This picture was taken in 1948.
The modern NS is a sham, a rip off of a railroad that has a long history of serving North Carolina and Virginia.
Good picture. The first Norfolk Southern Railway was definetely a good railroad.
That is a good picture but, I have to disagree with both of your statments and say that the current NS is much better. One reason, Horseshoe curve, that is it. I like NS but I have to say that I am starting to like CN, CSXT, and UP a little better. I dont know why but I am. Wait, I know why, NW/NS stole the colors of black and white from ILLINOIS CENTRAL, one of if not the BEST railroad that was ever created. Now if NS would have painted their engine with Southern RR paint then that would be better.
As for steam I would have to say that the UP steam is the best right. ILLINOIS CENTRAL next.
ICMR
Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]
…I like the picture of the 2-8-4 steamer…Wonder what the line is running on the outside and up to the smoke {exhaust}, stack…Would it be a supplement to afford better draft for the fire box via steam creating additional draft…?
Modelcar - that pipe is the exhaust from the trailing truck booster.
The NS 600s were the world’s smallest Berkshires. To find out more, pick up a copy of H. Reid’s EXTRA SOUTH.
The old NS was a short line that lived up to its name. It went south out of Norfolk into North Carolina and then turned west. It was quaint, cute, eccentric in its way, and lovable as many short lines were.
But it can in no way be compared with today’s NS, which is definitely not a short line.
Old Timer
i agree old timer and icmr. NS now is much better.
Getting back on topic, the picture is nice. Just wish it was a bigger engine.
ICMR
Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]
Sayeth icmr:
“Getting back on topic, the picture is nice. Just wish it was a bigger engine.”
The 2-8-4s were the biggest NS had. You want anything bigger than that, you need another railroad . . . [:D]
Old Timer
[:D]
History is written by the winners, and insofar as there will be an eastern US RR that survives whatever merger-mania is to come, it almost certainly will be NS.
Thats what I mean Old Timer. I like the UP steamers.
ICMR
Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]
The 2-8-4s were the biggest NS had. You want anything bigger than that, you need another railroad . . .
The present day NS is made up of a lot of “fallen flags”, most notably the Norfolk and Western as well as the Southern. Both railroads had “bigger” steam locomotives. O. Winston Link photographed “The Last Steam Trains in America”, and those were articulated compound steamers hauling coal for the most part. I recently got a copy of the TIES magazine (the historical society of the SOUTHERN railroad) which talked about the SOUTHERN acquiring Mallet steam locomotives in the late 20’s and 30’s.
Erik
Re: Southern Rwy. Mallets–Absolutely! the pre-merger Southern hauled coal in Southwestern Virginia. Perhaps not as much as L&N or N&W, but Southern was a presence.