I was watching a RFDTV show Trains & Locomotives, and "A Grand Farewell" was the episode they aired. It was a Goodheart Video production about Frisco 1522, and its last runs. Why did it get sidelined, is it beyond resurrection for service again, and is anyone working on it presently?
Good question. I still have about half of that episode to watch, but I was curious too about what became of it.
This is just hazy stuff from my cobwebbed memory, but I think the guys who were maintaining and running her were just worn out, and she was due for her 15 year FRA overhaul. Rather than get involved all over again, they put her back in the museum, which meant she was totally operable at the time, and gosh, I think it has been seven years now, hard to believe. She could run again, no question. It just takes lots of $$$ and new volunteers. :tb-sad: Personally, I am po'd that I never got to see her run in person. Supposedly she had the best stack talk of any steamer running in the US at the time.
I remember at the time the engine was put back in the museum, there were issues with insurance, and finding a railroad willing to allow operation. Rather than rebuild the engine with nowhere to run it, they opted for storage in the hope future economics would allow operation again.
That red cab roof, and gold lettering/striping made 1522 look very nice. I wish I could have seen her. The best stack talk I have ever experienced was UP 3985 on a WB grade out of Rock River, WY. It was the middle of nowhere east of Rawlins. Man, did that Challenger bark! Granted, my steamer experience is minimal, but Durango & Silverton locos can produce some mean stalk talk, especially on slick rails!
