My first encounter with Southern 4501

[CarmonH]

I am fairly new to this hobby, getting my start in 2009 thanks to my husband, not that I had a lot of choice. Its the only way I ever get to see him on the weekends!  I have come to appreciate (as he says) the finer things in life, and coal smoke and cinders are about as good as it gets.

We have traveled a lot of miles and shot a lot of steam in the last 5 years. 765, 844, 630 and a host of others, but everyone kept talking about the 4501. I first got to see that elusive legend about 3 years ago at the TVRM shop, tore apart and not looking like much. Finally, on the last weekend of October, I had the chance to see what all the fuss was about, an alive and well 4501, and was not disappointed!

There is just something about a steam locomotive that enlivens every sense in the body. Unlike a diesel, you can feel it, taste it, smell it, and it is as close to a living breathing machine as there ever was. All of the good hearted banter (i think it was good hearted) about what color she would be was pointless to me, as she looks great in black just as a locomotive should be.  

We spent a day and a half chasing the 4501 on the TVRM fall color trips to Summerville, Ga with some good weather and great friends, and I am looking forward to going back this weekend for the season ending double header. The only thing better than One black Southern engine is Two!  

Everything from that trip can be found here if you want to look.  http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/2014railcb

October 25th 2014, Passing the old Peerless mill at Rosville, Ga


4501 finds a brief moment of sun as she climbs up Chickamauga ridge


Somber lighting late in the day as the train passed by the industrial ruins at Rossville, Ga


October 26th,

23rd Street in Chattanooga on a cold Sunday morning.


Southern 4501 and 2594 roar out of Rossville..Long live the Southern!

[leroy]

Carmon... Great shots of the 4501... I really like the black and white shot at 23rd street... If we could replace the SUV (...and replace the diesel with an F unit...), it would look like 65 or so years ago...

I love the comments about the "right" color to paint the 4501... I prefer the black scheme, because locomotives are supposed to be black... Remember the words of the greatest president of the Norfolk and Western Railroad ever had, Mr. R. H. Smith... He said: "...the only proper color for a locomotive is black..."   I think he wuz right...

Keep up the good work...
leroy