Cutting across Tennessee today, we decided the Graceland fee was outrageous, and Elvis had a pink Caddy, but no pink Baldwins. Took a side trip to Colliersville, and caught this Frisco 2-8-2 alongside the N.S. rails. The Mikado is the first thing you see as you roll into town, so it begs the question as to why her paint job is so awful. There is a Southern caboose, a Southern open end observation, and three stainless steel passenger cars. Most of this equipment is intact and not looking too shabby. The Mike is fairly intact but beginning to succumb to the ravages of warm weather and water. She needs a good scraping and a professional paint job. I found a small bronze casting from the cab, laying on the ground, and returned it to the station museum for safe keeping. Apparently the C of C has asked the town for funds to have it repainted, and I mention that to alert any professional restorers who might read this note. She also needs asbestos abatement, and I think this might be the holding point. There are three small trees growing out of her jacketing as well.
Later in the day, we stopped at the Casey Jones Museum, in Jackson. At first I worried that this would be a bogus exploitation; I couldn't have been more wrong! There is a railroad themed mall around the museum, but there is a well cared for ex-Clinchfield 4-6-0, dressed up as a IC 382 stand in. She's not exact, but no pretense is made to pass her off as Jone's locomotive. The museum grounds hold a wonderful collection of artifacts, hardware, and documentation. The gentleman operating the museum is knowledgeable and well disposed towards answering questions as well as passing along history. Next door is the house Casey Jones and his widow occupied, left exactly as it was while the legacy grew. Since Casey Jones holds a place similar in railroad history to Elvis's place in music, I offer this as a great place to put on a vacation intinerary.
