Displays & Restorations - Missouri Pacific / Predecessor Locomotives

Below is a listing of all known examples of surviving Missouri Pacific and predecessor locomotives. Some, like MP 124 in Dupo, Illinois, are a faded relic. Others are meant more as an attraction to honor what once was, such as the ex-NYC GP7 as MP in Downs, Kansas. The best example of an actual preserved locomotive can be found at the NMOT at St. Louis in the form of the Iron Mountain's 2707 / 635.

Use the menu below to jump to a summary of each locomotive.

True MP / TP Preserved Locomotives

MP / TP Mockup Locomotives Only

Don't forget to look over the additional NOTES at the bottom for some related Survivor reports.

Paris, Arkansas

MP 2522 - photo by Elvin Klepzig

Missouri Pacific 2522/FSSRI 2522, 4-6-0 Steam Engine

Paris City Park, Paris, AR

Preserved in a partially fenced railroad display and lettered as Fort Smith, Subiaco and Rock Island #2522 (or as Paris #2522 as seen in these three photos).

The Missouri Pacafic owned 128 (2301-2403, 2501-2525) of these TN-61 Class, 4-6-0 locomotives.

Though she is in very sad shape, suffering from extreme corrosion, her drivers sunk into the ground and a target for souvineer seekers and vandalism, the #2522 is one of only two known Missouri Pacific steam engines that has survived 'til today.

MP 2522 - photo by Bill Herbert, Elvin Klepzig Collection, MPHS member

MP 2522 on display in 1987 - photo by Bill Herbert, Elvin Klepzig Collection, MPHS member

Dupo, Illinois

Missouri Pacific 124?, Steam Engine

Location, city park?

In another unfortunate example of bad luck seen against the preservation of MP's past glory, only the front-end of this steam locomotive has survived today. For whatever reasons the city fathers didn't want the donation of this steam engine.

Downs, Kansas

MP 4124 is in reality ex-NYC, but has been repainted as a display of early MoPac diesel power - Tom Stolte photo

Missouri Pacific 4124 mock-up (ex-NYC), EMD GP7 Diesel Engine

The GP7 project is operated by the Downs Historical Society, Downs KS.

Work on this GP-7 into Missouri Pacific liverly began in 1999. Refinished into an accurate Missouri Pacific blue & gray Eagles scheme, with the original lettering patterns.

The original MP 4124 was most likely the number of the first diesel in Downs during the wheat harvest of 1950.

The GP7 now on display in Downs was originally ex-New York Central, Penn Central and Conrail #5712 from Kyle Railroad (EMD builder # 15486, built Mar 1952). It was never owned by MoPac, but with no other example of a unit in Eagle colors, it is a worthy attraction to the Mopac enthusiast.

Doug Brush reports that #4124 was moved to a permanent section of track immediately east of the one-story brick Downs Missouri Pacific Depot, which began major restoration in May, 2002. (thanks to Norm Metcalf for additional info)

Related Links:
Photos at Missouri Pacific Photos
Downs, Kansas Depot
Railroad Town (Downs, Kansas)  
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/kansas/towns/Downs/downs.htm (you will need javascript enabled)

St. Louis, Missouri

IM 635 with a MoPac caboose as seen at the NMoT - MPHS Collection

St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern  2707 / 635, Steam Engine

The former Iron Mountain loco is located at the StLIM National Museum of Transport, 314-965-7998, I270 exit 8 follow signs, 3015 Barrett Station Rd 63122

Other equipment at the NMoT include:
MPHS Archives Caboose
MP X-136 Wrecker
ART 52461 Reefer American Refrigerator Transit 
SLIM&S 9779 Buggy car 
MP 750 Parlor-Observation 
CEI 405 Commuter coach 
HNS 604 Passenger car 
MP 6210 commuter coach 

Related links:
Museum of Transport

St. Louis, Missouri

MP 4502, the St. Louis NRHS RS-3 project. Look closely and you can see her original Eagle colors showing under the stripped yellow paint.  "We hope your members will join us. It will be nice to see her in MOPAC colors again." - photo by George Rees, St. Louis NRHS member

Missouri Pacific 4502 / 975, ALCo RS-3 diesel engine

Project operated by the St. Louis Chapter NRHS, 2129 Barrett Station Road, PMB 271 St. Louis, Mo 63131-1638

This RS-3 was one of only two MP RS-3s never re-engined by MoPac. Restoration began in 2000 of this engine into it's original blue and gray scheme.

The Museum of Transport in St. Louis was able to acquire a former Missouri Pacific RS-3 road number 4502 / 975. This Alco unit is unique in that it is one of the few units of this class that were never re-engined by the Missouri Pacific. Prior to starting the GP-12 rebuild program in the 1960's on their fleet of RS-3's, the MoPac traded the 4502 / 975 and the 4504 / 977 to the Bauxite and Northern for an SW-1200 switch engine. As a result this locomotive escaped the rebuilding program. Eventually Equity Grain Coop of Houston purchased both units from the Bauxite and Northern, renumbering them as #1 and #2 respectively. The 4502 / 975/ #1 was retired in 1992 with a broken crank. With the 4504 / 977 / #2 being retired in 1992 due to a failure of a lower main bearing.

