ATSF Looking for some steam in west Texas info...

Skyraider Feb 13, 2023

  1. Skyraider

    Skyraider TrainBoard Member

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    After scouring the internet (found a little info, but not much) and looking through my Worley book (found a little more but still not enough), I gave up and decided to post a request for information here. Where can a person find specific information regarding which steam locomotives were used in which regions of the ATSF system? What I'm most interested in: 3700 class; 4100 class; 3160 / 4000 class--all in west or west central TX.

    The 4100s lived the end of their lives in and around Slaton (near Lubbock). How about earlier in their working careers? They were passenger locomotives and used on troop trains, but did they work around Amarillo or Lubbock? How about down through Gainesville to Cleburne?

    Did any of the 3700 class 4-8-2's spend much time there? How about the more modern Mikes--there were tons of them around Cleburne, north to OK and south the coast, but how about the panhandle and the old Orient Line?

    Thanks in advance,
     
  2. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    The 4101 Class Berkshires all started as coal burners, and through WWII and much of the forties, they handled fast freight, primarily between Chicago and Kansas City. They didn't work out of Slaton until they were converted to oil. The Gulf line and the Coleman Cutoff (Temple-Clovis via Brownwood, plus branches) saw a lot of steam passing through the "reserve power" stage on the way to the scrapper.

    Except for troop trains, which most railroads treated like livestock freight trains, Santa Fe Berkshires never handled passengers. Passenger trains in Texas were generally handled by early Atlantics and Pacifics (or even old 4-6-0s) until diesels came. The Ranger was a notable exception, running heavy enough during WWII to draw 3450 Class Hudsons.

    Yes, Mikados worked the Orient--just not a lot. I'm inclined to guess they worked the Coleman Cutoff quite a bit more, but I'm not sure.

    The Panhandle and Santa Fe through Waynoka and Amarillo was a completely different kettle of fish. It was the main freight main line. Yes, 3700s handled fast freights through the war. Then diesels shoved Northerns and Texas types east, and they handled fast freight east of Clovis. Diesels also displaced Mikados about then.
     
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2023
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  3. Skyraider

    Skyraider TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the info. I misspoke...what I meant as passenger and troop train handlers were the 3700 class 4-8-2s. How much did they operate in TX
     
  4. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    The 3700s did do some passenger service in Texas, mostly slower trains down from Kansas City or Newton, like the Antelope. Yes, they certainly did move troop trains, but so did Pacifics, Mikados, and whatever else. There were troop trains in and out of San Angelo. I can't find photographic proof the 3700 Class handled fast freight on the Coleman Cutoff after the war, or ever. But it was never the most photographed line the road operated.

    Older power was usually bumped to Texas service as it aged, but some types were heavier than anything on those lines required. The Santa Fes, Northerns and Texas types mostly spent their reserve power years stationed near mainline helper districts, not on the Gulf and Panhandle lines. So there were eras when the 3700s were a very common sight in Amarillo, but they seem to have been seen in Lubbock only very rarely.
     
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  5. Skyraider

    Skyraider TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks!!
     
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  6. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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  7. Skyraider

    Skyraider TrainBoard Member

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    That's one of the photos I found while doing research. Great looking locomotive!!
     

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