March 26 - Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway announced today that it will again sponsor an Employee Appreciation Special (EAS) train ride for its employees and their families. The 2001 EAS will have the Frisco 1522 as motive power for the train, which will consist of 13 BNSF passenger cars and 3 St. Louis Steam Train Association (SLSTA) support cars. Train rides will not be provided to the general public, but only to BNSF employees and families.
SLSTA is very pleased to have been selected by BNSF as the motive power for this year's EAS. There should be many opportunities to see the engine and train along its route of travel."
The EAS will operate approximately 3,900 miles and will have ride events in the states of Oklahoma and Texas. The planned schedule for the EAS is as follows:
| Date | Move | Miles | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Th. May 17 | Museum of Transport to BNSF Lindenwood yard | 25 | Position Engine |
| Fr. May 18 | Lindenwood yard to Springfield, MO Assemble EAS Train |
233 | Deadhead |
| Sa. May 19 | Springfield, MO to Tulsa, OK | 183 | Deadhead |
| Su. May 20 | Tulsa-Sapulpa-Tulsa | 115 | EAS starts, 4 turns |
| Mo. May 21 | Tulsa to Perry to Oklahoma City | 147 | Deadhead |
| Tu. May 22 | Oklahoma City to Haslet (Ft. Worth) | 188 | |
| We. May 23 | Maintenance at Haslet | 0 | |
| Th. May 24 | Haslet to Cleburne to Haslet | 94 | |
| Fr. May 25 | Haslet to Metro to Haslet | 114 | 2 turns |
| Sa. May 26 | Haslet to Metro to Haslet | 204 | 3 turns |
| Su. May 27 | Haslet to Metro to Haslet | 182 | |
| Mo. May 28 | Haslet to Temple | 148 | |
| Tu. May 29 | Temple to Rosenberg to Houston | 195 | |
| We. May 30 | Houston to Beaumont to Silsbee to Houston |
194 | |
| Th. May 31 | Maintenance at Houston | 0 | |
| Fr. June 1 | Houston to Rosenberg to Temple | 195 | |
| Sa. June 2 | Temple to Haslet (Ft. Worth) | 148 | |
| Su. June 3 | Haslet to Metro to Haslet | 204 | 3 turns |
| Mo. June 4 | Haslet to Metro to Haslet | 204 | 3 turns |
| Tu. June 5 | Haslet to Metro to Haslet | 204 | 3 turns |
| We. June 6 | Maintenance at Haslet | 0 | |
| Th. June 7 | Haslet to Oklahoma City | 188 | |
| Fr. June 8 | Oklahoma City to Arkansas City, KS | 120 | EAS ends at Arkansas City |
| Sa. June 9 | Arkansas City to Kansas City | 232 | Deadhead - drop off biz cars at KC |
| Su. June 10 | Kansas City to Brookfield, MO | 99 | Deadhead |
| Mo. June 11 | Brookfield via West Quincy to St. Louis | 253 | Deadhead |