| The Q had 18 2-10-4s, twelve purchased from Baldwin in 1927, road nos. 6310 - 6321 and six more from Baldwin in 1929 numbered 6322 - 6327. The 1929 group were slightly modified from the earlier group. Some of the early locomotives had Elesco feed water heaters while the remainder had side mounted Worthington BL feed water heaters. All of the second group had Worthington BL FWHs. Originally, the locomotives were used in coal service in southern Illinois. In the mid 1930's, the locomotives went through a modification program which included a number of changes designed to allow their use in higher speed mainline road freight service, primarily between Galesburg and Denver.
After the FT freight diesels began to appear, the 2-10-4s were primarily returned to coal service, again in southern Illinois. A few of them were still in service in the very late 1950s. The last one, no. 6315, ran on a steam excursion from Cicero, IL to Galesburg on September 6, 1959. It was double headed with 4-8-4 no. 5632. Unfortunately, it broke down west of Zearing, IL. and was pushed to Galesburg by no. 5632. All of the 2-10-4s were scrapped.
US Steel's railroad, Bessemer and Lake, bought a fleet of 2-10-4s during WWII which copied from the Q 2-10-4 design. One of those remains in existence. H Attached is a photo of no. 6315 taken at Aurora on the fan trip. They were handsome and powerful locomotives.
Bill Barber Gravois Mills, MO
Sat Apr 6, 2013 7:12 pm (PDT) . Posted by:Did the Burlington have 2-10-4s.If so does anyone have any pics?Thank you?
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