Frisco 2-8-2 #4003 - Fort Smith, AR
N 35° 23.129 W 094° 25.792
15S E 370132 N 3916731
Frisco 4003 is a 2-8-2, Mikado type, standard gauge steam railway locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company in 1919 as a standard USRA light Mikado
Waymark Code: WMD89B
Location: Arkansas, United States
Date Posted: 12/04/2011
Views: 12
4003 was one of three of the class built by Alco at its Schenectady Locomotive Works in late summer 1919. The balance of the class was built by Lima. It cost $53,619.
The Frisco put it into service hauling freight between Fort Smith, Arkansas and Monett, Missouri, which included a stretch through the Boston Mountains that was relatively steep. Two major sources of carloads were berries, a million quarts shipped in 1941, and zinc, which was smelted in Fort Smith.[3]
Like all the other US railroads, the Frisco actively began converting to diesel power in the late forties. 4003 was retired in early 1952, shortly before the last steam powered train on the Frisco, between Birmingham and Bessemer, Alabama in February. Frisco kept the locomotive until 1954 when it donated it to the City of Fort Smith. The city placed it on display in Kay Rodgers Park where it remained for almost 50 years. Early in this century, the city transferred the locomotive to the Fort Smith Trolley Museum with the provision that the museum pay for the moving. It now sits outside at the museum. While it could probably be restored to operating condition, the museum has no track on which to run it and the restoration cost would be considerable.
Locomotive Type: (required): Steam
If "other" what is the engine type? (optional):
Steam
Do you need to pay an entrance fee to view this locomotive? (required): No
If a fee is required what is the approximate cost for admittance? (optional):
$0.00
How accessible is this locomotive display? (Required): Only touching is allowed.
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