The closing days of 2012 have brought the next chapter in the life of a veteran railroad locomotive. The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association (ASR), a 501c3 Not-for-Profit Corporation headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and Midwest Railway Preservation Society (MRPS), a 501c3 Not-for-Profit Corporation headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio are proud to announce an agreement to house the restoration and continued preservation of ASR’s steam locomotive SLSF 1352. Built in 1912 by the American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, NY, this 2-8-2 Mikado type served the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad (commonly called the Frisco) until 1956 when she was retired and placed on public display in Swoop Park in Kansas City, Missouri. In an effort to save the 1352 from neglect and vandalism, she was later moved from the park to a storage location in rural, Illinois. 1352 will now be brought to the MRPS’s former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad roundhouse located in Cleveland, Ohio for completion of her restoration to operable status. After this restoration is complete she will begin a new career pulling passenger excursion trains.

This agreement unites SLSF 1352 with another well-known Mikado type locomotive, former Grand Trunk Western (GTW) steam locomotive #4070, which is under restoration in the Cleveland facility as well. The B&O Roundhouse will be one of very few locations in the United States where visitors will be able to view the full restoration of two large steam locomotives being conducted simultaneously.

The ceremonial signing of the contract between these two organizations will take place at Noon on Saturday, November 24, 2012 at the roundhouse, located at:

2800 W. 3rd Street
Cleveland Ohio 44113

After the signing representatives from both groups will be on-hand to take questions about locomotives 1352 and 4070 from 12pm - 4pm during the previously scheduled Open House event. We encourage everyone to stop by and see the roundhouse and meet both groups!

SLSF 1352 was built in 1912 as a Consolidation-type (2-8-0) steam locomotive and rebuilt in during World War II into a Mikado-type (2-8-2) locomotive. In her present configuration the locomotive weighs about 161 tons. The locomotive’s operating boiler pressure is 195 pounds per square inch.

GTW 4070 was built in 1918 to the standard United States Railroad Administration “Light Mikado” design. She is also a product of the American Locomotive Company’s Schenectady Plant. The locomotive weighs about 146 tons and has an operating boiler pressure of 200 pounds per square inch.

Founded in 2005, the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association goal is to restore, preserve and operate steam locomotives and other historic railroad equipment for the public’s enjoyment and education. ASR will bring 1352’s smaller parts to Ohio to begin work on them while they continue to raise the money to move the locomotive to the Cleveland roundhouse. Several ASR fundraising events will be announced in the Spring of 2013 to kick start this project.

ASR President Steven M. Harvey, commenting on the partnership between these two organizations, said “Since its inception, the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association has encouraged partnerships within the railroad preservation industry for the benefit of both sides. With this agreement in place, both ASR and MRPS will benefit from their mutual knowledge and expertise. In a nod to history, they’ll also be sharing a facility that was designed for steam locomotive rebuilds and maintenance. 1352 will now be moved to the B&O Roundhouse where we will complete her restoration to service. This is great news for all who love steam locomotives. SLSF 1352 and GTW 4070 are great representatives of America’s railroad history, and we’re excited to help preserve that history for future generations. I urge anyone who shares our passion to join both groups in working toward two operating steam locomotives.”



For further information or to join us, please write or email
American Steam Railroad Preservation Association
3869 Highland Bluff Drive
Suite 201
Groveport, Ohio 43125
Web: http://www.americansteamrailroad.org
E-mail: ryan.king@americansteamrailroad.org

Great news. I'm just wondering what railroad you have an agreement with to host your excursions, and when we'll be able to ride?

dave

It is too early for our group to give a time line for completion of the restoration. We have evaluated 1352 and determined it to be in restorable condition however like fixing up an old car you find other problems while you are rebuilding them. There are several short lines in the area that seem receptive to running excursions however there are no current agreements for running. Once the restoration has started we will start investigating that further, few railroads will come to an agreement for operation until we have proven we can complete the restoration.

On a side note, our groups main focus will be raising the funds to move the locomotive to Ohio. We have a decent percentage already raised but we still have more to go. Our goal is by late spring of next year to have further evaluated the locomotive and be able to present a better budget for the rebuild. Once that happens the length of time for the rebuild process will be limited by volunteer hours and money raised. As the old saying goes to restore a locomotive you must first fill the tender with money. This is where you come in.

it is wonderful to know that a Frisco steamer will possibly be returning to the main in the near future. Being from St. Louis, i still remember the days of Frisco 1522 charging along the main towards downtown, whistle howling through my neighborhood. It's nice to know that another Frisco locomotive will be in doing the same and providing memories for the next generation.

At the risk of having my head snapped off, is the Nat. Trans. Mus. of St. Louis, looking at possibly dusting of 1522 in the future?

Richard,

Any inquiry regarding SLSF 1522 in this particular thread is a bit off topic, isn't it?

Also, the Museum of Transportation is the name of the organization, it hasn't been the National Museum of Transport for quite some time now. Perhaps you missed all of the signs when you visited about a year ago.

To answer your inquiry, I think you already know what the answer is.

David

I do not know what the museum plans to do with 1522. Your best bet is to call the museum and ask.

David, baiting me is uncalled for, but it seems to be your #1 activity in this group. Asking about a second Frisco locomotive is not off topic, it was an inquiry. If you want to discuss my interests and activities, please do so off the thread.

Its a done deal now. Looks like they are going to be into the fundraising phase to make it happen now.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ss ... iver_metro

It was in the fundraising phase through a while, based on the newsletters that go out a few times each year by email. But now there's a goal to work towards, not an abstract concept of "somewhere in Ohio".

What really impressed me in that article was this;


About time that someone begins to work towards the goal of a true American railway centre (that is not a typo). I see serious possibilities in this association between ASR and Midwest Railway Preservation Society. Just the idea that there could be more than just two steam engines under repair in Cleveland, with the potential to serve as a home for others... Can someone say Barrow Hill?

Hats off to one James Ewinger of the Plain Dealer for caring enough to get the language and terminology nearly perfect on his article about 4070 and 1352.. It is very refreshing to see Midwest step forward and be willing to partner with ASR to help get another Mike under restoration. I am a native of the Cleveland area and have watched Midwest slowly rebuild itself over the last few years. 4070 was the first big steam engine I remember seeing as a kid on Rockside Rd behind the old furniture business. It is also good to see that Midwest is "out of the shadows" so to speak and trying to make progress once again on 4070, too. Like Dylan said, This country has a lot to learn from the British Preservation movement. Here is hoping that these shared assets and interests result in some dynamic synergies for both organizations. Let's hope that local leaders now start to see the benefit in supporting these projects that can further celebrate Cleveland's and the entire country's great industrial heritage.

Wish I could have been there for the Open House and signing!

Rob Gardner
ASR

Glad to hear about GTW 4070's new stable mate. I wish both organizations luck in their future endeavors with both locomotives, and anxiously wait the return to steam of a Grand Trunk and Frisco Mikados.