St. Louis Southwestern Ry 4-8-4 No. 819
Pine Bluff, AR, United States 		Location: Arkansas Railroad Museum
Status: Cosmetic Restoration
Posted: Jun 16, 2014 @ 20:06:08 by Steve Rohr
Status: Restoration
Posted: Aug 19, 2013 @ 16:08:26 by Steve Rohr
I would like to say as of right now 8/19/2013 We have started inspecting this Locomotive to be brought back to operational standards. We did a few minor things today while we was at the museum today. We will be posting a website and the next work day here in the future. We need volunteers and donations to get this locomotive back to operations.
Posted: May 28, 2011 @ 20:05:10 by Daniel Hipp
819 is not in bad shape. It has a small portion of the boiler left to go. The thing that is in bad shape is the low restoration funds needed for the engine.
Posted: Oct 17, 2010 @ 22:10:39 by Steve-o
some of my friends went to see her a few months ago. they said most of the bolts and nuts for the locomotive are missing. so now we have parts missing off the locomotive. its in bad shape :(
Posted: Mar 23, 2007 @ 11:03:23 by mike huff
as of march 23 2007 she is currently out of service and dismantled for her fra inspection for updates go to www.steamlocomotive.com and click surviving 4-8-4's in Arkansas.
Posted: Aug 30, 2005 @ 24:08:52 by peter m. preston
Here's a little history of the 4-8-4's of St. Louis Southwestern. The St.Louis Southwestern Railroad acquired Northerns at three different times. It bought 10 Class L-1 Northerns in 1930 from Baldwin Locomotive Works and assigned road numbers 800 through 809. These were oil burners with 70" drivers.

In 1937,StL-SW's Pine Bluff, AR shops built five (810 through 814) additional Class L-1's which were identical to the Baldwins. Then in 1943, another five (815 through 819) came out of the Pine Bluff shops which were very similar to the other Class L-1's except weighed about 6,000 pounds more.

Posted: Aug 9, 2005 @ 11:08:14 by Johnathan Fuell
Finaly, we have some good news! Work will once again resume on 819, as the Ultra Sound machine is finaly back. After being lost in a series of corporate buyouts, it has finaly been serviced and returned to us. The inspection wll be done within a month and we can begin on the superheaters. Also at the Arkansas Railroad Museum is a growing and eclectic collection of Honorary Steam Locomotives (ALCo's). Come out and see them and us if you are in Arkansas.
Posted: Jun 19, 2004 @ 22:06:24 by Brian Oxee
I do have a suggestion for you on those brake shoes, try contacting the Strasburg Railroad.  They do contracting work for all sorts of steam locomotives.  They even turn the drivers on the 3985 the country's largest operating steam locomotive.  Take a look at their mechanical department webpage at www.strasburgrailroad.com follow the links to the mechanical department and send them an e-mail with your request.
Posted: May 12, 2004 @ 03:05:47 by Johnathan Fuell

Well, I'm here once again with your summer 819 update. Work has virtualy stalled over the past months, as we are building a new climate controled display area and storage space inside the museum. I am pleased to report that we have recently been blessed with the interest of a doccumentary film maker. He has been working for the past three weeks, shooting footage and taking interviews with some of the crew. Keep your eyes peeled on the History Channel, I think they're interested in buying! The ultrasound testing is still incomplete, and the firebos still needs to be read. Atleaste its been cleaned, foe the most part, Now that I'm out for the summer, I'm going to make sure that the firbox gets knocked out ion the next couple of saturdays. The FRA inspector has been down, and he liked what he saw. A rack for the superheaters had been constructed, complete with a low pressure pump. A high pressure pump will arrive within two weeks, and we plan to have the superheaters hydro tested and repaired by the end of summer. Fundraising for the flues is not far away, ans we could desperatly use any suggestions/help that you could offer. As parts go, if anyone knows where we can get a set of A-24 cast iron locomotive break shoes, please let us at the Arkansas Railroad Museum know. Ours are spent and must be replaced. Well, thats all for now. Keep on Steamin', Johnathan.

Posted: Feb 7, 2004 @ 23:02:24 by
Its Johnathan again. As of February 2004, our crews are getting bigger and work is picking up. We need only to ultrasound the boiler backhead and inside wreapper sheets of the firebox. After that, we will be at the mercy of the FRA, as the federal inspector will have so sign off on the readings before we can proceed. When he does that, we'll order our new flues and begin reassembling the locomotive.
Posted: Jan 18, 2004 @ 22:01:09 by GP40

I don't think 819 will be going anywhere once her restoration is done. The stupid union pacific won't let any steam run on any of there lines unless it's there own.

Posted: Aug 12, 2003 @ 02:08:56 by Johnathan Fuell
My name is Johnathan Fuell. I am  a member of the 819's inspection crew. It is late summer 2003 and we are almost done with ultrasound testing of the boiler. We have just secured a long term lease of our shop with the Union Pacific and things should really be picking up. We are in constant need of DEDICATED volunteers to work on the project. Experience with steam is NOT necessary. WE WILL SUPERVISE AND TEACH YOU ALL THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW! Please come and help us complete this monumental task. At present, I estimate that we have at least two more years work to do before the locomotive is operation again.
Posted: May 31, 2003 @ 23:05:05 by Brian Oxee
Right now shes no longer operational shes down for restortation.  Shes down for her 15 year inspection and will probably return to steam sometime in the future its just a question of when.