St. Louis–San Francisco 4003, Railway locomotive at Fort Smith Trolley Museum, Arkansas
The St. Louis-San Francisco 4003 is a steam locomotive on display at the Fort Smith Trolley Museum, showcasing the engineering of freight train engines from the early 1900s. The machine features a powerful design built to haul heavy cargo over long distances on standard railway tracks.
The locomotive was built in 1919 by the American Locomotive Company and had an unusual start working for different railway companies before finding its permanent assignment. It hauled freight between Arkansas and Missouri for several decades before retirement in 1952.
The locomotive represents how railways shaped daily commerce and connected distant communities across Arkansas and Missouri. Walking around it, you can understand why these machines were central to the region's growth and identity.
The museum allows you to view this locomotive as part of a larger collection of vintage railway equipment and related exhibits. Plan time to explore other historical transportation vehicles displayed alongside it for a complete visit.
This locomotive was originally rejected for service with the Pennsylvania Railroad and was reassigned to a different railway company instead. This unexpected turn led it to become part of a fleet operating across the South and Midwest.
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