At one point many years ago Stone Moutain had a 0-8-0 on the roster.

Was this loco ever used?

Based on second-hand "hearsay" info, the answer is yes. However, the weight supposedly turned over several rails and further operation was avoided. This is the 0-8-0 which went to Spencer, NC and was later traded for SR #542 (currently disquised as #604 and used during filming of Leatherheads.) To further the questioning, was the 2-6-0 "Yonah" ever used? Also, what happened to the ex-C&NW commuter cars which were used for so many years before the "gondolas with roofs" were added?

The "Yonah II" 2-6-2 was used quite a bit until the running gear came "unglued" in around 1983 or 84. In fact, it is actually the most powerful of the three engines. Due to its running gear issues, I don't think it was pushed around dead like the 4-4-0's (except, of course, when assisted by the SW-1 in a boxcar). It is on display near the main station on a piece of panel track. The C&NW cars were scrapped at some point and replaced with Long Island commuter coaches, their appearances backdated by cutting out the vestibules and creating end platforms. The Long Island cars rode much better than the flatcars with roofs and several have been repaired and are occasionally used.

The 0-8-0 was known as "Big Dixie" when she was used at Stone Mountain. She was also known as "the rail straightener," among other things.

It would be interesting to see pictures of an 0-8-0 in tourist service.

I may be wrong, but I believe that the photo on steamlocomotive.info is of the engine in service at Stone Mountain:
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=794

That sure looks like the "back" station of Stone Mountain! Good catch.

Yep, that's "Walk-up" back when there was still a station there. A few hundred yards behind the engine is where the wye is now. It was built in the late 80's when the lead was installed to the Georgia Road to allow the New Georgia trains to enter the park. The lead was removed a few years ago, but the wye remains.

I did the google map thing and was wondering why the connection was removed? Seemed like a lot of work went into it.

Joshua

The lead was removed because of a lack of understanding regarding FRA regulation. The park wanted to be able to work it's employees beyond 12 hours among other issues. But, the park does not fall under the FRA...a connection to another railroad does not put one under the FRA unless you do any one of a number of things of which they were doing none. While they did have equipment come in via rail...maybe some rock as well, this still does not count. They operate within a fenced in installation that one has to pay admission(they call it a parking fee) to enter.
The folks running the railroad tried to explain to managment but it fell on deaf ears. Millions of georgia tax dollars down the drain! That lead was put in from scratch, they even had to buy up a house for the line to go through...build a bridge...untold amounts of fill...etc.

Not to nitpick, but the 604 is Buffalo Creek & Gauley #4. Southern #542 is the other 2-8-0 at Spencer.

Correct about the #4. However, for the filming of the movie they had to use the 604's tender as the proper tender was not in a condition for use. So, the 542 was numbered as the 604.

And of course the operating steam locomotive in Leatherheads is TVRM #610.

What does place a railroad under FRA?

Crossing over another railroad by bridge or at grade, crossing a public road or highway by bridge or at grade, going out onto another railroad, crossing a navigable waterway, operations within 30ft track centerline to centerline.
The FRA has the right to put any operation of 3ft gage or more under its authority...or to not. There are a few operations out there that cross public roads at grade that are not under the FRA per say, yet there steam locomotives get inspected. That is they do not require engineer tickets nor does the FRA inspect the diesels or passenger equipment. I have heard this called "FRA Lite".

Stone Mountain is within a fenced in installation and their regular operations do not come within a mile of CSX.

Jason,
Playing the devil's advocate here, but while the circle of track around the mountain does not meet any of the criteria, does not the connecting track bridge over 2 public roads? Both new bridges were built outside the park on the tail of the wye track which connected to the Georgia Road in Stone Mountain. If that connection had remained, would there not have been at least the possibility of the entire operation falling under FRA? Isn't that why they pulled up the rails?

I do not understand why, however, they opted to pull up as much track as I understand was removed. If they had simply removed a section of rail from both sides of the track before the first bridge, would that have been sufficient to make them insular? As it stands now (and someone more local can hopefully fully describe what was done in removing the rail) there are several unused pieces of rail equipment that are now land-locked, a couple of which I understand will be or may already have been scrapped. The 2 ex-Southern, ex-New Georgia FP-7s are there for good unless someone can spring the money to truck them out or reconnect to the main. Supposedly an ex-New Georgia Budd table car is to be scrapped. The SAM Shortline tried to get this car back in '03 or so and were refused. Now the car is to be scrapped? Someone please correct me if I am wrong. At least SAM was able to get the Steve Polk tavern lounge obs (ex-FEC Bay Biscayne)