Shortly thereafter these units where donated to the Houston Chapter of the NRHS. The chapter then sold all the units to an individual in the Houston area. In 1995, this individual offered the #4502 to the Museum of Transport for a nominal amount.

In January of 2000, the cosmetic restoration of the MoPac RS-3 to its "as delivered" paint scheme began through the efforts of the NRHS and the Museuem of Transportation members and volunteers. (Background from RS-3 Project website)

Project Update:
2001 was a very good year for the Museum, with the ARM, NRHS and NMRA conventions. Given the work load on the volunteers and the desire to keep the museum fairly presentable, the museum staff and the volunteers working on the RS-3 made a decision to not start any major tasks on the locomotive during 2001.

What little time we had was spent on cleaning and removing grease, oil and rust accumulations, removal of the hood doors for paint stripping and repairs, and stripping paint from unit. The glazing has been removed and stored. Presently we are waiting for some warmer weather to resume work on the unit, this is required because the stripper does not function below about 60 degrees.

Please note that this project is funded by a grant from one of the St Louis Section NRHS members. The main problem we face in completing the restoration is getting volunteers, to date we have had six volunteers working on the project. To the best of my knowledge, none of these are members of the MPHS.

January 3, 2003 Update from Steve:
"I thought I would give you an update on the restoration project before I ask for a little help.

"While progress has been slow, the RS-3 project is still moving along. Except for a few minor areas all of the paint on the cab and hoods has been removed. Unfortunately the stripper does not wok well below 50 degrees, as a result completion of this work will have to wait until this spring when it warms up.

"The RS-3 is the next unit scheduled for shop time and space. During this winter we are planning on completing the body work on the unit. The replacement steel has been purchased and is on site.

"Looking at some shots of different classes of units it appears that on some units everything below the walkways was black; other units have the frames and steps painted blue with the fuel tank and trucks being black. None of the shots have been able to find clearly show which of these paint schemes the RS-3s originally wore. All of the color shots I have were taken after several years of use and while it looks like the frame and steps where painted blue, I am not 100% positive of this. If you or one of your members could confirm this it would be most appreciated."

What You Can Do:
If any MPHS members are interested in helping they are more than welcome to join us. Please have them contact me (Steve Linhardt), I am listed in the St. Louis white pages and will be at the museum most weekends. It is important that we know who and when volunteers are going to show up, nothing is more frustrating to a volunteer than to show up and not have work available.

On another front there may be a few other things that some MPHS members could help us out with. We could really use a couple of good color prints of this or one of its sisters in the original blue and grey paint. A side shot and both ends would be helpfully.

When we received the unit it was missing the air horns, marker lights and builder plates. The air horns appear to have been the long version of the Wabco E-2. We need to get two of the horns and all four of the markers. (Steve Linhardt)

Related Links:
MOPAC RS3 Restoration Project

Marshall, Texas

Texas & Pacific 400 (410) - (FW&D) , Class E-4-A, 4'-81Ú2", 2-8-2 Steam Engine

Displayed at a city park (Pope & S. Washington) in Marshall, Texas.

Found in downtown Marshall is Texas & Pacific 2-8-2 #400 (Baldwin/42125/1915), displayed in City Park at Pope and South Washington streets. An enclosure has recently been erected over the engine, and the lagging is currently being removed.

Palestine, Texas

Texas State Railroad 201 / Texas & Pacific 316, 4-6-0 Steam Engine

Housed at Texas State Railroad at Palestine (or Rusk), Texas

This engine is fully restored and repainted. TSRR No. 201 (Built by A. L. Cooke, 1901, 79 tons, 4-6-0) is the former No. 316 on the T&P, and then as 316 on the P&MP (Paris & Mount Pleasant).The T&P would then buy it back from the P&MP and sent it to Abilene, TX as T&P 75. In May 1974, it was donated to the Texas State Railway and was restored at TSRR 201. The engine is class D-9, with 4-6-0 wheel arrangement with 4'-81Ú2" wheel guage. It is owned by TSRR (as T&P) Texas State Railroad, and housed at Palestine, TX. It is operational. It is presently used as a backup to three other operating steam locomotives and usually can be seen at the Rusk shop.

Related Links:
Photo at Screaming Eagles - Jay Glenewinkel
Photo at Screaming Eagles - Gary Morris
Don Ross - Texas State RR
The Texas & Pacific Railway - Railfans Depot

Palestine, Texas

Texas & Pacific #610, Lima-built, "Texas" Class, 2-10-4 Steam Engine (1927)

Housed at Texas State Railroad at Palestine, Texas

Only a few years back this was a fully restored and operational steam engine once leased out for rail excursions by a Texas agency. The 610 is a 2-10-4 Lima built locomotive. The 4'-8.5" guage, I1a class locomotive is the last surviving "Texas" Class to be owned by T&P. It is also the the sole surviving example of the earliest form of the super-power steam locomotives built by the Lima Locomotive Works from 1925 to 1949.

