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The Madam Queen
AT&SF Locomotive 5000
 
  Retro-Ad 1947                           24"x48"  Oil on Canvas by Bob Price; property of the Artist
(This painting represents 1 July 1952 between Wynoka Oklahoma and Canadian Texas)
Engineer Frank Tye and Fireman John Morris Price
reconstructed from the Fireman's timebook; departure time 8:15 pm and arrival 4:05 am; distance 153 miles
Frank Tye later ran the AT&SF Simulator Training Program in Chicago
Jno. M. Price retired as an Engineer for the Santa Fe Railway after 37 years.
Jno. Morris Price; as an engineer on The Madam Queen
(Homer Tepe Photo)
The Madam Queen
The Madam Queen was retired from service and placed on display in Amarillo's Santa Fe Park
The Madam Queen Santa Fe Locomotive 5000; was the premier locomotive of it's day!
Dubbed with the 'Texas Class' designation which indicated it's 2-10-4 Wheel arrangement;
The 'Queen' was a one of a kind prototype design.
She followed AT&SF's experiments with engine 3829 which had been reconfigured from a 2-10-2 to a 2-10-4...'The Queen' was nick-named when the Amos' and Andy' Radio Show was at its peak; The character of the Madam Queen was described as a 'rather large black woman; cantankerous, and hard to get along with'  that description befitted how many of the Railroaders felt about engine 5000.
All subsequent Santa Fe locomotives beginning with 5001 were of a much later and a much more sophisticated design which improved as each series of the AT&SF engines were slated for construction. The Santa Fe ended their 'Texas Type' designs with engine 5035.  In 1958 The Santa Fe 'dead-lined' all its steam powered road engines at Clovis N.M.
The Madam Queen was so unique that a seperate 'book' was maintained by Tuck Smith the Chief Master Mechanic in Amarillo; and if a part was broken on her or lost; then the Mechanical Department had to guess at what the part looked like and fabricate the part; as there were no blue-prints or drawings to go by.  The Queen was so powerful that few Engineers had the experience necessary to operate her successfully. She was loved and hated for her 'cantankerous' spirit; but in the end the Madam Queen was spared the cutting torch flame by the same crews that no doubt had used her name in vain many times.  And when other steam engines were cut into scrap; the old girl was donated to the City of Amarillo by the AT&SF; and through the great efforts of dedicated citizens she is there today for you to see.
Chief amoung those railroaders who lobbied to have her saved is Walter J. Hopper of Amarillo of Hopper's Museum.
Price Family Railroaders 1896 - 1992
Four Generations:
David Price: East Texas Railroad 1896
Jno. Riley Price: Texas & Pacific R.R.  1903
Jno. Morris Price:  AT&SF R.R.  1944 - 1976
F. R. Bob Price:  Texas Southern R.R. 1990 - 92
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This page dedicated to the Memory of  Jno. M. Price  R.I.P.
(father of the artist)
The Words Santa Fe...Means Holy Faith
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