The latest from their Facebook page:
Monticello Railway Museum “Other than the cab lettering, the backhead has been painted black and the cab plumbing is being reinstalled”
Previous Updates and pictures on their Facebook page.
I did not know that were any Southern steam engines out of the southern United States. I know that NS is talking the TVRW about bringing back the Steam Program back on the rails. Plus the Best Friend will be 200 in 2027. The Southern fans and SRHS are pushing for all our remaining girls be ready for the birthday party for her. Let your people know that information for 401.
[quote user=“Jas”]
The latest from their Facebook page:
Monticello Railway Museum “Other than the cab lettering, the backhead has been painted black and the cab plumbing is being reinstalled”
Previous Updates and pictures on their Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/railwaymuseum
Copied to activate link and Welcome, Jas …[#welcome]
My curiousity was really aroused because I was unaware that Southern Rwy had donated to Museums out side of their operating area. In fact the #401 was purchased from an Alabama Materials Company and then transported to the Museum( then in Decatur, IL.
Found some links that show off #401 ( From Tom Daspit’s excelent website( Southern Railfan) here is a photo of #401-- it appears to be mistakenly shown by the photo’ds descripton as #1401: (I think it is an error). The engines appear to have some minor differences,[ possibly modifications in service] piping and resivoir on rt side, the cab is a rebuild at the museum, and the tender is also a complete rebuild, but it looks pretty good.
Here is the photo’s link: http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/cons/sou1401gaffneysc.html
I recieved an email from some of the people at the Railroad museum and they hope to take #401 on a couple of shake down runs in the next few weeks so she can be ready for Railroad days in September !!!
Best Friend would have been 200 in 2027, but she blew up in 1830. The replica, now sitting in the lobby of the David Goode bldg in Atlanta will be 100 in 2028.
I just heard a little while ago that 401 is coming along nicely they putting extra time to have it ready for Rail road days
For those of you that don’t know, a sister to Southern #401 resides here in NJ at the Whippany Rwy Museum in Whippany, NJ. The 385 was built by Baldwin in 1907. After being retired by Sou she was sold to the shortline Virginia Blue Ridge. She was purchased by a man named Earl Gil and was brought to NJ in the mid 60’s and was put to work hauling tourist trains for the Morris County Central RR. The Morris County Central folded in 1979 and the locomotive last operated in 1978 I believe. #385 was donated to a vocational school as a teaching aid for their steam boiler program. She was later purchased by an individual for restoration and sat inside a warehouse for several years. She now sits at Whippany, NJ, cosmetically restored, at the Whippany Rwy Museum which was the first home for the Morris County Central Railroad. You can visit their website at:
http://www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net/
The Whippany Railway Museum has many wonderful exhibits. If you ever find yourself in Northern NJ come by and pay a visit.
Always has amazed me how much Southern Railway steam power still exists considering they only preserved one locomotive: Ps-4 #1401.
I just recieved the Museums press release and Southern # 401 will be running during RailRoad Days september 18, & 19 2010
I am glad that Southern Steam is running again. Great Smokey Mountain Railroad is still restoring 722 as we speak.
The wife n me are planning on heading up that way on the 19’th, so 401 running would be a bonus.
Mike
There’s a picture of one of the test runs here:
EDIT/NOTE: Copied to add the following info from the linked item
{Certainly looks like it will be an interesting roll out for the SR 40~ Quite a PARTY!:}
FTL: “kemcclure”
"…Unfortunately, while it was requested, and we were told it was coming, NS heritage unit SOU 4610 will not be at Monticello due to a scheduling conflict with an event in Aiken SC., a conflict about which we were just recently informed. Sorry to disappoint anyone wishing to see the 4610, but we will still have two of the executive F’s, as well as an operation life saver unit, and in addition, the NS exhibit car will be here…" Kent |
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Thanks for the information on SR 401. Now I have to check all 2-8-0. I know I have 722, 630, 604, and 1702 in HO scale. I will have to make a HO version of the Southern Railway engines. We hope that she will have to come down to her home rail one day. NS is very pickie about 4610 because it has been damage by crooks in the past for her number plate. I personnally like to see when a Southern girl is running. Way to go!!!
401 running September 15
http://www.facebook.com/railwaymuseum#!/photo.php?pid=7163274&fbid=468129940655&id=137895685655
Correct! And it was rebuilt and named "PHOENIX’. Don’t know whatever finally happened to it. I would guess that it was scrapped probably before the Civil War.
Correct! And it was rebuilt and named "PHOENIX’. Don’t know whatever finally happened to it. I would guess that it was scrapped probably before the Civil War.
There are three full size replicates of the Best Friend. On in Altanta, one in Columbia at the State Museum, and the last one is at South Carolina Railroad Museum in storage to proctect her. The one in Columbia has a V8 engine in the tender under the box. Their are also as many one foot scale replica of her too. I have seen and touch two of these replica so far. They are in Charleston Museum, Branchville Railroad Museum and I not found the third one yet. I have also have picture of the "PHOENIX’ that is in my Southern books collection. She was built never to be turned on Y or turntable. She could be driven both ways.
My last post I have a few typing mistakes sorry about that. The CSS Hunley is made from a steam engine boiler. That is the first submarine atttack that work. Who know what railroad it came from? The hint the submarine was built Mobile, Ala. I bet that it might be one of Southern’s fallen flags.
The Hunley was made out of an old BOILER. There’s nothing original that states whether that boiler was from a locomotive, or stationary. Given the diameter of the Hunley, I suspect a stationary boiler (which FAR outnumbered mobile boilers at all times in history!)
And the Hunley did NOT perform the first “successful” submarine attack. That would be the “Turtle” from the Americal revolution. “Successful” in war doesn’t necessarily mean sinking & killing; scaring the snot out of your enemies & making them run away counts too!