FTL:2839, A Royal Farewell” we see first weekend of operations from Alexandria to Atlanta over some 600 miles of Southern Railway mainline trackage. We see everything from the engine stalling on grades, and operation of the booster to get started, plus some fast running with this 8 coach train. The engine looks superb still in Canadian Pacific Livery, as it heads toward Birmingham where it will be “Southernized”. Coverage continues in May of 1979 with trips from Cincinnati to Danville and a trackside view of High Bridge…"
Ever see the movie “Rocket Boys?” 2839 has a cameo appearance in a steam run-by witnessed by the kids in the film. And guess who’s at the throttle? O. Winston Link!
Excuse me, boy did I foul up! The name of the movie is “October Sky,” and 2839 couldn’t have been in it, it was filmed in 1998 long after 2839 had left the Southern steam program, and after the NS steam program had terminated as well.
But O. Winston Link WAS in the steam engine’s cab!
That’ll teach me to sound off after a long exhausting day on the job.
FTL:[snip] **"…**2839 was retired from service by the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1950 after more than 3 million miles. It was sold to a group of American investors who restored the locomotive to operating condition for use on the Southern Railway, where it was used for rail fan excursions for many years.
In 1999 the locomotive was in danger of being scraped, when it was purchased for the Nethercutt [Museum & Car Collection] collection, fully restored and put on display in 2002. The article gives no location for the #2839 in 1996/98; so it is possible(?) it could have been in California when the movie was made??
The steam locomotive in “October Sky” was none other than Southern 4501, re-lettered for the N&W. But 2839 still managed a small film career, appearing in “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in 1980.
Well thanks for that! I was thinking it may have been 4501, even Googled “October Sky” to find out, but had no luck even though in the cast listing it said “Engineer- O. Winston Link.” I do recall 4501 was active with the TVRM at the time.
I have tried to find a side shot of the 2839 [ at some poinf/date? I do not remember, but 2839 was "Southern-ized’ at the B’ham Shops; I think they removed the distinctive walkway farings, SR letting on tender and logos(?). They did leave the CPR name board under the smokebox,IRRC. Anyway she was leased to the SR Steam Program for a couple of years. She predated the #610 ( 2-10-4 Texas joining ‘The program’). She was a big engine, but the success of the program, caused the SR to add more cars (and passsenger capacity to their trains.)… There was a couple of instances when she stalled and had to get ‘assisted’ in starting the trains. See link for some more info and small photos from that period.@http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,2243705
Of course, these incidents predate the #611 and #1218 joining the SR Steam program.
The article gives no location for the 
