Too bad these guys didn’t have a tsunami sound unit in the Spectrum Decapod.
Great period detail and steam action.
Is that a Russian Decapod? It looks like one of the standard Baldwin light Decapods from the early 1920s - I think GM owned a couple, which later passed to SAL when it absorbed GM.
Great video! Thanks for sharing!
From the book Through the Heart of the South: The Seaboard Air Line Railroad Story by Robert Wayne Johnson ISBN I-55046-144-3
Actually SAL Dieselized as soon as they took over the GM in 1959. The GM had 7 locomotives, most of which were on the Seaboard roster at one time or the other.It had two 2-8-0’s for switching at Gainsville. It’s road power consisted of 5 light 2-10-0’s. Number 206 was a Russian Decapod that had previously served on the DT&I, SAL and Macon Dublin and Savanna. It was number 544 on the SAL and MD&S. The other four Decapods were somewhat newer. No. 203 had been built by Baldwin for the Alabama, Tennessee & Northern Ry. It was similar in design to the Seaboard Clas D-2 and D-3 2-10-0’s. No’s. 208 and 209 were ex-Seaboard class D-3’s, Nos, 530 and 533.
Six of the GM steam engines were preserved. No. 203 was given to the Atlanta Chapter of the NRHS and No. 206 was donated to the state of Georgia, No. 208 was exibeted at Wilder, GA., No. 209 was placed on displayin Gainsville and No. 301 (2-8-0) was exibeted in Charlotte, NC., as Seaboard No. 301.
The line used Seaboard RSC3’s for their light axle loading. The GM opperated for several years using only Seaboard Diesels. They finaly aquired a diesel in 1966 when it bought #10 an SD-40. It was the first new locomotive aquired by the railroad since 1906.
Hi fellas!
Hey I picked up a very interesting set of 5 DVD videos at BEST BUY last weekend titled
“RAILWAY JOURNEYS”
“The Vanishing Age of Steam”
Price was $15.99
S o far I have had only enough time to watch only two of them, but they are very good.
Total running time is about TEN HOURS acciording to the box ( nice tin box I might add).
Happy MRR ing!!!
Ed
My error - I had my ownership exactly backward, but the loco type was right. Those Baldwin light Decapods were pretty unusual - the only one I know of in steam anymore is the engine at Strasburg. Don’t think I’ve ever seen video of one anywhere but Strasburg or on the GW (which owned it first).
Jerry,
Thanks for the link to the great GM movie. I’m a 100% total Decapod FREAK! The GM and their Decs have always fascinated me. Finding movies of them is really hard! There’s a little more footage on a Herron video called Reflections of American RR’s but that’s about all I’ve seen other than your link.
The ones in this movie are stock Baldwin models and not Russians. The Strasburg 90 is the last running one around. She’s GRAND!
I’ve got 5 of the Spectrum Russians and they’re all great to watch too. Someday I hope to find an Empire Midland Baldwin 2-10-0. It’s the only model made of the stock Baldwin engines.
Thanks again for the link.
Roger
Really nice footage. From the owner’s caption there must be an audio track or separate audio recording to go with it. I hope he gets it synched up and on the market soon.
Also interesting to note that the Decapod’s center drivers are blind, as it looks like it was capable of negotiating some fairly sharp curves.
The 209 is still on display in gainseville along with a Seaboard caboose and a Southern baggage car. I tried to post pictures on railimages but I have not figured that out yet.
Great to see, for someone who’s too young to have seen it in person. I’ve seen the engine, along with two of her sisters, and driven the route parallel to this line (Hwy. 129) more times than I can count. Always have wanted to see it in steam. I guess this is the next best thing. Thanks.
Brad