Transcription
PRESIDENT H. J. McKenzie (right) making formal presentation of SP locomotive to Mr. A. K. Atkinson, Chairman of National Museum of Transport, St. Louis, in behalf of Mr. D. J. Russell, President of Southern Pacific Company.
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Last SP Steam Engine Enters St. Louis Museum
An important addition to the historic collection of railroadiana was recently made to the National Museum of Transport at St. Louis, with the acquisition of a giant steam locomotive donated by the Southern Pacific Company. The engine, a sleek 4-8-4 type used on fast passenger and freight hauls during the 1930's and 1940's, had the distinction of pulling the last steam-hauled train over the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the SP in November, 1958. Ceremonies for delivery of the locomotive, No. 4460, were held on June 1l at St. Louis Union Station with Cotton Belt President H. J. McKenzie making the presentation in the absence of Southern Pacific President D. J. Russell. Mr. A. K. Atkinson, chairman of the museum's board of directors, accepted the unit in behalf of the organization.
Unique Among Steam Locomotives
The engine, which made the trip from San Francisco to St. Louis on its own wheels over the SP and Cotton Belt lines, covered a greater total mileage from its point of origin to the museum than any other piece of equipment ever donated by the Southern Pacific. The distinctive silver nose and smoke deflecting structure, known as "sky-line casing" will be items of great interest to many who may never have had the opportunity of seeing this type of equipment before. It is one of 26 other units of steam, electric and diesel-electric locomotives in the permanent display. It is interesting to note, pointed out Mr. McKenzie, that "at the end of World War II, the Southern Pacific Company owned the world's largest fleet of steam locomotives. Also, that between the war and January of last year, the Southern Pacific invested more than three hundred million dollars to convert the system to diesel units and abandon the use of all steam locomotives."