Wabash No. 573 F-4 2-6-0 Mogul Steam Locomotive Kodak RPPC Railroad Postcard USA For Sale

This postcard features Wabash No. 573, a 2-6-0 Mogul steam locomotive with an F-4 cab marking. Its continued service was tied to a bridge weight restriction: after diesels had replaced steam across most of the Wabash, lighter steam locomotives remained in use on the Keokuk Branch because an Illinois River bridge could not accommodate heavier diesel engines.

Rhode Island Locomotive Works built the locomotive in 1899 as No. 754. It was rebuilt and renumbered 573 in 1915. Its working career continued until 1955, and it was donated that August for preservation in St. Louis County.

No. 573 survives at the National Museum of Transportation and is one of only two remaining Wabash steam locomotives. This real photo postcard appears to show the locomotive on museum display, offering a preserved view connected with the railroad’s final steam years.

The Kodak “Photo Post Card” reverse supports identifying this as a real photo postcard, or RPPC. The photographer and printing date are unknown. The red “Barry E. Silver” stamp is recorded only as a name marking and does not attribute the photography or publication to that person.

ITEM SPECIFICS

Type: Real Photo (RPPC)

Subject: Trains

Theme: Transportation

Railroad: Wabash

Locomotive number: 573

Wheel arrangement: 2-6-0 Mogul

Cab marking: F-4

Builder: Rhode Island Locomotive Works

Locomotive build year: 1899

Former number: 754

Country: United States

Image setting: Apparent museum display

Image date: Unknown

Printing date: Unknown

Postage condition: Unposted

Features: Divided Back; White Border

Paper marking: Kodak Paper

Reverse marking: Barry E. Silver

Photographer: Unknown

Original/Reproduction: Unknown

Unit of sale: Single postcard

SHIPPING

$1.49 buyer-paid Standard Envelope. The postcard will be protected in a clear sleeve with backing and placed inside a semi-rigid “Do Not Bend” mailer.