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The T&P Railway donated the 610 to the City of Fort Worth back in the 1950s. It was proudly
displayed on the Will Rogers Colliseum Grounds near Casa Manana. Slowly, however, the
city lost interest in the old girl, and when it was decided in 1969 to repave University Drive
without rebuilding the railroad crossing, it meant 610 would be landlocked. Dave Pearson of
Pearson Equipment Co. and Blair Lavell (now Mechanical Superintendent with Texas State
Railroad) talked to Publisher Amon Carter Jr to see what could be done to keep the engine
from being isolated. The result was that the city gave them, or rather the 610 Foundation, title
to the locomotive. Amon arranged for it to be stored at the Fort Worth Army Quartermaster
Depot. This photo shows the engine being moved from the depot to tracks in the Fort Worth
Stockyards where it was restored. - Photographer unknown.
T&P 610 sat at the Quartermaster Depot for six years - until plans started being drawn up for
a reenactment of the American Freedom Train to help celebrate our nations Bicentennial.
The AFT's decision to use the engine during the Texas leg of the tour furnished the impetus
for restoring 610. This photo was taken from Packers Avenue looking down at the engine at
the Exchange Avenue crossing of the old Fort Worth Belt Railway. In spite of its sad condition,
the locomotive was restored in less than a year - Photographer unknown.
Just prior to the start of the Wichita Falls Shakedown run, this plaque was
attached to the side of the tender, showing the names of those folks who contributed labor
and time to the locomotive's restoration. - Photographer unknown.
The T&P No 610 rest from her shakedown run to Wichita Falls, behind
Ben E. Keith's 9th Street Warehouse waiting to head for Austin and
the Bicentennial Freedom Train, 1976. Potted Plant supplied by Burl Blackman.
Photo by Bill Anthony.
Upon completion of the Shakedown trip, this plaque was presented to the
610 Foundation for its contribution to Fort Worth's celebration of the nation's bicentennial.
- Photographer unknown.
Starting with the shakedown run from Fort Worth to Wichita Falls,
in early February, 1976, there was never a shortage of members of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers to operate "Old 610".
D.E. "Red" Visney - Photographer unknown.
A.A. Parkey, FW & D Rwy - Photographer unknown.
Hugo Lackman, Missouri Pacific - Photographer unknown.
Cy Martin, Texas and Pacific Railway - Photographer unknown.
Several of 610's journals became warm on the trip up to Wichita Falls. It was determined
that it was because the old grease cake lubricators for the journals had been abandoned and
oil boxes and pads had been substituted in their place. In addition, a "Moly" base oil was used
which turned to varnish and partially destroyed the pads ability to wick oil up to the journals.
Two days were spent going to Fort Worth after the grease cake apparatus and installing them
under the journals. Adding to our discomfort, and apprehension, a "Blue Norther" hit as we
arrived in town. We had to keep the locomotive fired up to prevent freeze ups. If you don't think
it gets cold in Texas look at this picture. - Photographer unknown.
After the Bicentennial Train, T&P 610 was stored at the Fort Worth Quartermaster Depot.
Cy Martin was just one of the dedicated crew determined she would never again fall into her
previous state of neglect. Amon Carter Jr, who had spent more than $275,000 to restore 610
spent another $100,000 to build a climate controlled building for it on city owned land and
paid the utilities and expenses for its maintenance. Little did they know that the city fathers,
the "foundations" and the Carter Family itself would wash their hands of the locomotive and
the heritage and culture it representated, immediately following Amon's untimely death.
- Photographer unknown.
Crossing this bridge near Grandview, Texas, on the way to Austin (which turned out to be
San Antonio) Cy Martin was running the 610. It was not on his seniority district, so it was
deja vu for him when he realized as he crossed it, that it was a bridge where his father always
stopped for Cy and his brother Dave to watch trains when they were children.
- Photographer unknown.
February 13, 1976, Cy Martin fires 610 between San Antonio and Austin. - Photographer unknown.
February 14, 1976, Locomotive Engineer Cy Martin runs as Master Mechanic Claud Camp looks
on and gives out sage advice, between San Antonio and Austin. - Photographer unknown.
After the Bicentennial Train, T&P 610 heads for Birmingham, Alabama to work
in the Southern Railway's now defunct Steam Excursion program. Here she passes
Skyline Drive in Dallas March 1977. Locomotive Engineer B.O. Ballard running and
Locomotive Engineer E.E. Camp firing. - Photo by R. Walnscott.
T&P 610 works her way eastward Birmingham bound under the steady hands of Mssrs Ballard and Camp. This photo was probably
taken between Elmo and Wills Point, Texas. - Photo by R. Walnscott.
11-27-96