As a somewhat novice model railrailroader I’ve been wondering if Southern Railways ever owned/leased any Class A 2-6-6-4 locomotives. I know Norfolk Western owned them and that the two companies merged to form Norfolk Southern. Did, at any time, Southern use these engines or under what circumstances would they have been found on Southern lines before the merger?
Jarrell
To the best of my knowledge, N&W’s Class As never ran on the Southern. ACL had some 2-6-6-4s, but they were not Class As. When 1218 was rebuilt in the 1980s, it was done at Southern’s Birmingham steam shop, same as with 611.
Southern and N&W operated a some joint passenger trains like the Tennessean, so it is possible I suppose that a Class A took over for a J for some reason, and then possibly ran on Southern right of way after a Southern diesel came up lame, but I have never seen such documented. Imagine the “Wreck of the Old 97” with a Class A on the point South of Monroe !
“Southern and N&W operated a some joint passenger trains like the Tennessean, so it is possible I suppose that a Class A took over for a J for some reason, and then possibly ran on Southern right of way after a Southern diesel came up lame, but I have never seen such documented.”
Hmmmm… I wonder if that did happen. Thanks for the information!
Jarrell
I would file this under possible but,no documentation.
I also recommend looking for N&W/Southern joint trackage…
The merger occurred well after the end of steam on the N&W. Had Js not been available for the Tennessean, it would have been assigned Class K-2 Mountains, a number of which were also streamlined in a scheme very similar to that used on the Js. Having said that, although your idea never actually occurred, I would still find it plausible enough for use on a model railroad.