I understand that there was one 4-6-2 Pacific that Southern made with a similar “bullet nose” like N&W’s Class J. Is this true? What other power did the Southern use for the Tennessean? I was guessing probably E8’s. I now know that N&W proved some of the motive power for the Tennessean when it went through Roanoke, VA.
Hi Craig,
The Tennesean was launched in 1941 with E6 diesels west of Bristol, Tenn., and the streamlined Ps-4 no. 1380 east of Lynchburg/Monroe, Va. As the Southern added E7 and E8 locomotives, they were also assigned to this train. The 1380’s group of Pacifics were retired between 1948 and 1953, but diesels had replaced the streamlined 4-6-2 on the east end of the Tennesean’s route before 1950.
The N&W usually assigned its streamlined class J 4-8-4s to the Southern’s streamliner. However, once the N&W began to dieselize its pasenger service in 1957, Southern passenger diesels started running through over the N&W on the Tennesean and so ran all the way between Washington and Memphis.
Happy New Year,
Andy
I am looking at 1955 more or less as the year to model my layout. I wanted to model what I consider to still be part of the “glory days” of N&W. That means steam motive power, A’s, Y’s, K’s, and J’s. I want to keep it as prototypical as possible. Therefore, I want to be certain about the motive power that is pulling the Tennesean while still on Southern territory.
Were the first diesels for N&W GP-7’s? When did they appear on the N&W? I don’t think that N&W ever had any F units.
I have seen an ad for a set of passenger cars by Precision Scale for the Tennesean. It is an 8 car set. Any one have knowledge of this product? How prototypical is it? About what time frame would this passenger train be found?
Happy New Year to all!![<:o)]
N&W had GP9’s. They dieselized quite late. When they started dieselization, they leased E units from either SAL or ACL until passenger equipped GP9’s were delivered. They did not acquire F units ‘new’, but did acquire them second hand when they leased/purchased the Wabash.
I suspect the PSC brass train is very accurate - I would guess it is based on the ‘as delivered’ train.
Jim
Hi Craig,
You’re right that the N&W didn’t buy any F units new, but it did acquire some through mergers in the 1960s. Likewise its first Geeps were GP9s, because it bought its first diesels too late to get GP7s. It did acquire some GP7s later, as the result of mergers, but didn’t have any of those yet in 1955. And while it started buying GP9s in 1955, the N&W didn’t have any in passenger service until 1957.
So in 1955 the N&W still had streamlined Js on most mainline passenger trains, and K2 and K2a Mountains (modernized, streamlined USRA heavy 4-8-2s) filling in. To the east and west of its N&W segment, the Tennesean was hauled by Southern E units.
I haven’t seen the announcements of a Precision Scale Co. Tennesean, and the train isn’t shown yet on PSC’s Web site. If it’s the original 1941 all-coach consist, it won’t be correct for 1955, as the train carried several sleeping cars by then.
Happy New Year,
Andy
I appreciate the information. I looked up the Tennesean in the "Brass Model Trains price and data guide(Spring, 2008). The set was built in 1998 by Precision Scale. There is no other data except the MSRP and current value. So, I am not certain the years that they are modeling. Any other information would be helpful.
Happy New Year to all.[<:o)]
Some more information on the train.
http://condrenrails.com/MRP/Tennessean/Tennessean-equipment.htm
Thanks for the websites. I particularly loved the photo of the Tennesean going through Salem, VA as I used to work in Salem, VA and lived in Roanoke.
Have a Happy New Year!![<:o)]