Note on the AOTT website today shows a long displayed 2-8-0 being moved from its site at an entrance to Dollywood. Reports are that it is going to Knoxville, Tennessee. The engine was built in 1887 for a predecessor of the Southern Railway and carried number 107 on the SR. It later served the Smoky Mountain Railroad. Attached photo is from a few years ago.


Les

There's two ideas on what's going on with the locomotive

1. Restoration to operating condition (she's in a rough condition but these kinds of restorations have been done before)

2. Spare parts for 154

Edit: I don't want to start any rumors. I commented on one of the original posts regarding the new owner of the locomotive. I will update when I get a response

News Media report, and seemingly good news:

https://www.wate.com/news/sevier-county ... ne-relief/

Interesting Facebook post from one of the employees





Link: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=920 ... 2832950492

Considering that it has been displayed out in the open since the early 1960's (Rebel Railroad) I don't hold out too much hope of that.

The engine doesn't look to me, in too bad of shape. I think SR # 154 was outside even longer than the 107 and was nicely restored. The only question I have is the status of Southern Pacific (T&NO) 4-4-0 number 260 and whether their plans to restore it to service have been put on hold pending an evaluation of the 107?

Les

For those who haven't been to Dollywood - this locomotive was parked right off the parkway next to a building that used to be the "official info center" for Dollywood. This was a place, before the internet, that visitors could get information on Dollywood, buy tickets, etc. The Locomotive obviously drew attention to the visitor center as people drove up and down the parkway.

So the original purpose of the locomotive being parked there is long gone... for those of us wit memories of visiting the area as kids... it's kinda sad the engine is leaving but of course it's great news that she is going to a new home with one of her sisters! haha.

And of course I'll remind everyone... Dollywood is home to one of the hardest working steam train rides in the country - coal-burning mikados hauling long trains up 3.5% grades daily!

It's been more than a decade since I've been in that area, but it is quite shocking to see how hard the locomotives at dollywood are worked if you've never been there. on my trip years ago, the smaller of the 3ft gauge mikados was absolutely doing all it could do to get the train up the grade in a slight rain, loud exhaust and slipping.

Surprised tvrm hasn't made a move for the 2-6-0 ex smoky engine at the hotel in chatt. would be ideal for their day to day operation or just display. but then again I guess they've done absolutely nothing with the K&T 10 so who knows... They seem to have slimmed their collection over the years, with the 2-10-0 from way back going, the CN 4-6-2, the faux "TC" 4-6-0, the shay, the CofG engine.

I would be surprised if the 107 is made operational, as why would they need another locomotive, especially one so incomplete, but it would be something to see for sure.

Didn't the 2-4-4-2 in the PNW run in that area as well back in the steam era?

Then of course the SOU 385 ran for years on the morris county central.

I'm not 100% sure though why - they only seem to run around Christmastime?

K&T #10 was Wasatched (I can't claim to have invented the term, I first heard it in regard to Klondike Kate up in Como) so who knows if any of the work done on it is trustworthy.

I think you are thinking of K&T 14 - which is in Kentucky.

K&T 10 is a 2-8-2 that was built new for the K&T - and has been part of the TVRM collection for many many years. It once operated and masqueraded as "Southern 6910"

At one time.. the 630 and the 10 were side by side in the East Chattanooga shop - both being evaluated for restoration - the 10 was in much better shape but the 630 was chosen.

You're right, I remember "Southern 6910".

bigjim4life -

I noticed that too on that Three Rivers Rambler website. Thought this might be why the 207 is being brought in for evaluation; to give them another engine besides their two current 2-8-0's to allow them to expand their operation beyond the current November-December time frame. Having a third Consolidation would also put a bit less stress on their current two engines and make a trip to the shop when that time comes up, a bit easier on the Shop crew.

Les

There isn't a need for more locomotives - it's basically a private collection. Pete Clausen has the money, the shop and crew to maintain, and the tracks to run his locomotives on... so he does!

I'd definitely do the same if I was in his shoes.

Little River #126, 2-4-4-2 Baldwin, 1908, turned out to be too large and couldn't make the tight turns on the logging road. It was returned to Baldwin and replaced by the somewhat smaller but highly successful 2-4-4-2 #148. If I remember correctly, the driver engine wheel base on $148 was just a couple of inches shorter than #126.

In a manner, #148 was a pioneer tourist locomotive, as it regularly pulled tourist trains into the mountains in the 1920's and 30's on weekends as the park was slowly developed and a thriving resort town was built for Knoxville residents who wanted to escape the summer heat. I believe the last residents of the resort town were pushed out by the park service in the early 2000's and the service may have started to tear down some of the houses in recent years. #148 was loaned out and then scrapped in the 1930's.

Then of course, LLRR Pacific #110 has gone on to have an amazing career. The LLRR museum in Townsend, TN, is quite nice and worth a visit if you are in the area and includes a Shay and steam crane from the RR.

Bob