KIRKWOOD, Mo. — For Frisco locomotive No. 1522, the final 100-mile excursion meant a roundtrip back to the museum, according to the Associated Press.
The 300-ton locomotive, which was built in 1926, pulled its final excursion rides this weekend, taking hundreds of people to and from Rolla on a “farewell to steam.”
The St. Louis Steam Train Association, which restored the locomotive 15 years ago, is getting out of railroading because of high maintenance and insurance costs.
“These years have been a good run,” said fireman Don Morice, 59, who fed water into the boiler. “I won’t miss all the hard work, but I will miss this.”
Excursion promoters say skyrocketing insurance costs, new federal boiler standards and the constant trouble of arranging passenger cars and routes led to the decision to end the rides.
Rick Sprung, trip director for the local chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, said the two weekend runs cost $190,000 in insurance, passenger-car rentals and other expenses. Two years ago, a two-trip weekend cost $80,000.
Coach tickets Sunday were $165 and first-class, $370. In 1988, a ride cost $65.
So the 1522 is headed to the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis County, where it once was just another rusting artifact. Association members rescued it and restored it in 1985, and proudly rolled it out in 1987.
Since then, it has pulled 20 pleasure rides, most from St. Louis. The trips delighted riders and track-side spectators with all the racket and rushing power of the grand old days of young America in a hurry.
Among the last passengers was Killian V. Coerver, 89, who worked for the old Frisco railroad for 49 years, sometimes on passenger trains that were pulled by the 1522. Coerver said he didn’t want to miss the final ride.
“There is an end to everything, including me,” he said. “We might as well ride it out together.”