Louis,
The 3006 may have been chosen because it was among the last available. Of the 14 S4s, five were scrapped in April and May of 1955 including 3000, 3004, 3005, 3012 and 4004 (3011). Of those at Galesburg in the late 1950s, 3001 last operated on a fan trip in Oct. 1958 and was the first donated in Aug. 1959 to Ottumwa, IA. No. 3003 was last operated on fan trips in Sept, 1957 and was donated to Burlington, IA in June, 1961. No. 3006 was donated to Galesburg, IL in Dec, 1962. No. 3007 was donated to Quincy, IL in June, 1961, the same month as 3003. The only hudson held at Galesburg in those later years and scrapped was the 3010 which went to NWS&W in Dec, 1960. It sat at the west end of the dead line for several years in the late 1950s. No. 4000 was held the longest and was finally given to La Crosse, WI. in Aug. 1963, the last one donated.
Of the hudsons stored at Lincoln, NE, 4001, 4002 and 4003 all went to scrap at NWS&W in Oct. and Nov. 1960. Interestingly, on a percentage basis, there were more Q hudsons donated than any other locomotive type in the United States; 5 of 14. The next closest, I believe, was the Union Pacific Big Boys with 8 of 25 saved. The O-5s followed a similar disposition pattern. Only three, 5603, 5611, and 5625 were scrapped before 1960. All of the rest of the fleet of 36 locomotives were either scrapped or donated between 1960 and 1963. The Q’s last major scrapping of steam locomotives occurred in 1960 and 1961. Yet, Q donated four hudsons and all four surviving O-5s between 1961 and 1963. They apparently had a list of towns that wanted locomotives and held those locomotives off the scrap list for preservation possibly as early as 1960. Here is a timeline for the disposition of the Q hudsons.
1955 3000, 3004, 3005, 3012, 4004 scrapped
1959 3001 donated
1960 3010, 4001, 4002, 4003 scrapped
1961 3003, 3007 donated
1962 3006 donated
1963 4000 donated
Bill Barber Gravois Mills, MO
Sun Dec 27, 2015 12:50 pm (PST) . Posted by: December 27, 2015
Bud and Group - Thanks for the current image of 3006 in Galesburg. She sure
looks GOOD!
I've attached an image of 3006 taken in July 1961 when she faced a very
uncertain future in the Galesburg Dead Line. Since her stack is covered with
canvas, cab windows are boarded-up, plus main and eccentric rods are still
connected, 3006 may've been stored serviceable in the beginning, but her
flue time would've expired at some later date and she was then condemned.
Just "why" 3006 was selected for preservation may remain a mystery as all
those Q officials at the time have passed away. Perhaps, 3006 was
considered a "good" engine, or an official had fond memories of riding her cab at
high speed. It might be as simple as 3006 was the easiest 4-6-4 to switch out
of the dead line. As most of us know, Mr. Murphy had a fondness for Class
S-4 locomotives.
Whatever the reason, we can all agree that 3006 was a very "lucky"
locomotive to have escaped the cutting torches at Northwestern Steel & Wire. May
she slumber in eternity there on display in Galesburg adjacent to the
mainline she once roamed. Happy Holidays - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
__._,_.___
Posted by: William Barber <clipperw@gmail.com>
![]()
__,_._,___
|