Hi, David -
Actually, the T&P 2-10-4's were not the 'proving ground' for Lima's "Super Power" engines - they were preceded by Will Woodard's A-1 2-8-4 of 1925 and by Boston & Albany's and Illinois Central's (and I believe Erie's) orders for near-duplicates of the A-1 a few months before the T&P engines. With an extra set of drivers, and thus about six feet longer, the 600's were a 'stretch limo' version of the A-1 - right down to the squared-off sandbox and the capped stack. (See David Weitzman's EXCELLENT book "Superpower - The Making of a Steam Locomotive" for further info.)
To the best of my knowledge, the 610 is the only surviving engine having the early version of the "Super Power" four-wheel trailing truck. This truck was an extension of the frame - which ended right behind the fifth set of drivers - with the rear corners of the firebox riding directly on the truck, and the drawbar connected to the rear of the truck instead of to the frame. Attached is a close-up view of the trailing truck - note the large empty space under the firebox where most engines would have a frame. (That's Andy Adams of the AFT crew playing engineer, with volunteer Craig Thomas behind him in the gangway.)
In mid-February, 1976, I was a student fireman aboard the 610 on her maiden voyage pulling the Freedom Train. We blasted out of Austin about 2:00 a.m., and firemen Andy Adams & Dick Jensen - who had been up for nearly 24 hours preparing for the trip - promptly fell asleep. I had only fired once before - on the 4449 between Colton and Indio, under the careful supervision of Al Phillips - but Doyle was very patient and supportive, using a variety of visual signals to indicate when I was to increase or decrease the fire, use the blower, etc. With its huge firebox and thermic siphons, the 610 steams really well, and Doyle didn't wake up Andy until well after sunrise... Needless to say, that five hours firing the 610 remains to this day the high spot in my railfan adventures.
- Russ Sperry
