Steam locomotives loaned to KCS during WW2

[Eric Reinert]

I found a couple articles from the July and November 2018 (page 7-9) issues of the Arkansas-Boston Mountains Chapter of the NRHS. Very interesting reading that shows the Monon leased a batch of engines to the Kansas City Southern in Arkansas during the 1942-1944 timeframe. I knew about Pacific # 412 since there's a nice color photo I've seen before of it in service on the KCS, but didn't know about the 0-6-0, 2-10-2's (600, 601 and 606) or the Mikados (502, 511 and 524). I had to laugh that they considered B-9 0-6-0 #37 as too heavy (monstrous) for their use, after having broken so many yard rails in Fort Smith.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/dayoneweb/364/1811.pdf

https://condrenrails.com/FSVB/Engine-Terminals/Huber-KCS-3.htm

[Eric Reinert]

Found on eBay: purportedly Monon 2-10-2 606 on the Kansas City Southern.

[Eric Reinert]

A photo of a KCS 2-10-2 taken in Lafayette has been posted on the "French Lick West Baden Museum" Facebook page, and also reposted on the "Monon Railroad" FB page. There's also photos of a couple more of the engines that the Monon lent to KCS taken in the same timeframe. After studying it, I don't think it's one of the 2-10-2's that Monon lent to KCS during the war. It's the right timeframe (1942-3) but there's too many differences to be an L-1. Looks more like a USRA 2-10-2, with Southern Valve Gear, a road pilot, a second sand dome, etc. I'm posting a couple more of KCS 220 at Shops in this thread today.

[Eric Reinert]

These photos of KCS 220 at Shops show pretty clearly that it's not one of the three 2-10-2's the Monon lent to KCS, but it does have a capped stack, making it look a bit like it could be. I wonder why it was there. Photo is dated 11/24/1942.

[George Lortz]

Eric,

Interesting thread.  Attached is a photo I found (somewhere) of Monon 2-10-2 #606 in Kansas City.  Sorry, no date, time or other description.

George L.