Southern 401 Update

[Jas]

   The latest from their Facebook page:

Monticello Railway Museum "Other than the cab lettering, the backhead has been painted black and the cab plumbing is being reinstalled"

Previous Updates and pictures on their Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/railwaymuseum

 

 

 

 

[Southerngreen1401]

I did not know that were any Southern steam engines out of the southern United States.  I know that NS is talking the TVRW about bringing back the Steam Program back on the rails.  Plus the Best Friend will be 200 in 2027.  The Southern fans and SRHS are pushing for all our remaining girls be ready for the birthday party for her.  Let your people know that information for 401.

[samfp1943]

Jas

   The latest from their Facebook page:

Monticello Railway Museum "Other than the cab lettering, the backhead has been painted black and the cab plumbing is being reinstalled"

Previous Updates and pictures on their Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/railwaymuseum

 

Copied to activate link and Welcome, Jas ...

 

My curiousity was really aroused because I was unaware that Southern Rwy had donated to Museums out side of their operating area.  In fact the #401 was purchased from an Alabama Materials Company and then transported to the Museum( then in Decatur, IL.

Found some links that show off #401 ( From Tom Daspit's excelent website( Southern Railfan) here is a photo of #401-- it appears to be mistakenly shown by the photo'ds descripton as #1401: (I think it is an error).       The engines appear to have some minor differences,[ possibly modifications in service] piping and resivoir on rt side, the cab is a rebuild at the museum, and the tender is also a complete rebuild, but it looks pretty good.

Here is the photo's link:  http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/steam/cons/sou1401gaffneysc.html

Here is a link to the #401 at the Montecello Museum's site:

http://www.mrym.org/401_pt2.html

 

Thanks, Jas for posting your first post!

 

[carknocker1]

I recieved an email from some of the people at the Railroad museum and they hope to take #401 on a couple of shake down runs in the next few weeks so she can be ready for Railroad days in September !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[oltmannd]

Southerngreen1401

Plus the Best Friend will be 200 in 2027.  The Southern fans and SRHS are pushing for all our remaining girls be ready for the birthday party for her.  Let your people know that information for 401.

Best Friend would have been 200 in 2027, but she blew up in 1830. The replica, now sitting in the lobby of the David Goode bldg in Atlanta will be 100 in 2028.

[carknocker1]

 I just heard a little while ago that 401 is coming along nicely they putting extra time to have it ready for Rail road days

[pajrr]

Southerngreen1401

I did not know that were any Southern steam engines out of the southern United States.  I know that NS is talking the TVRW about bringing back the Steam Program back on the rails.  Plus the Best Friend will be 200 in 2027.  The Southern fans and SRHS are pushing for all our remaining girls be ready for the birthday party for her.  Let your people know that information for 401.

   For those of you that don't know, a sister to Southern #401 resides here in NJ at the Whippany Rwy Museum in Whippany, NJ. The 385 was built by Baldwin in 1907. After being retired by Sou she was sold to the shortline Virginia Blue Ridge. She was purchased by a man named Earl Gil and was brought to NJ in the mid 60's and was put to work hauling tourist trains for the Morris County Central RR. The Morris County Central folded in 1979 and the locomotive last operated in 1978 I believe. #385 was donated to a vocational school as a teaching aid for their steam boiler program. She was later purchased by an individual for restoration and sat inside a warehouse for several years. She now sits at Whippany, NJ, cosmetically restored, at the Whippany Rwy Museum which was the first home for the Morris County Central Railroad. You can visit their website at:

http://www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net/ 

  The Whippany Railway Museum has many wonderful exhibits. If you ever find yourself in Northern NJ come by and pay a visit.

 

 

 

[uphogger]

Always has amazed me how much Southern Railway steam power still exists considering they only preserved one locomotive: Ps-4 #1401.

[carknocker1]

I just recieved the Museums press release and Southern # 401 will be running during RailRoad Days september 18, & 19 2010

[Southerngreen1401]

I am glad that Southern Steam is running again.  Great Smokey Mountain Railroad is still restoring 722 as we speak.

[inch53]

The wife n me are planning on heading up that way on the 19'th, so 401 running would be a bonus.

 Mike

[Jas]

    There's a picture of one of the test runs here:

http://server.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30130

 

 

[samfp1943]

Jas

    There's a picture of one of the test runs here:

http://server.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30130

[Copied to activate linked item]

 

EDIT/NOTE:  Copied to add the following info from the linked item

  {Certainly looks like it will be an interesting roll out for the SR 40~ Quite a PARTY!:}

[Southerngreen1401]

Thanks for the information on SR 401.  Now I have to check all 2-8-0.  I know I have 722, 630, 604, and 1702 in HO scale.  I will have to make a HO version of the Southern Railway engines.  We hope that she will have to come down to her home rail one day.  NS is very pickie about 4610 because it has been damage by crooks in the past for her number plate.  I personnally like to see when a Southern girl is running.  Way to go!!!!!

[schlimm]

401 running September 15

http://www.facebook.com/railwaymuseum#!/photo.php?pid=7163274&fbid=468129940655&id=137895685655

[railfanjohn]

oltmannd

Southerngreen1401:

Plus the Best Friend will be 200 in 2027.   ...............................................................................

Best Friend would have been 200 in 2027, but she blew up in 1830.   ..........................................

