Frisco engine 3749 due in Parrish on Tuesday

Frisco Engine 3749

Train buffs who have been awaiting the arrival of Frisco engine 3749 from Church Street Station in Orlando won't have to wait much longer.

The steam engine, which  was originally built in 1911, was expected to arrive at  the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish more than a week ago, but was held up by a permitting problem.

During its working life, Frisco engine 3749 spent 35 years at the Orlando dining and entertainment district, switched cars around in various freight yards, including in Pensacola, and did hard time at the  state prison in Atmore, Ala.

Inmates there were, well, working on the railroad all the live-long day. In the late 1950s it was sold to a scrapper who never got around to scrapping it,  Glen Miley of the Florida Railroad Museum, previously told the Herald.

Here's the text of an email from Gene Hughey of the Florida Railroad Museum we just received on the  status of Frisco engine 3749:

"This is it!

"The steam engine from Orlando Church Street Station is on its way.

"The engine will depart Orlando at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14, with police escort.

"The engine will take most of the day to arrive in Parrish between 4 and 5  p.m., they hope.

"The engine will be unloaded at the Florida Railroad Museum, 12210 83rd St. E., Parrish, on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at around 9 a.m."