Locomotive #171

Restoration Project

To celebrate the 100th birthday of our first locomotive,
the WF&P has begun a restoration program to return this wonderful locomotive to our rails in operating condition.

This page contains information about the restoration and will document its progress.

Let's begin with some history about our first locomotive.

In 1939, Don Miller, a founding member of the WF&P, had been told about a miniature steam locomotive in storage in nearby Maplewood, Missouri. Don suggested that perhaps the group could buy the little locomotive, set up a real railroad, and operate it in accordance with actual railroad rules. The suggestion was considered and acted upon. Shortly afterwards, the group visited the home of William Geist, a machinist who had inherited the 12" gauge locomotive from his uncle.
Little was known about the background of the locomotive beyond the fact that Mr. Geist's uncle had purchased and used it to encourage children to attend a Sunday School with which he was connected. The engine was lettered the "Puritan Special", but it is not known when this name was applied. There was no builder's plate or other manufacturing information beyond the number plate, which identified it as being No. 171.

On December 16, 1939, the Puritan Special was taken from its basement home, loaded onto a truck and transported to the Schade estate, the original location of the WF&P near Brown Road and Natural Bridge.

The builder of No. 171 continued to be a mystery until many years later when Albert J. Wagner, a prominent manufacturer of amusement park locomotives, identified it as being one of two locomotives built in 1907 by the International Miniature Railway Company of Elgin, IL

After No. 171 arrived at Brown Road, it was completely stripped down, cleaned, repainted and reassembled within one month! The Luetke Boiler Company inspected the boiler and found it to be sound.

171 as it appeared the day it was first brought out to the railroad.

Notice the tender still said Puritan Special.

December 16, 1939

The first modification made to No. 171 was the addition of air brakes manufactured and installed by Walter Schaffner, Fred Kiesel and Jack Nansen, The air supply was a tire pump located under the cab roof; later, she received a Joe Hess steam driven, single-cylinder air pump, a feed-water heater, a water pump and a larger tender.

November 17, 1940 - Cleaned up and with the WF&P number 171 and logo on the tender.

Powell Station in 1952 at Brown Rd. and Natural Bridge.

Carlisle Schade is running the 171.

Joe Hess is on the 400.

In between is Fred Kiesel and approaching on alongside the 171 is Carl Reinitz.

The next modification consisted of the raising of the pilot beam, front coupler and pilot. The safety valves and whistle were relocated from the top of the steam dome to the boiler shell and the original lifting injector on the left side of the boiler was replaced by two Penberthy non-lifting injectors. A headlight was also installed.

No.171 was to be the backbone of the road for several years. However, her limitations soon became apparent. The locomotive and tender weighed 1,400 lbs. and, at a boiler pressure of 130 psi, her tractive effort was only 225 lbs. With the purchase of #400 and the use of #300 from builder V.A. Schmidt, No.171 saw very little steam services. When the property at Brown Rd. was sold, No.171 and 180 remained in the possession of Carlisle Schade.

In August 1982, the WF&P Association purchased, at long last, locomotives No.171 and 180 from Carlisle Schade’s heir. The two locomotives had not been operated since the final days of Brown Road. (23 years ago at the time). It was a memorable occasion when these locomotives finally set foot (or wheel, as the case may be) on WF&P steel once again. Within a month, No.180 had been fired up and was stretching her legs and letting loose clouds of coal smoke all up and down the WF&P main line. No. 171 was put into storage and wouldn't see steam for several more years.

During the winter of 1988 / 1989 No.171 was lovingly restored by Gary Buechele and Dale Bitsch for the 50th Anniversary of the incorporation of the railroad in 1940.

Locomotive No.171 is probably the only locomotive built by the International Miniature Railroad Company still in service.

As it appeared on the turntable in Glencoe in 1989.

#171 double heads with its sister 4-4-0 #180 at the east end of Mohan on the mainline

#171 to the Rescue! The year was 1990.

With both No. 180 and No. 350 out of service as a result of a wreck on Member's Day, and with No. 300, No. 400 and No. 802 undergoing rebuilding, that left only little No 171 available to haul the public.

For the next two weeks, the little engine that could, DID,... as No. 171 had the whole railroad to itself as it kept to an exacting 30-minute schedule hauling a three car train to Yeatman and back. Two weeks later No. 350, having been repaired, joined No. 171 in passenger service. No. 171 was finally relieved in August when No. 400 finally reentered service with its new boiler.

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Donations to the restoration of Locomotive #171 can be mailed to:
171 Project
c/o Jim Greathouse / Treasurer
11 Manas Drive
Belleville, IL 62226

The Wabash, Frisco and Pacific Association, Incorporated is a Missouri not-for-profit educational corporation.

