Re: SLSF 4-8-2 #1522

Bill M. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought the reason 1522 was parked was the cost
> of meeting the new boiler requirements--that and
> the increased cost of insurance. I believe that
> was the publicly stated reason put out by the
> Steam Train Association. I did not know about the
> problems with the lead truck. She was a beautiful
> engine when she was running.


1522 came up lame in 1998 and had to be pulled of the BNSF Employee Appreciation Special that would have seen the engine travel as far as Wyoming. It was the last straw for the group, and over that winter 1522 got a major running gear overhaul.

On its first move after the overhaul, it derailed when the 132-lb CWR on a wye in St. Louis rolled over. Hulcher lifted and dropped the loco a couple of times in the rerailing process, and the resulting damage limited 1522 to 15mph or so on a trip to Galesburg and back.

So they did it again.

The next year, I got a call from Scott Lindsay to brag that the engine was doing 50mph on its way to Galesburg and running cool - with no break-in.

We saw it in 2001 and 2002 (last trips), and while the valves were a little out-of-square, the running gear seemed to be in fine shape.

The cost of a 1472-day inspection, the cost of insurance, and the lack of opportunities to operate led to the decision to park the engine.

JAC