My wife gave me a Southern E8/9 “A” unit for Christmas. Like most locomotives done in Southern green and white, it has the “Crescent” markings on it.
It’s beautiful.
I’d lke to model the whole “Crescent” circa 1955, and I know that there were four units on the head end. My question is this: Did the Southern actually use “B” (cabless booster engines) or were they all “A” units?
Thanks in advance,
Erik
As far as I know, the Southern never had E8/9 B units. When I rode the Southern Crescent in 1978, it had 4 E8 As.In all the photos I have seen of this train ,it always had four A units.
Eric,
Did you mean to post your question on the Classic Toy Trains forum, or the Classic Trains forum? Even tho some CTT forumites might have some answers (like espeefoamer’s), I suspect you’ll get more feedback on the CT or MR forums.
But you’re welcome here anytime![:D]
Southern ran 4 E units on Crescent all A’s Consist of crescent was all stainless steel. North of Atlanta the crescent was all pullman south of Atlanta the Crescent operated with coaches as well. Equipment was a mixture of AC&F, Budd and Pullman Standard.
Baggage 30’ Railway Post Office Cars were Budd Sou 1702, 1703, WofA 87, and L&N 1120, 1121.
\Baggage Crew Dormitory Cars AC&F Sou 710, 711 L&N 1598 and P/S L&N 1599
52-Seat Coaches from Budd A&WP 68,69, WofA 106, L&N 3250, 3251 and Sou 815-840.
58-Seat Coaches From Budd A&WP 501 L&N 3252
48-Seat Dining Cars from Budd A&WP 501, L&N 2790 Sou 3305-3312.
Master room 2-Drawing Room Buffet Lounge Cars P/S all Sou 2350 Crescent City, 2351 Crescent Harbor, 2352 Crescent Moon and 2353 Crescent Shores.
10Roomette 6-Double Bedroom Sleeping cars assigned to Cresent pool were Sou 2002 Dan River, 2003 Catawba River, 2004 Enoree River, 2007 Otter River, 2008 Pacolet River, 2009 Potomac River, 2010 Rapidan River, 2011 Rivanna River, 2012 Saluda River, 2013 Seneca River, 2014 Shenandoah River, 2017 Tiger River, 2019 Tugalo River, 2020 Tye River, 2021 Yadkin River, 2022 York River
A&WP Chattahoochee River
WofA Alabama River
L&N 3400 Mobile River and 3401 Pearl River
PRR 8351 Birch River, 8352 Bush River, 8353Delaware River, 8354 Middle River, 8355 Patapsco River, 8356 Raritan River, 8357 Schuylkill River and 8358 Susquehanna River
and finally the 5-Double Bedroom Buffet Lounge Observations assigned to the Crescent were
Sou 2300 Royal Arch, L&N 3300 Royal Canal and 3301 Royal Street and WofA Royal Palace
Thanks, guys! Now I can take up the rest of the mantelpiece with three more A’s and a whole lot of passenger cars!
Boy, will that drive my wife nuts!
Erik
The Southern Crescent Ran with 3 to 4 A-Units leading the way on the Washington to New Orleans route. Some locomotives began Crescent service before being numbered to the 6900 series. Visit http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/diesel.html
under EMD cab units - E8.
BD
I had the great pleasure of seeing the Crescent run regularly when I moved to Alexandria, Virginia in 1976. I used to ride my bike to the station and wait for it to arrive. I also used to watch it at Van Dorn St. back when that was still a grade crossing. It was a beautiful train indeed, and yes, all 4 E’s were A units. I was so sorry to see it go when SRR’s passenger service was folded into Amtrak - if memory serves, that was 1979.
Joel