When did Southern Railway last run steam locomotives? I have a Southern MS4 and would like to run it in the 1955 time period. Is this correct? [8D]
Southern retired their last steamer in 1953. Most passenger units were gone even sooner, as Southern (IIRC) was the first class 1 RR to completely retire steam from regular service. That said, they did continue their steam excursion program for quite a number of years after that.
Brad
I believe Gulf, Mobile & Ohio was completely dieselized by 1948. I’ll have to check, but IIRC, GM&O is frequently cited as the first Class I railroad to eliminate steam locomotive operations.
Brad:
Shame on you for using the word “unit” when referring to a steam locomotive!
Blasphemy!
Actually, they also retired their DL109/110’s (3 each) in 1954. Apparently the Alco’s didn’t perform up to Southern specs, and the carrier ended up scrapping them. Oddly, they picked up an identical number of PA units around the same time. It is likely Alco gave them a good trade in credit on the DL’s (or perhaps salvaged components thereof) toward the PA’s, even as such, the PA’s were retired after only 11 years of service, in 1965.
That said, said shame is taken gracefully. I’m not ashamed to admit when I mess up. Oops.
Brad