October 17, 2017 we took the excursion on the Summerville Special out of
Grand Junction Station in Chattanooga to Summerville, Georgia; crossing the
state line in Rossville, traveling past Chickasaw-Chattanooga National Military Park
and through Chickamauga, Rock Spring, LaFayette, Trion, and into Summerville.
We opted for the Premium Observation car.
The engine pulling our train was 4501.
Southern Railway No. 4501 is a 2-8-2 Mikado-type steam locomotive built in October 1911 by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a primary freight hauler on the Southern Railway. It was the first Mikado-type to be built for the Southern.
In 1948, the locomotive was retired from the Southern in favor of dieselization and was sold to the short-line Kentucky and Tennessee Railway (K&T) in Stearns, Kentucky to haul coal trains.
When the K&T was dieselized in 1964, No. 4501 was purchased by a rail fan named Paul H. Merriman for the 4501 Corporation with $5,000 of his own money, and restored it for excursion service on the Southern Railway's steam program managed by the railroad's president W. Graham Claytor Jr.Beautifully painted in Southern's passenger Sylvan green with gold linings, No. 4501 operated as the main star of Southern's steam program until being replaced by larger steam locomotives in 1985. The locomotive ran again in 1991 until 1994, when Southern's successor Norfolk Southern discontinued the steam program.
In 1948, the locomotive was retired from the Southern in favor of dieselization and was sold to the short-line Kentucky and Tennessee Railway (K&T) in Stearns, Kentucky to haul coal trains.
When the K&T was dieselized in 1964, No. 4501 was purchased by a rail fan named Paul H. Merriman for the 4501 Corporation with $5,000 of his own money, and restored it for excursion service on the Southern Railway's steam program managed by the railroad's president W. Graham Claytor Jr.Beautifully painted in Southern's passenger Sylvan green with gold linings, No. 4501 operated as the main star of Southern's steam program until being replaced by larger steam locomotives in 1985. The locomotive ran again in 1991 until 1994, when Southern's successor Norfolk Southern discontinued the steam program.
Afterwards, No. 4501 operated for its current owner, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Repainted into its original freight black livery in 1996, the locomotive was retired for its boiler ticket certificate expiration in 1998.
From 2012 to 2014, No. 4501 was completely overhauled with modern upgrades and restored to operating condition. Today, the locomotive operates in tourist excursion service for TVRM.
From 2012 to 2014, No. 4501 was completely overhauled with modern upgrades and restored to operating condition. Today, the locomotive operates in tourist excursion service for TVRM.
The current tender came from a "Central of Georgia" engine
from a train wreck in Georgia.
The new tender holds 18 tonnes (18,000 kg) of coal and
15,000 US gallons (57,000 l) of water.
from a train wreck in Georgia.
The new tender holds 18 tonnes (18,000 kg) of coal and
15,000 US gallons (57,000 l) of water.
This was our car, The Observation car.
The Grand Junction Station
Our Observation car. Judy is sitting at our table.
Shortly after we left the station we passed by the Astec Rossville Plant, I worked for
Astec Mobile Screens in Illinois as Advertising manager, before retiring.
4501 rolling through one of the many towns.
After arriving in Summerville, engine 4501 uncoupled and switched onto a side track to access the turntable for the return trip.
Pulling ahead to switch onto the rails to the Round table.
Finally on its way yo the Round Table.
The Round table.
Video of the turn around on the Turn Table.
Off the turn Table and heading to couple up with the opposite
end of the train for the return trip. That is train cars at the far right.
They stopped the train and let us off, so the train
could back up a bout a mile and get up steam to do a
full power Fly By full smoke and steam!
A shot of the whole train at full steam!
Don't forget to Double click to enlarge any Picture!
A look at the full length of our train during the Fly-By.
Soon we were on our way back to the station.
Looking back it was a great day!
Back at the station as we headed for our car, I saw this engine in the yard.
A Baldwin 4-4-0.
Built in 1891, this engine has quite a history.
A final look back on this engine.
A great train for anyone that loves trains.
The Grand Junction Station
A view of our dinning car from outside.
After we boarded we walked thru the train to get to our car.
We would have breakfast and lunch here, full wait staff.
Our Observation car. Judy is sitting at our table.
Shortly after we left the station we passed by the Astec Rossville Plant, I worked for
Astec Mobile Screens in Illinois as Advertising manager, before retiring.
4501 rolling through one of the many towns.
After arriving in Summerville, engine 4501 uncoupled and switched onto a side track to access the turntable for the return trip.
Pulling ahead to switch onto the rails to the Round table.
Finally on its way yo the Round Table.
The Round table.
Video of the turn around on the Turn Table.
Off the turn Table and heading to couple up with the opposite
end of the train for the return trip. That is train cars at the far right.
They stopped the train and let us off, so the train
could back up a bout a mile and get up steam to do a
full power Fly By full smoke and steam!
A shot of the whole train at full steam!
Don't forget to Double click to enlarge any Picture!
A look at the full length of our train during the Fly-By.
Fortunately they stopped and let us back on.
Soon we were on our way back to the station.
Looking back it was a great day!
Back at the station as we headed for our car, I saw this engine in the yard.
A Baldwin 4-4-0.
Built in 1891, this engine has quite a history.
A final look back on this engine.
A great train for anyone that loves trains.
