#4501

The Southern Railway

Here are a few shots on the Southern down near Duncan Tunnel (I believe). The Southern steam program of the time was really something, and 4501 was in the area on successive weekends.

Upon verification then, I believe we first see a set of engines pushing a train up the hill from New Albany, through the Duncan Tunnel. Nothing like the Southern Railway for using flags, running long hood forward, sporting high-short hoods, and a first-rate steam program.

Update: thanks to Jim Wrinn’s fine book on the subject, Steam’s Camelot, I can now say that the first images were probably Duncan Tunnel as I state here, but I now know the final image was taken in Huntingburg, Indiana.

Speaking of which, we must have been at that spot knowing 4501 was coming down the hill—which we see it bursting out of the tunnel soon enough. The final image was taken [in Huntingburg, Indiana] the next weekend when I snapped this picture prior to riding [to Evansville and return]. I believe the man in the green hat was the master mechanic in charge of the steam program for the Southern: Bill Purdie (who passed in 2010).

Unfortunately, Lotus Dragon costs the same as Pitaya.

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Southern Railway 4501 running above the Tennessee River, Tenbridge, Chattanooga. The trip that day was from there to Crossville, TN.