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Gallery,
including work in progress shots.
Texas State Railroad Pacific (4-6-2) Engine #500.
From the TSRR Website:
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Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1911, engine 500 began its career with
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway wearing number 1316. It was originally
built as a compound steam engine. This design proved to be mechanically
unreliable and the locomotive was converted into a standard steam engine in
1923. With a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement (that’s four small wheels in front, six
large wheels in the middle and two small wheels in the rear) engine 500 is
what’s known as a “Pacific” type locomotive. The 1316 was primarily utilized on
fast passenger trains and saw service over most of West Texas, often through the
city of San Angelo.
As the golden age of steam railroading drew to an end in the late 40s, this
powerful steam locomotive was reduced to pulling local freight trains as the
newcomer diesels began taking over its job of fast freight and passenger
service. By the early 50s the Santa Fe had completely dieselized its operation
and donated the once proud 1316 to the Fort Concho Museum in San Angelo, Texas
for utilization as a static display. This seemingly brought to an end the
distinguished 1,347,383 mile career of this engine.
In the summer of 1980 crew from the Texas State Railroad showed up at the Fort
Concho Museum and, laboring in the West Texas heat, began preparing the engine
for a rebirth. The TSRR had arranged to purchase the engine and transport it by
rail to the piney woods of East Texas. After a year of dedicated hard work by
employees, the former Santa Fe number 1316 was once again on the rails under its
new road number, 500.
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This is the second version of this locomotive I have built. The upgrade was a
100% rebuild, nothing of the original MOC remains. She’s been upgraded from a 7
wide design to 8-wide, and is now nearly studless. She also utilizes a true,
fully functional 4-wheeled pony truck design.
The original
MOC of the #500.
--Tony
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