I am interested in 2 of Southern Railways passenger trains, The Tennessian and The Crescent. Did either of these trains run through Roanoke, VA? Or anywhere close?
When did Southern Railway stop using the PS4 as motive power for these trains?
Nope, the N&W had Roanoke covered. Southern trains ran this area from Greensboro, NC, Danville, VA, up through Lynchburg, Charlottesville, and on up to Washington DC. This is based on looking at a Southern system map from 1975. Lemme do a bit of research into when they retired the PS4’s, but I expect most of them were retired in the mid-to late 40’s.
Brad
Brad,
Thanks for the information. Thought that I saw The Tennessian on a DVD on “The Pocahantas Glory” series run through Roanoke, VA pulled by N&W power.
The Tennessean ran between New York and Memphis via Washington, DC, Monroe and Lynchburg, Va., and Briston, Tenn. The Lynchburg-Bristol segment was on the rails of the Norfolk & Western, and did pass through Roanoke.
The Tennessean was inaugurated as a “diesel” streamliner with Electro-Motive E6 power in 1941, but actually operated behind steam locomotives east of Bristol for several years. The N&W used its class J streamlined 4-8-4s on this train, and the Southern streamlined Ps-4 no. 1380 specifically for the Monroe-Washington segment. North of Washington the train was on the Pennsylvania RR’s electrified main line, and usually ran behind GG1 electrics.
First the Southern dieselized the Monroe-Washington segment of the Tennessean around 1950. Then, in the late 1950s, when the N&W wanted to dieselize its passenger operations, Southern diesels began running through on the Tennessean between Lyncburg and Bristol over the N&W.
The Southern Ry. proper retired its 44 class Ps-4 4-6-2s between 1949 and 1953. The 8 assigned to the Alabama Great Southern were retired over the same time span. There were also 12 assigned to the Cinncinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific, all retired in 1952 and 1953.
Andy,
Thank you very much for the information. I am beginning to fall in love with passenger trains, especially the N&W and Southern. I know that you are a big fan too. I have enjoyed your articles over the years and particularly with respect to passenger trains.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.[;)]
You’re welcome, Craig,
And I realize that you also asked about the Crescent. That was a New York - New Orleans through train routed PRR between New York and Washington, D.C., Southern between Washington and Atlanta, West Point Route (Atlanta & West Point plus Western Ry. of Alabama) between Atlanta and Montgomery, Ala., and Louisville & Nashville between Montgomery and New Orleans.
I used to see the Crescent at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, where it appeared behind L&N diesels but with cars lettered for all the roads that were part of its route (and then some). But it didn’t operate over the N&W so didn’t pass through Roanoke. (The Southern also ran the Pelican between Washington and New Orleans, and that train did use the Monroe/Lynchburg-to-Bristol routing via the N&W to reach New Orleans on the Southern’s own line by way of Birmingham, Ala.)
The Southern Ry. portion of the Crescent’s run was handled by Southern Ps-4 Pacifics into the 1940s. Diesels may have taken over before the train was streamlined in 1949, but certainly were in charge by that time.
Merry Christmas,
Andy
Andy,
I appreciate the information. I am trying to model the N&W in the 1950’s with particular attention to the Pocahontas Division between Williamson, WV and Bluefield, WV. I am pushing my layout to include Roanoke, VA and possibly Lynchburg, VA. I believe that C&O had an interchange with the N&W at Lynchburg, so that may be a way to have a train or two come from staging that is C&O. I believe that N&W and Southern Railway had a connection that ran from Roanoke to Winston-Salem, NC. Although, I am not modeling specific towns, I would like to be as prototypical as possible. I believe that Tony Koester calls it prototypical freelancing. Any more information that you can share will be appreciated.
Again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
This one resides at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC.
I have been to the Spencer Shops many times starting in 1985. I used to live in Salisbury, NC. My daughter, who was born in 1985 and I used to wander around the Spencer Shops with my father-in-law. We have many photos from those times. I now live about a 1/2 hour away and go there frequently. Also, go to the Little Choo Choo Shop which is just across the street for supplies for my model railroad.[:D]
I love the Little Choo Choo Shop.
The first time I ever went in there (while attending A Day out with Thomas with the grandchildren) I walked through, said to the wife “nahh. it’s nothing but Lionel stuff” and was about to walk out when I spotted the hallway to the big room in the back.
It should really have a big sign that says “Enter here for the good stuff”.
Andy,
I was wondering if you had any information with respect to The Southerner? Where it ran? Motive power? Typical Consist of passenger equipment?
Thanks,
Andy and Everyone:
I am also a fan of Southern / N&W passenger trains. And I knew about the Tennesean, the Crescent and the Southerner. However, I recently saw some info about the Pelican that I found interesting. I think it was a Wiki article that said the Pelican regurlarly ran at least seven sleepers, an undetermined number of coaches, a diner, and I don’t know what else.
The indicated sleeper configurations were: 10-6 (five cars), 8 section-five double-bedroom (one car), 10 section 1 conpartment 2 double bedroom (one car).
The article, however, didn’t indicate what the schedule was or the era when this equipment was used. With all the sleepers, I assume the train pretty much travelled at night.
Also, given the number of sleepers and the two odd-ball cars (8 and 10 section cars), were any of these cars heavyweights ? If so, what a neat rrain that would be !
Motive power for the Pelican appears to have been E-6 / E-7 and later on, FP-7s
Thanks to any and all for any info about this intriguing train.
Rip
Rip - Welcome to Trains.com! [C):-)]
Thanks alot Mr Lion. I guess I should have done an intro, but I was so focused on the Pelican, I didn’t think of it.
I live in Germantown, MD and am a member of the Four County Society of Model Engineers located in the Baltimore / Washington area. We are a modular club; we set up our modules at the Timonium, MD train shows 3-4 times per year. The era we model is August 1957. . . I think. So, the Pelican might look pretty good on our six-scale mile layout.
Rip
[#welcome]
Welcome aboard.
I have traveled to the Timmonium show and have seen your layout.