Hi,

I am trying to track down what happened to Mississippin RR 76 and 77 - the two ex Frisco 2-8-0s.

After I started first grade but before my sixth birthday in November of 1961 Mom (from a PRR family) heard about a steamer in northern MS still running. Since we had not yet moved from Jackson, Mom took me out of school and She and Dad drove up to show me a steamer moving revenue freight.

We saw it in town and the crew moved the loco back and forth with me and my father on board.

We ate lunch and drove to the outskirts of town to watch the train go to the other end of the line. The train stoped and asked if I wanted to ride to the other end. It was my first ever train ride (full size or miniature) and it was in the cab of one of these locos over the length of the line.

Mom and Dad drove to the other end and picked me up. I have a super-8 movie of me getting on the loco and riding in the yard that Mom took but it has snapped and I need to get some splices so I can find out the locomotive number I rode.

I think one is in Ohio and the other somewhere in Alabama but I am not sure.

Thanks.

Doug vV


douglasvanveelen@mindspring.com

> Hi,

> I am trying to track down what happened to
> Mississippin RR 76 and 77 - the two ex
> Frisco 2-8-0s.

Mississipian RR #76 is at the following link:

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomo ... splay=1015

Mississippian RR #77 is at the following link:
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomo ... Display=26 and is located in Stetler, Alberta.


Steam Locomotive Stuff
dougb@sunserver.com

> Hi,

> I am trying to track down what happened to
> Mississippin RR 76 and 77 - the two ex
> Frisco 2-8-0s.

No. 76 was sold to Sloan Cornell in 1967, and operated on the Gettysburg Railroad (along with H&BTM 38, CNR 3254, and CPR 1278) on and off until the 1995 boiler incident with 1278. 76 and 1278 were sold to Jerry Jacobson after that, and 76 is stored on the Ohio Central at Morgan Run.

No. 77 was sold to the North Alabama Railroad Club in 1968 and powered a few excursions on the Southern Railway in the early 1970s until a driving axle fractured during a trip. Running gear ended up along the roadbed, and 77 was disassembled for repair next to the Southern's Sheffield, AL, station.

In 1984 no. 77 returned to Amory on a lease to the "Magnolia State Railway," and operated in excursion service until 1986. In 1987 it was sold by NARC to (I believe) Ken Riddle, renumbered 9, and operated for a couple of years along the former NC&StL line to the south of Huntsville.

In 1990 or so the engine was sold to the Central Western Railway in Stetler, AB, where it has operated as no. 41 (its original JLC&E number) and alongside CNR 6060. I believe steam operation on the CW has ceased.

JAC

Thanks to all for the info on the history and current locations.

I'll need to visit them soon just for old times sake.

Doug vV


douglasvanveelen@mindspring.com

In March of 1963 I had finished Army basic training and was enroute to Ft. Rucker, AL for Aviation school. My very pregnant (7-8 months) wife and I stopped in Amory and watched the 76 switch for a while and we were invited up in the cab for a while.
The fireman made my wife sit on the fireman's seat and was very nervous like she may explode any moment.
Very friendly folks and a neat operation. Two brothers were the engineers and each had his engine.
These were originally built for the Jonesboro Lake City and Eastern and passed to the Frisco. The only thing that had changed on them since the Frisco had them was they added a rotating beacon on the cab roof. They were nice little engines for their operation. They also had an ex-Frisco wood caboose. Heady stuff for a lifelong Frisco steam fan, and would have to suffice until the 1630 at Union and finally the 1522.
P.S. After 2 years in Germany and reassignment to Ft. Rucker until discharge, we again stopped at Amory in December of '65 to get another steam fix. Last time I saw either under steam.
Where does the time go.

frisco1522@sbcglobal.net

> The fireman made my wife sit on the
> fireman's seat and was very nervous like she
> may explode any moment.
> Very friendly folks and a neat operation.
> Two brothers were the engineers and each had
> his engine.

The fireman was probably Quinton Stegall. (Quinton is pictured below.)

76 was James Carlisle's engine, 77 was claimed by his brother Frank. An engine would be used for 3 months, then swapped out. The "brother without an engine" served as conductor.

Frank passed away in the early 1980s from cancer - his son Buddy still runs the Mississippian. James was instrumental in the Magnolia State operation, and passed away earlier this year.

JAC

(photo by Mike Eagleson)

> I am trying to track down what happened to
> Mississippin RR 76 and 77 - the two ex
> Frisco 2-8-0s

Mississippian #77 is quite alive and well in Stetler, Alberta. Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions operates her in regular service. She has been renumbered back to #41, the number she had when orginally built for the Jonesboro, Arkansas shortline that ordered her.

hi_plain@yahoo.com