Rolling Locomotives ATSF2921

In the late 50s, ATSF #2921 was deadheaded up from Fresno to Empire California where it was switched over to line that eventually took it and placed in a park in Modesto (next to a river that later-recently flooded [that's another story]). At that time I was an ardent steam railroad fan-- still am (and beoming an ex- HO modeler) and I and Joe Brown were there at the Merced depot when the big black 4-8-4 came rolling in proceeded by a diesel,few freight cars and followed by the standard maroon AT&SF crummy. My buddy, a fellow junior high school rail fan, and I rode in the cab of that big beast all the way to Empire, against the wishes of the section superintended but with the okay of the train crew. Those were the days when adventurous boys could realize their dreams. Now that beautiful monster rolled very well except when the drivers hit that spot where it had been sitting for so many years. Since the drivers were turning it pumped air throught the sysem. The airbrakes functioned as did the automatic bell ringer. The reason it rolled so well was (unfortunately for the engine) was that they had torched the piston rods clean through back in Fresno. Sadly, I guess she sets today in Modesto with those torched piston rods. Hope she can go to Sacramento and join her family at the rail museum.