Southern E Units

southern154 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:54 pm **Posts:** 320

Southern E units are coming back. I just saw on Trains Newswire that Southern Railway 6901 is heading from SERM in Duluth, Georgia to Schaffer's Crossing in Roanoke for evaluation and eventual operational restoration. Also in Chattanooga, Southern 6914 is getting closer and closer to running again as TVRM finishes her up. As we all know Southern 6900 is still running and if I am not mistaken just became mainline certified with ditch lights and everything. And finally the forgotten Southern E, 6913 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee at the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, although not running there are plans to restore her to operating condition.

Reading 900 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:27 pm **Posts:** 118

Wonderful news! Southern E's had IMHO one of the finest paint schemes of any passenger unit.
Alan

filmteknik · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:31 pm

Will any bear Claytor's Bicentennial signs?

j32885 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2015 9:32 pm

Hopefully we see all the Southern Railway E-Units back together someday.

southern154 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:54 pm **Posts:** 320

Southern 6901 is in Knoxville's John Sevier yard coming from Chattanooga yesterday, I saw her sitting among a swarm of NS diesels today as 4501 entered the yard.

Dougvv · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:52 pm **Posts:** 914

hi,

As a side question, I seem to recall the Southern Es were originally 2600s?

When were they renumbered into the 6900s? I only recall them as being 6900s.

Thanks.

DOug vV

10stewi · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:34 pm

After the ALCO PA's were striked off the roster

10stewi · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2015 6:46 pm

Photo of two from the 2900's. To my knowledge, 2600's were geeps. 2800's and 2900's were E series locomotives

Dougvv · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:52 pm **Posts:** 914

Thanks so much.

I am quite in touch with D&RGW narrow gauge. I grew up in Atlanta, GA and involved with the Atlanta chapter NRHS/Southern Steam program (1969-1974) whiile in high school and college.

With 13 members of Mom's family working for PRR between about 1920 and 1969, I rode Southern/PRR, Southern, PC, Southern Septa and Amtrak for many decades.

I was not sure of the Southern E9 numbering and I guess it was in error. I only recall them being in the 6900s.

Doug vV

TimReynolds · **Joined:** Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:11 pm **Posts:** 287

Here's a pic of 6901 at the NS facility in Roanoke. Hope to see it running again...

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 73&nseq=31

Tom Davidson · **Joined:** Sun Dec 29, 2013 6:07 pm **Posts:** 203

I don't know exact roster numbers, but I believe E's in the 2900's were property of SR proper, while other series were assigned to units of SR subsidiaries. So everybody is probably right. Somebody more familiar with SR can probably respond with more precise info.

Tom

Dougvv · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:52 pm **Posts:** 914

Hi,

In 1978, Southern announced it was planning to abandon the Southern Crescent. Eventually, there was an extension and Amtrak took over in 1979.

I rode the Southern Crescent from Atlanta north to Charlotte by coach, got off and waited for the southbound. I then rode south back to atlanta in a sleeper and on to Birmingham where I met my parents and we drove back to Atlanta (The Southern Crescent was tri-weekly south of Atlanta).

I have the consist of the north bound train (4 locos and 14 cars IIRC). Southbound were a diffrent set of Es and 14 cars to Atlanta and then another set of 4 Es with 12 cars from Atlanta to Birmingham.

I'm not sure if it is of interest but I posted the consists over on the Yahoo Southern Railway group.

At the time I think there were 15 E8s and I rode behind 12 of them.

FWIW.

Doug vV

TimReynolds · **Joined:** Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:11 pm **Posts:** 287

Tom Davidson wrote:

I don't know exact roster numbers, but I believe E's in the 2900's were property of SR proper, while other series were assigned to units of SR subsidiaries. So everybody is probably right. Somebody more familiar with SR can probably respond with more precise info.

Per "Southern Railway Varnish", the first group of E-8's were delivered to CNO&TP in 1951 and were numbered 2923-2929. A second set were delivered to the NO&NE in 1953 and were numbered 6906-6915. The 2923-2929 were renumbered in1972 to 6900-6905, 6916.

The Alco PA-3's 6900-6905 also NO&NE were delivered in 1953 and were retired in 1963.

The E-8's all arrived after the end of the double stripe scheme in 1949. Not sure the exact year but in the late 50's green went away - black on everything. Green returned in 1972. The repainting of the 17 E-8 coincides with the renumbering.

The CofGA had 2 E-8's 811 and 812. They were retired in 1971 when Amtrak took over and did not take on the Nancy Hanks and C of Miami.

TimReynolds · **Joined:** Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:11 pm **Posts:** 287

Has anyone heard any new information regarding the examination/work on 6901 in Roanoke?

southern154 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:54 pm **Posts:** 320

Saw on Altoona Works facebook page that 6901 is in Juniata.