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Southern steam photo with more questions than answers!
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25049
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Author:  Les Beckman [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Southern steam photo with more questions than answers!

Southern 2-8-0 #542 pictured at Spencer, North Carolina this week:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 111&nseq=3

The 542 is numbered 604, which is the number that ex-Buffalo Creek & Gauley Consolidation #4 usually carries. So why number 542 as a "fake Southern 604" when she could carry her REAL Southern number? Is it because her own tender was not available so the 604's, er...number 4's tender, WAS available? I know there is a movie involved, but it's all rather confusing! Anyone want to clue us in?

BTW, the 542's restoration looks great. Is this strictly a cosmetic restoration, or are there plans to eventually run the Southern class J?

Les

Author:  Don C. [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Southern steam photo with more questions than answers!

Les,
I suspect that a number plate was easier to apply than repainting the tender. Just a guess.
Don C.

Author:  Matt Bumgarner [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Southern steam photo with more questions than answers!

The 542's tender was/is shot, so for the movie "Leatherheads", 542 was cosmetically restored and the 604's tender, in excellent shape was used. Remember, its a movie, not a preservation project, and a big benefit to the Hollywood movie was the unexpected money to cosmetically restore the 542.

As I understand it, long-term, there are indeed plans to return the 542 to service, but NCTM has the 604 and 1925 at the head of the line.

Matt Bumgarner

Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Southern steam photo with more questions than answers!

May issue of Trains Magazine (arrived in my PO box today) has a short article by Will Adams, with photos, on the movie shoot, and basically confirms every bit of speculation above. NCTM ended up with about $60,000 worth of "unplanned restorations."

Author:  Steve Freer [ Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LEATHERHEADS!

More info:

http://rypn.sunserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic_view=threads&p=111912&t=24999&sid=3db98395c1cefd5b510be7f2ff3a3e0f

and

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_103550.asp

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