A friend called today with the news that some group in the midwest, American Steam Railroad, is about to sign an agreement to bring former SL-SF (Frisco) Mikado 1352 to Cleveland to finish the work needed for her to operate again. She is to join with former GTW light Mike 4070 who had a few years of excursion use before being stored. I believe both Mikes will be in Cleveland, OH.

The 1352 is unique in that she was built as a 2-8-0. However, instead of the usual 57" drivers, she and her sisters had 63" diameter wheels. In the mid 40's, the Frisco needed more medium speed road engines so several of this class of Consolidation went into the shop and came out with a modern trailing truck and more importantly, a short combustion chamber, 38" if memory serves. This modern design allowed better steaming to support the higher rates that went with faster running.

The Frisco had 4 distinct classes of Mikados and there were examples saved of the two smaller types. They also had 65 heavy Mikados, 4100-4164 and 20 4200 class Mikados with the same 27 by 32 inch cylinders, but with 235 lb. boilers making them the heaviest Mikes ever built until the GN O-8s came along.

Here's wishing this venture good fortune.