There is a concurrent Thread running here, “611 and NS Filing for Divorce”. So at the risk of starting a competing topic; I would like to ask some question and possibly jar some memories around here in this Thread.
Do any posters here remember the genesis of the Original Southern Railway’s Steam Excursion Program?
It was kicked off in 1964 by the late W. Graham Claytor who was a V.P. at Southern Rwy, and then AMTRAK. The very first locomotive brought into the program was bought from a Kentucky short line RR and sent to the Shop in Birmingham to be overhauled and put to work…It became the SR #4501. It was followed by a couple of larger locomotives ( Needed to pull the larger consists demanded by the popularity of The Program.) They were N&W #611 and N&W 1218. Then in 1994 we became aware of the following Headline [as one among the many stories]:
“NORFOLK SOUTHERN PLANS TO END NOSTALGIC STEAM LOCOMOTIVE PROGRAM” By Don Phillips October 29, 1994
And then ‘The Program’ was given ‘new life’ by Wick Moorman in 2005. #4501 was brought back by the Tenn Valley RR Museum, and along with its’ #630 and it would also include NKP #765. Unfortunately, #611 was late to the party in 2015(?). And in Dec of 2015 it was announced that the Program’s major goal of getting its fleet around to most all the syst
Here is a link to a photo of an Americanized “Flying Scotsman”. It was taken in 1971 as she came out of storage in California ( Ft. Lathrop) where she was in sort of a protective custody situation, as Alan Pegler’s fortune and fortunes dwindled.
Wonder how many British Fans ever visualized #4472 with a big Pyle Headlight, Bell, and cowcatcher w/ foot boards? [|(]
I was fortunate to see her in action as part of the SR’s Program and ‘chased’ her for a short distance coming out of Birmingham, Al. as part of her ‘tour’.
I was on the Flying Scotsman when the train was in Penn Station. It was hard to get used to the headlight and “cow-catcher”. I was in the National Railway Museum in York in 2004 where it was in the shop, a guy let me take a closer look at it and I saw that it has a retractable knuckle coupler on the rear of the tender. He said that was required for the North American trip and they never thought of removing it so left it in place.
And the only answer to that is: SEMPER FI ! L T [point] [swg]
The Graham Brothers cute a wide swath in this American Railroad business. [tup][tup] To them, and the management team at NS, and its predecessors they gave us thirty more years that we would not have enjoyed.
As well, the folks at UPRR that have also brought their locomotives across this land almost coast to coast scenes and enjoyment for new generations to enjoy. [wow][8D][yeah]
