Dear Railroad Preservation Friends and Family,

As the year 2013 is quickly coming to a close another locomotive in the steam realm is about to take a big leap forward. The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, Inc has completed a extensive study to bring back Frisco Mikado 1352 to operating condition with a plan total budget for restoration of 1.6 Million to return her to service. This will be a full restoration of all appliances, boiler, running gear and everything in between needed to bring her back to zero mile status.

In the coming weeks a site will launch named Steam Up 1352 to be solely dedicated to bring Frisco Power back into the spotlight. Once 1352 is finished she'll be the only operating Frisco Mikado since her retirement in 1952 and will be the only Frisco Mike to return back from retirement to enter into excursion service.

This past weekend 6 volunteers from ASR went to the site in Illinois to clear the brush away from all tracks including the main line leading to siding to get 1352 ready for move. A total of 15 large and 20 small trees were cut away so track inspections could take place and to set 1352 up for its first funding goal to get her out of Illinois by June 2014 so she can be in her new home in Cleveland Ohio. This date of June 2014 move date has be met to send 1352 down the rail via railroad flat car. Anything beyond that date can bring 1352 to a status in which all of us do not want to see.

So I ask all of you take a few minutes to spread the word about our Facebook page, American Steam Railroad Web site and coming soon Steamup1352. American Steam Railroad volunteers and board have worked hard to make sure this locomotive has a good life ahead of her and now we need everyone's help to make sure she becomes alive once again.

Best Regards,
Steven M Harvey
President

American Steam Railroad Site: http://www.americansteamrailroad.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/americansteam
Launching Soon: http://www.steamup1352.org

It's a shame 1522 couldn't join it. I was just in St. Louis Saturday and stopped in to pay my respects. It's in a good safe place, but hard to get good photos of. Except for the dust & cobwebs, it looks like a little oil, some water, and a good hot fire is all it needs to bust out of that place. (And a few $'s)

I did a "double take" upon seeing "1352", but after reading the post, found that it is an ex-Frisco 2-8-2, and I was nine numbers off when the first thought was that a former Pennsy 4-6-2 was about to see better days.

Don't feel bad, there's an NP 4-6-0 near Yakima (1364) with a "close" number, though it's very near the end of its road to restoration. http://www.nprymuseum.org/

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

I would love to see some updates on the NP 1364. Their website has not been updated in a while.

Most interesting...and I wish this project all the sucess in the world.

Frisco added a 38" combustion chamber and trailing truck to a series of 63" drivered Consolidations to make a better road engine. Although they formed a small class, I think that 3 were saved. Frisco also had USRA light Mikes, 65 heavy Mikados and the 20 really large 4200 class with 235 lb. boilers, the biggest Mikes at that time.

Tom -

There were seven of the 1350 class Mikes, all rebuilt from older (1912) Consolidations in order to get a "more modern" locomotive for the SLSF line down to Pensacola, Florida where bridges had restricted the line to the 2-8-0's. You are right that three of the seven engines from the class were preserved; numbers 1351, 1352 and 1355. BTW, the 1356 was the very last "new" engine added to the Frisco roster when it rolled out of the railroads Springfield shops in 1946. Two of the USRA light Mike's were also preserved, including #4018 which made the Frisco's last regularly scheduled steam run on February 29, 1952.

Les

Where is this located? I'm curious about the necessary tree removal from the rails.

They must be going to move it on rails to a loading place? Or are the rails being cleared so that a flat car or two can be brought to the locomotive?

Scott, 1352 is stored in Taylorville, Illinois. The plan is to load the engine and tender on heavy haul flat cars at the site and ship them by rail to Ohio.

Rob Gardner

Hopefully this move will go smoothly. At least when it get's to the B&O Roundhouse in Cleveland Flats, SLSF 1352 won't be lonely anymore. It will have GTW 4070 as a new friend. Here's a video of GTW 4070 at MRPS:

Grand Trunk Western 4070 (Restoration Tour), 08-17-2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_kw5lVlM3A

Looking forward to the day when SLSF 1352 & GTW 4070 are both operating together.

Enjoy! ^_^

What is the story with 4070 is there still work being done? Will they be running on the CVSR?

Hello RYPN Members,

I wanted to take a few minutes to give a round of applause to the Potomac Chapter of the NRHS. While the Steamup1352.org site is still under construction the men and women of this Chapter have sent a grant of $250.00 toward the move and rebuild of Frisco Mikado 1352. The American Steam Railroad Preservation Association is very grateful for choosing us for there grant and hope others will follow suite. Once steamup1352.org is running all donations will be published on our donor wall as part of the sites recognition of the people who make it possible to rebuild 1352.

Thank you again Potomac Chapter of the NRHS.

Best Regards,

Steven M Harvey
President
American Steam Railroad