This museum is one of the great diamonds in the rough, the layers of history (literally, just start digging) are many. At the point I left in 2004 they had found artifacts from the rev war, the original 1830's shop located near the end of the visitors center, straprail rail line several feet under the current ground level under the now history museum, a gallon paint can of perfectly preserved pullman green paint pigment, several very unique late 1800's shop made locomotive tools, etc.
I would highly suggest to anyone and everyone to check out their website ( www.chsgeorgia.org ), take the time to go through it...spend some time looking through the preservation news letters. They have many plans with some funding to back them, not the least of which is a rail connection to the outside world. The closest to becoming reality is that of a "shuttle train" that will run between the Georgia State Rairoad Museum and the Savannah Visitors center.

There is even a small bit of Southern Steam Program history contained on the grounds. I don't remember which made the trips (722 or 4501) put Purdie said the Southern made trips 2 or 3 years in a row into the CofG station for some sort of boy scout event. To think, a green southern steamer traveling over the brich arch viaduct and into an 1850's train shed. Must have been a sight!

Sloan, thanks for posting the link! Georgia Power #30, our 1913 ALCO 0-4-0T, has been in daily service here at the Roundhouse Railroad Museum since July 4th, and has been performing very well. It's really a testament to the level of craftsmanship the Scott Lindsay, Gary Bensman and the rest of the restoration crew put into the engine during her rebuild. We've been running three trips a day, at 11am, 2pm & 4pm, and the ridership turnout has been encouraging. Since we have no rail connection to the outside world, trips are limited to just moving around the site. However, we have an interperater aboard the coach that gives a narrative of the history of the different buildings on the site (some of which date back to the 1850s), so the trip lasts about a half hour. All in all, its very nicely done. While diminuative, #30 makes all the right sounds and smells, and with general admission running $10, its one of the best values available in steam railroading today. Cab rides are available for a reasonable extra fee. #30 will be operating through July 31st, so if you're in the Savannah, GA area, stop on by and say hello! Also, be sure to check out the progress on Scott Lumber #15, a 1914 Baldwin 2-4-2 (seriously) that we're rebuilding. At some point in her life, she was involved in a head on collision, so we're replacing both the front and rear frame extensions. Currently, she's just two main frame rails loosely bolted to the cylinder saddle, so we're having to erect her from scratch. I just got the cylinder centerline wires aligned and am in the process of taking measurements on the frame. I think erecting a frame has only been done a handful of times since the end of steam, so its definately an exciting project to be a part of!
-Chris

Mr. Z -

The restoration of the Scott Lumber 2-4-2 sounds fascinating. A Columbia type tender locomotive is certainly a rarity! Please keep us posted on the restoration.

The photo of 0-4-0T #30 pulling your coach is wonderful. And the coach itself is interesting. It almost appears that it might be converted from a flat car, or something similar. Whatever its story , how about a few words about it.

Thanks!

Les

It appears as though this neat little coach was built on a flatcar earlier this year.
Go to their website, click on "Preservation," then open the January/February 2009 newsletter. There's some photos of its construction on pages 16-18.

Matt

Matt -

Thanks. I checked it out. Very interesting. Now I wonder if there might have been a photo of Scott Lumber Company 2-4-2 #15 in one of the previous copies of their newsletter. Either a photo of it when it was in service, or a builders photo.

Les

The only "in service" pic known to exist shows the engine in a state of disrepair. I believe the owner of the locomotive has a builders shot.

Now that we're done running the #30, I've finally gotten a chance to upload a poor quality copy of #15's builder's photo. In my opinion, she's a really good looking engine. She has a "mainline" feel while still being small enough for truck transportation. Also attached is a photo of what she currently looks like. Not too much has happened on #15 since my last post, as #30 has been the focus of the shop's attention. Once we get #30 ready for lay up next week, we'll be back on #15. Thanks for your interest!
-Chris