic head on wrecks of new diesel units caused a motive power shortage. One of the other leased Mikes also survives in Mendota, Illinois (#4978). I don't know the number of the 3rd O1A that ran on the C&S. If that wreck had not occurred, the three Burlington 2-8-2's might have remained in storage and ended up just being scrapped.

Les

As this display is a part of the National Ranch Heritage Center, I'd say the 666 was a ranch and the brand found on their cattle. The structure in question is a barn.

No devil worship or "Number of the Beast" stuff going on here, the barn in question is from the Guthrie, Texas "Four Sixes Ranch"...the locomotive blocks the view of the fourth six...

Cheers, Dave

Randy and Dave -

Thanks very much for the info.

Les

The locomotive was on the Texas Tech campus and moved by rail to the museum. When I was there a few years ago, the crossheads , shoes and wedges all had fresh oil on them. Someone was taking care of her.

Finally, the 4994 was one of three O1A class 2-8-2's that the Colorado & Southern leased after two tragic head on wrecks of new diesel units caused a motive power shortage. One of the other leased Mikes also survives in Mendota, Illinois (#4978). I don't know the number of the 3rd O1A that ran on the C&S. If that wreck had not occurred, the three Burlington 2-8-2's might have remained in storage and ended up just being scrapped.

Les[/quote]

According to Lloyd Stagner's "Burlington Route Steam Finale", the Burlington leased five 01a 2-8-2s to the C&S in October 1958 to tide them over after the head-on collision disabled/destroyed a couple of diesels. The locomotives were 4947, 4952, 4954, 4978 and 4994. As you mention, the last two managed to survive for display purposes.

Don C.

Don -

Thanks. I didn't realize that there were 5 (not 3) leased O1A's. Also, not to get too far off subject, the Colorado & Southern also PURCHASED the last 6 remaining serviceable USRA 2-8-2's from the CB&Q in 1957 to help get them "over the hump". I believe that the C&S renumbered these engines into their own numbering system since they were actually purchased and not leased. I think the railroads last regular steam operation was in 1959 (not counting the 2-8-0 on the Climax branch) so their career on the C&S was short lived. Unfortunately, none of those USRA engines has survived.

Les

[quote="Les Beckman"]Don -

Thanks. I didn't realize that there were 5 (not 3) leased O1A's. Also, not to get too far off subject, the Colorado & Southern also PURCHASED the last 6 remaining serviceable USRA 2-8-2's from the CB&Q in 1957 to help get them "over the hump". I believe that the C&S renumbered these engines into their own numbering system since they were actually purchased and not leased. I think the railroads last regular steam operation was in 1959 (not counting the 2-8-0 on the Climax branch) so their career on the C&S was short lived. Unfortunately, none of those USRA engines has survived.

Les[/quote]

Les,

The six "Q" O-4 2-8-2 were purchased by the C&S in June 1957 and were all sold for scrap on December 9, 1960. Only five of the six were operated by the C&S as CB&Q 5509 was found to be in poor mechanical shape which included a cracked steam dome. It was never renumbered to its intended C&S number of 808 and became a parts source for the other five locomotives. CB&Q 5500, 5506, 5507, 5508 and 5513 became C&S 804 (2nd), 805, 806, 807 and 809. The first C&S 804 was an E-4A 2-8-2 which had been sold for scrap on 11-18-53. By the time the O-4s were purchased, the C&S had a SD7 on the roster that occupied the #810 slot. C&S re-used #804 to avoid a numbering conflict. The CB&Q suggested the O-4s be numbered in the 915-920 series which would have placed them above the C&S 2-10-2s. C&S chose to sandwich them in between the three remaining E-4As - 800, 802 and 803 - and SD7 810.

Information from F. Hol Wagner, Jr's. great reference work "The Colorado Road".

Don C.

More great info. Thanks Don.