February 4, 2015
John - Class O-1-A 4976 most likely was the last L&B front end
locomotive to steam on the Q. In her memory, here's an image (inserted and
attached) of 4976 switching hopper cars at Herrin Junction, IL, on December 30,
1958.
4976 was also sold for scrap in June 1961, almost certainly to Northwestern
Steel & Wire in Sterling, IL. From this image, 4976 had been "modernized"
with a slanted-inward coal bunker for better visibility when running in reverse.
The Class O-1-A locomotives were a highly successful design and lasted until the
bitter end of steam in the southern Illinois coal fields.
One last question about L&B front ends. When the locomotives so
equipped wandered east of lignite territory, were the baffles/netting removed
for better drafting? Or, were the front ends left intact? Any one know or
venture to offer an opinion? I've always heard that L&B locomotives used on
Lines East did not draft as well as their sisters with conventional smoke boxes.
Best Regards - Louis
- - - -
Another L&B equipped engine, that spent the last ten years or so, on
the Beardstown Division, was 4976, which was one of the last five active steam
engines at Herrin Junction.