The Lima "super-power" locomotives like the #610 were the first to combine a high-capacity boiler with a modern valve gear and a four-wheel trailing truck. The performance of these locomotives was unprecedented, and they were the prototype for the modern American steam locomotive through the end of the steam age for rail.

The #610 was the first of the T & P's second order of 2-10-4s delivered June 1927. The I-A1's differed from the first order slightly in that they were built with American multiple-valve throttles that allowed room for their stacks to be capped with decorative flanges, a favorite detail on the T & P. The boiler pressure was also raised from 250 to 255 psi, which increased tractive effort to 84,600 pounds, plus 13,300 pounds for the booster.

The #610 was restored (intact except for the truck booster engine) to pull the travelling exhibit the American Freedom Train through Texas. Southern Railway, which had never owned a super-power steam, then leased the 610 for its excursion trains until 1981. In 1987 it was donated to the Texas State Railroad historical park, which operates excursions between Rusk and Palestine, Texas.

T&P #610 resides today at the Palestine shop. The 610 is not operational, but is on display. Due to budget constraints there are no plans to restore No. 610 to operating condition at this time.

Related Links:
Photo at Screaming Eagles - Chris Johns
Photo at Screaming Eagles - Gary Morris
T&P 610 site - 1970s Rail Excursion
The Texas & Pacific Railway - Railfans Depot

Other Reported Survivors

Surviving steamers with ties to the MoP and its subsidiaries are very, very rare, and preservation efforts have been hampered by bad luck and financial reasons. One Gulf Coast Lines 4-6-0 or 2-8-0 was to be set aside for preservation, but was wrecked while being moved to a secure site. MoPac's prolonged receivership was a major factor in the fact none of its "big steam" locos have survived for today.

TPMPT #2 / New Orleans, Louisiana - I think we have verified the report of an MP 0-6-0 in storage somewhere in the South which is in very poor condition, and considered un-restorable. This engine may actually be Texas & Pacific - Missouri Pacific Terminal 0-6-0 #2. It was originally a Trinity and Brazos Valley engine, NOT a MoPac proper. The 0-6-0 is an Alco-Richmond #42929, built 6/07 as Trinity & Brazos Vly Rly #76, then to TP-MP Term as #2, then to New Orleans Coal & Bisso Tow Boat Co as #2. It's probably the only T&BV equipment that's even around.

Mike Palmieri's Louisiana Rail site is a Michael M. Palmieri photo of 0-6-0 TPMPT RR #2 at Bisso Towing Co., New Orleans, Louisiana, dated 12 December 1980. Security is pretty tight at Bisso, so you can't just drive in and look around any more. Recent construction has made it impossible to see at a distance, but there's still a chance the engine is still stored there. Michael has recently updated his site with this page. (thanks to Norm Metcalf, Jim Ogden, Michael M Palmieri) Updated 2-05

T&P #642/ Village Creek near Handley, Texas - a 4-4-0 / 4'-8.5" is said to still be at the bottom of Village Creek near Handley (annexed in 1946, it is now part of far west Arlington / east Ft. Worth), Texas. T&P 642 was/is an 'American' class 4-4-0 that fell into Village Creek near Handley, TX during a flood in 1885. A group of investors hope to turn the old T&P Passenger Terminal in downtown Ft. Worth into a railroad-themed hotel, and they're hoping to get the funds to extract the engine still buried under the creekbed. See: Texas & Pacific 642 News & The Texas & Pacific Railway - Railfans Depot.

Rio Grande Railroad Company #1/ Brownsville, Texas - a 2-4-2 42-inch guage steamer is possibly the oldest surviving U. S. narrow guage locomotive. Due to the twists and turns of railroad mergers and divisions over the past 100 years this very old engine has ties that link it to the rosters of several roads including the St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Railway Co., a subsidiary of the Missouri Pacific. RGRR No. 1 was reported to be undergoing restoration at Brownsville, Texas as late as 1992, though it had suffered many modifications and considerable corrosion over the last century plus. (read about it in the Winter 1992 MPHS EAGLE Magazine)


"Bertha" (0-6-2) and "Rosa" (0-4-4)/ Lampasas, Texas - These were not part of the T&P proper, but still of interest are a pair of narrow guage sugarcane steam engines once owned by a Donaldson, Louisiana company on a branch of the T&P were reported to be preserved and running in the Lampasas, Texas on the Westerfield Railroad as recently as late 1995. (Read the whole story in the Spring & Summer 1996 MPHS EAGLE Magazine)

Just for Your Information - There also may still be a rumor of an engine boiler sighted in the riverbed near the site of the infamous Gasconde River Bridge wreck of 1855. This turned out to be a stationary boiler exposed during the drought of 1988. The actual locomotive involved, Pacific Railway #8 "the Missouri", had in fact survived to be be rebuilt after the mishap as Pacific Railway #8 "the California."

For More about MoPac Preservation see:

MPHS - Sightseeing List

Preserved MoPac Cabooses List
at MPHS member Elvin Klepzig's Doniphan Branch site
for Caboose locations across the country

NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

This list was originally compiled by MoPac RR - Screaming Eagles, additional material provided by Doug Brush, used with permission.