Arkansas City in Cowley County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Santa Fe Locomotive Engine No. 2542
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 24, 2011
1. Santa Fe Locomotive Engine No. 2542 Marker (front)
Inscription.
Santa Fe Locomotive Engine No. 2542. . Engine 2542 was built in 1910 by the American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, PA., for the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway. In 1929, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway purchased the KCM and O Line and assigned this engine to the Newton, KS terminal. This engine is a "2-8-0" which means there are two front wheels, eight driving wheels, and no rear wheels. In 1955, the engine was moved from Newton, KS to Arkansas City and placed on the siding track at the Standard Oil Bulk Station. The A.C. Andrews Construction Company moved the engine six blocks down Birch Street to Wilson Park. The move was accomplished by placing temporary track down and using compressed air to move the engine weighing almost 100 tons. The relocated engine was placed on a concrete pad and dedicated during the 24th Annual Arkalalah Celebration that same year., The following people helped in the moving of the locomotive: Engineers: J.O. Guffry, Tom Bender, H.S. Gibson, R.C. Gibson, H.B Bartlett, and George Wylle, Section Foreman Jim Dill., The following is the dedication speech by John Landreth, General Manager AT&SF , , , , , , , , To a railroad man a locomotive has always been a thing of life and power, and it always seems to me a ceremony of this kind is a fitting last rite for a thing we have labored with so long. I've often thought of the countless number of people who have heard its whistle at all hours, enjoyed the fruits of its labor, hauling goods from far away places as it crossed the states so many times, and of the men who have run her - not the least of whom were boys from six to 60 who vicariously ran her as they watched her go by. "It is for those little men to come we join you in setting aside this engine that they too, may have a part of her, the like of which has helped to build our great nation."
Engine 2542 was built in 1910 by the American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, PA., for the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway. In 1929, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway purchased the KCM & O Line and assigned this engine to the Newton, KS terminal. This engine is a "2-8-0" which means there are two front wheels, eight driving wheels, and no rear wheels. In 1955, the engine was moved from Newton, KS to Arkansas City and placed on the siding track at the Standard Oil Bulk Station. The A.C. Andrews Construction Company moved the engine six blocks down Birch Street to Wilson Park. The move was accomplished by placing temporary track down and using compressed air to move the engine weighing almost 100 tons. The relocated engine was placed on a concrete pad and dedicated during the 24th Annual Arkalalah Celebration that same year.
The following people helped in the moving of the locomotive: Engineers: J.O. Guffry, Tom Bender, H.S. Gibson, R.C. Gibson, H.B Bartlett, and George Wylle, Section Foreman Jim Dill.
The following is the dedication speech by John Landreth, General Manager AT&SF
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To a railroad man a locomotive has always been a thing of life and power, and it always seems to me a ceremony of this kind is a fitting last rite for a thing we have labored
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with so long. I've often thought of the countless number of people who have heard its whistle at all hours, enjoyed the fruits of its labor, hauling goods from far away places as it crossed the states so many times, and of the men who have run her - not the least of whom were boys from six to 60 who vicariously ran her as they watched her go by. "It is for those little men to come we join you in setting aside this engine that they too, may have a part of her, the like of which has helped to build our great nation."
Erected by The City of Arkansas City, The Santa Fe Railroad, The Arkansas City Historical Society, The Arkansas City Pride Commission, The Early Bird Lions Club, and Others.
Location. 37° 4.2′ N, 97° 2.359′ W. Marker is in Arkansas City, Kansas, in Cowley County. Marker is on Summit Street (U.S. 77) north of Maple Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Marker is in Wilson Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arkansas City KS 67005, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 24, 2011
3. Santa Fe Locomotive Engine No. 2542 and Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 24, 2011
4. Santa Fe Locomotive No. 2542 Firebox
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 24, 2011
5. Santa Fe Locomotive No. 2542
Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 772 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 22, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.