On Saturday, October 30, 2004, USAF #1249 made her maiden run over The South Carolina Railroad Museum's Rockton, Rion & Western RR. The shakedown trip to Rion was done with little fanfare by a small group of volunteers, towing Family Lines caboose #01063.

The Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton 60-ton model RS4TC-1A last operated at Shaw Air Force Base near Sumter, SC. Shortly after receiving new EMD controls and a new Caterpillar prime mover, the locomotive suffered a main generator failure. Shaw sidelined the engine and ultimately donated it and sister #1276 to the Museum. The 1276 has been in service since the units' arrival last year.

The 1249's main and auxiliary generators were removed and rebuilt by local electrical contractor Hobgood Electric using funds provided through the Federal TEA-21 grant program. Completion of these repairs brings the Museum's operable locomotive fleet up to four -- the two RS4s are supplimented by a pair of ex-Army EMD SW-8s. The 1249 will enter the regular motive power rotation for use on the Museum's demonstration train excursions.

The South Carolina Railroad Museum provides demonstration train rides on the first and third Saturdays, June through October. The organization's annual Santa Trains will operate on Nov. 27, Dec. 4, and Dec. 11, 2004.