Frisco 1522 Steamin’ to Centralia

In this city – named for a railroad – steam was welcomed back to town in a big way when Frisco 1522 steamed through in 1993. Centralia, Illinois (named for the Illinois Central) hosted 1522 for two days of steam excursions over a weekend in June of 1993 as part of Norfolk Southern’s mid-90’s steam program. These excursions followed the Norfolk Southern St. Louis District from St. Louis to Centralia then south on Burlington Northern rails to Sesser, Illinois for a turn on the wye there and then came back down the line to Centralia.
br>Power for both trips is, in 1993, the country’s only operational 4-8-2 “Mountain” Type locomotive – Frisco 1522. The 1522 is owned National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis. Frisco by then had been folded into the Burlington Northern, so this was a return to home rails! 1522 was in tip-top shape and ran flawlessly during the excursions.
br>NOTE: This footage is not up to today’s quality and clarity standards, but is presented as a historical record – and downright fun video!