Let's begin with some history about our first locomotive. In 1939, Don Miller, a founding member of the WF&P, had been told about a miniature steam locomotive in storage in nearby Maplewood, Missouri. Don suggested that perhaps the group could buy the little locomotive, set up a real railroad, and operate it in accordance with actual railroad rules. The suggestion was considered and acted upon. Shortly afterwards, the group visited the home of William Geist, a machinist who had inherited the 12" gauge locomotive from his uncle. Little was known about the background of the locomotive beyond the fact that Mr. Geist's uncle had purchased and used it to encourage children to attend a Sunday School with which he was connected. The engine was lettered the "Puritan Special", but it is not known when this name was applied. There was no builder's plate or other manufacturing information beyond the number plate, which identified it as being No. 171. On December 16, 1939, the Puritan Special was taken from its basement home, loaded onto a truck and transported to the Schade estate, the original location of the WF&P near Brown Road and Natural Bridge. The builder of No. 171 continued to be a mystery until many years later when Albert J. Wagner, a prominent manufacturer of amusement park locomotives, identified it as being one of two locomotives built in 1907 by the International Miniature Railway Company of Elgin, IL After No. 171 arrived at Brown Road, it was completely stripped down, cleaned, repainted and reassembled within one month! The Luetke Boiler Company inspected the boiler and found it to be sound.
	171 as it appeared the day it was first brought out to the railroad. Notice the tender still said Puritan Special. December 16, 1939
	The first modification made to No. 171 was the addition of air brakes manufactured and installed by Walter Schaffner, Fred Kiesel and Jack Nansen, The air supply was a tire pump located under the cab roof; later, she received a Joe Hess steam driven, single-cylinder air pump, a feed-water heater, a water pump and a larger tender. November 17, 1940 - Cleaned up and with the WF&P number 171 and logo on the tender.
	Powell Station in 1952 at Brown Rd. and Natural Bridge. Carlisle Schade is running the 171. Joe Hess is on the 400. In between is Fred Kiesel and approaching on alongside the 171 is Carl Reinitz.

The next modification consisted of the raising of the pilot beam, front coupler and pilot. The safety valves and whistle were relocated from the top of the steam dome to the boiler shell and the original lifting injector on the left side of the boiler was replaced by two Penberthy non-lifting injectors. A headlight was also installed. No.171 was to be the backbone of the road for several years. However, her limitations soon became apparent. The locomotive and tender weighed 1,400 lbs. and, at a boiler pressure of 130 psi, her tractive effort was only 225 lbs. With the purchase of #400 and the use of #300 from builder V.A. Schmidt, No.171 saw very little steam services. When the property at Brown Rd. was sold, No.171 and 180 remained in the possession of Carlisle Schade. In August 1982, the WF&P Association purchased, at long last, locomotives No.171 and 180 from Carlisle Schade’s heir. The two locomotives had not been operated since the final days of Brown Road. (23 years ago at the time). It was a memorable occasion when these locomotives finally set foot (or wheel, as the case may be) on WF&P steel once again. Within a month, No.180 had been fired up and was stretching her legs and letting loose clouds of coal smoke all up and down the WF&P main line. No. 171 was put into storage and wouldn't see steam for several more years.
	During the winter of 1988 / 1989 No.171 was lovingly restored by Gary Buechele and Dale Bitsch for the 50th Anniversary of the incorporation of the railroad in 1940. Locomotive No.171 is probably the only locomotive built by the International Miniature Railroad Company still in service. As it appeared on the turntable in Glencoe in 1989.
	#171 double heads with its sister 4-4-0 #180 at the east end of Mohan on the mainline
	#171 to the Rescue! The year was 1990. With both No. 180 and No. 350 out of service as a result of a wreck on Member's Day, and with No. 300, No. 400 and No. 802 undergoing rebuilding, that left only little No 171 available to haul the public. For the next two weeks, the little engine that could, DID,... as No. 171 had the whole railroad to itself as it kept to an exacting 30-minute schedule hauling a three car train to Yeatman and back. Two weeks later No. 350, having been repaired, joined No. 171 in passenger service. No. 171 was finally relieved in August when No. 400 finally reentered service with its new boiler.

Locomotive #171

Restoration Project

To celebrate the 100th birthday of our first locomotive, the WF&P has begun a restoration program to return this wonderful locomotive to our rails in operating condition.

This page contains information about the restoration and will document its progress.

Let's begin with some history about our first locomotive.

To celebrate the 100th birthday of our first locomotive,
the WF&P has begun a restoration program to return this wonderful locomotive to our rails in operating condition.