Correct!  And it was rebuilt and named "PHOENIX'.  Don't know whatever finally happened to it.  I would guess that it was scrapped probably before the Civil War.

[railfanjohn]

oltmannd

Southerngreen1401:

Plus the Best Friend will be 200 in 2027.   ...............................................................................

Best Friend would have been 200 in 2027, but she blew up in 1830.   ..........................................

Correct!  And it was rebuilt and named "PHOENIX'.  Don't know whatever finally happened to it.  I would guess that it was scrapped probably before the Civil War.

[Southerngreen1401]

There are three full size replicates of the Best Friend.  On in Altanta, one in Columbia at the State Museum, and the last one is at South Carolina Railroad Museum in storage to proctect her.  The one in Columbia has a V8 engine in the tender under the box.  Their are also as many one foot scale replica of her too.  I have seen and touch two of these replica so far.  They are in Charleston Museum,  Branchville Railroad Museum and I not found the third one yet.  I have also have picture of the "PHOENIX' that is in my Southern books collection.  She was built never to be turned on Y or turntable.  She could be driven both ways.

[Southerngreen1401]

My last post I have a few typing mistakes sorry about that.  The CSS Hunley is made from a steam engine boiler.  That is the first submarine atttack that work.  Who know what railroad it came from?  The hint the submarine was built Mobile, Ala.  I bet that it might be one of Southern's fallen flags.

[orsonroy]

Southerngreen1401

My last post I have a few typing mistakes sorry about that.  The CSS Hunley is made from a steam engine boiler.  That is the first submarine atttack that work.  Who know what railroad it came from?  The hint the submarine was built Mobile, Ala.  I bet that it might be one of Southern's fallen flags.

The Hunley was made out of an old BOILER. There's nothing original that states whether that boiler was from a locomotive, or stationary. Given the diameter of the Hunley, I suspect a stationary boiler (which FAR outnumbered mobile boilers at all times in history!)

And the Hunley did NOT perform the first "successful" submarine attack. That would be the "Turtle" from the Americal revolution. "Successful" in war doesn't necessarily mean sinking & killing; scaring the snot out of your enemies & making them run away counts too!

 

 

[schlimm]

The "Turtle" was sunk by the British about a month after its first (unsuccessful) attack on a British warship HMS Eagle, while sitting on the deck of its tender.  In the attack described by orsonroy, the Eagle did not flee, only the rowboat going after it.  Bushnell also used floating mines without success.  The alleged attack on the Eagle is documented only by the Americans, not the Brits, who believe the entire story was fabricated.

[FranklinC55]

Here she is on her maiden run.

[schlimm]

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/photo.php?pid=201889&fbid=148495178520039&id=100000786740515&ref=nf:550:0

[Southerngreen1401]

The pictures of Southern 401 look great.  As for the first submarine attack?   As a former US Submariner, The United States Submarine School in New London, Ct. states that the Turrtle was a failed attack of a the Submarine and the CSS Hunley was the first successful attack of a Submarine.  The United States Submarine Service until the Hunley was recover the crew was listed as the first  submarine crew lost in battle and on patrol with God submarine force.  The United States want the Hunley for New London Museum, but they will make a copy of her from Charleston,  SC.   In fact the US Navy wanted to bury the crew as with Union Sailor honors.  The sate of South Carolina did not agree with that.   The men bury under full milltary honors by both Southern and Northern forces.

[samfp1943]

Southerngreen1401

There are three full size replicates of the Best Friend.  On in Altanta, one in Columbia at the State Museum, and the last one is at South Carolina Railroad Museum in storage to proctect her.  The one in Columbia has a V8 engine in the tender under the box.  Their are also as many one foot scale replica of her too.  I have seen and touch two of these replica so far.  They are in Charleston Museum,  Branchville Railroad Museum and I not found the third one yet.  I have also have picture of the "PHOENIX' that is in my Southern books collection.  She was built never to be turned on Y or turntable.  She could be driven both ways.

Here is a link you might find of some interest:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Friend_of_Charleston

Additionally here is another link referencing the Best Friend and it includes a comment referencing the locomotive 'Phoenix'- built partly from the remains of the Best Friend...

link :  http://bestfriendofcharleston.org/

and this quote, FTL: "...The accident proved only a minor set back to the railway transportation system.  Within three years, the rail road boasted of six locomotives, including the "Phoenix," an engine constructed from the "Best Friend's" remains..."

[Dakguy201]

The Monticello group should  be congratulated for everything they have accomplished on this project.  I doubt the engine looked this good on the day it was delivered to Southern:

 

[carknocker1]

I must agree with you , the group in Monticello did a great job on 401 .

[Southerngreen1401]

The web site is not correct about the Best Friend information.  They need to contact the South Carolina State and Charleston Museum.   The College of Charleston also has alot of information about the engine.

[Southerngreen1401]

She looks good.  She loks like her picture in the Prince's Southern book in the 1970.  Well done to Monticello group.   

[samfp1943]

Dakguy201

The Monticello group should  be congratulated for everything they have accomplished on this project.  I doubt the engine looked this good on the day it was delivered to Southern:

 

There is no doubt about it!  That is a real class restoration. Congratulations to the Folks at Montecello!   LOOKIN GOOD!