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Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson 2839 / Sou Rwy Steam Program of 1960/70's

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Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson 2839 / Sou Rwy Steam Program of 1960/70's
Posted by samfp1943 on Friday, October 7, 2016 12:43 PM

Whi;e looking for some specific photos of Souther Rwy GP=30's, and their ice breaker, over- the- cab additions.

I found some photos of a Canadian Pacific Rwy "Royal Hudson" #2839  in Monroe, Virginia !   See photos @ http://railpictures.net/photo/561704/

                                     http://railpictures.net/photo/562454/

                                    http://railpictures.net/photo/562267/ 

                                    http://railpictures.net/photo/561950/

   Captions indicate that the 2 Day trip took place in 1979 (Summer?)  and the destination was Atlanta.  The following is from a promotional video @  https://railfandepot.com/product/canadian-pacific-2839-a-royal-farewell-part-1/

 FTL:2839, A Royal Farewell” we see first weekend of operations from Alexandria to Atlanta over some 600 miles of Southern Railway mainline trackage. We see everything from the engine stalling on grades, and operation of the booster to get started, plus some fast running with this 8 coach train. The engine looks superb still in Canadian Pacific Livery, as it heads toward Birmingham where it will be “Southernized”. Coverage continues in May of 1979 with trips from Cincinnati to Danville and a trackside view of High Bridge.."

  The CPR#2839  was part of the original "Southern Rwy Steam Program" in 1969 and 1970.. Personally, I was familiar with the LNER 4472 in Anniston, AL.  But I was unaware of the role CPR#2839 had played in the Steam Program as well.

 

 


 

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Posted by Firelock76 on Friday, October 7, 2016 6:37 PM

Ever see the movie "Rocket Boys?"  2839 has a cameo appearance in a steam run-by witnessed by the kids in the film.  And guess who's at the throttle?  O. Winston Link!

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, October 8, 2016 9:09 PM

Excuse me, boy did I foul up!  The name of the movie is "October Sky," and 2839 couldn't have been in it, it was filmed in 1998 long after 2839 had left the Southern steam program, and after the NS steam program had terminated as well.

But O. Winston Link WAS in the steam engine's cab!

That'll teach me to sound off after a long exhausting day on the job.

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Posted by samfp1943 on Saturday, October 15, 2016 5:23 PM

Firelock76

Excuse me, boy did I foul up!  The name of the movie is "October Sky," and 2839 couldn't have been in it, it was filmed in 1998 long after 2839 had left the Southern steam program, and after the NS steam program had terminated as well.

But O. Winston Link WAS in the steam engine's cab!

That'll teach me to sound off after a long exhausting day on the job.

 

1998 (?) Firelock 76:

         According to information on the following website @ http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7M26_Canadian_Pacific_Royal_Hudson_2839_Locomotive_Sylmar_CA

FTL:[snip] "...2839 was retired from service by the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1950 after more than 3 million miles. It was sold to a group of American investors who restored the locomotive to operating condition for use on the Southern Railway, where it was used for rail fan excursions for many years.

In 1999 the locomotive was in danger of being scraped, when it was purchased for the Nethercutt [Museum & Car Collection] collection, fully restored and put on display in 2002.  The article gives no location for the #2839 in 1996/98; so it is possible(?) it could have been in California when the movie was made??

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

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Posted by SD70M-2Dude on Saturday, October 15, 2016 6:18 PM

samfp1943
Firelock76

Excuse me, boy did I foul up!  The name of the movie is "October Sky," and 2839 couldn't have been in it, it was filmed in 1998 long after 2839 had left the Southern steam program, and after the NS steam program had terminated as well.

But O. Winston Link WAS in the steam engine's cab!

That'll teach me to sound off after a long exhausting day on the job.

FTL:[snip] "...2839 was retired from service by the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1950 after more than 3 million miles. It was sold to a group of American investors who restored the locomotive to operating condition for use on the Southern Railway, where it was used for rail fan excursions for many years.

In 1999 the locomotive was in danger of being scraped, when it was purchased for the Nethercutt [Museum & Car Collection] collection, fully restored and put on display in 2002.  The article gives no location for the #2839 in 1996/98; so it is possible(?) it could have been in California when the movie was made??

The steam locomotive in "October Sky" was none other than Southern 4501, re-lettered for the N&W.  But 2839 still managed a small film career, appearing in "Coal Miner's Daughter" in 1980.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, October 15, 2016 7:29 PM

Well thanks for that!  I was thinking it may have been 4501, even Googled "October Sky" to find out, but had no luck even though in the cast listing it said "Engineer- O. Winston Link."  I do recall 4501 was active with the TVRM at the time.

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Posted by samfp1943 on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 10:33 AM

Firelock76

Well thanks for that!  I was thinking it may have been 4501, even Googled "October Sky" to find out, but had no luck even though in the cast listing it said "Engineer- O. Winston Link."  I do recall 4501 was active with the TVRM at the time.

 

Wayne (Firelock76)

I have tried to find a side shot of the 2839 [ at some poinf/date? I do not remember, but 2839 was "Southern-ized' at the B'ham Shops; I think they removed the distinctive walkway farings, SR letting on tender and logos(?). They did leave the CPR name board under the smokebox,IRRC. Anyway she was leased to the SR Steam Program for a couple of years. She predated the #610 ( 2-10-4 Texas joining 'The program'). She was a big engine, but the success of the program, caused the SR to add more cars (and passsenger  capacity to their trains.)... There was a couple of instances when she stalled and had to get 'assisted' in starting the trains.  See link for some more info and small photos from that period.@http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,2243705

Of course, these incidents predate the #611 and #1218 joining the SR Steam program.

and this link@ http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/740/t/119064.aspx

TRAINS Forum from 2008 on #2839

and this linked site as well @http://hawkinsrails.net/steam/program/program.htm

SR Steam Locomotives in The Program of the late 1960's.

 

 


 

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Posted by kgbw49 on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 7:18 PM

Not quite broadside views...

Image result for southern 2839

Image result for southern 2839

 

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Posted by Firelock76 on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 7:54 PM

From the pictures it looks like the Southern didn't mess with 2839's appearance a whole heck of a lot, it's still unmistakably Canadian.

That shot from the Nethercutt collection is impressive, 2839 positively glows.

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Posted by kgbw49 on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 8:28 PM

Another unmistakably Canadian...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1DNpKjitOA4

 

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