Just some idle Saturday afternoon musings.

What exactly is the mechanical status of the Southern PS-4 at the Smithsonian ? While I recognize the likelihood of this engine ever being returned to use as less than zero, just wondering what condition the engine was in at time of donation, what work may have been done to
either leave it "operational" or dismantle same operational capabilities.

John,

My understanding is that she is completely intact. I understand that when Graham Claytor was President of the Southern Railway in the 1970's, he offered to pay to extract 1401 from her tomb, and give them another locomotive, but the Smithsonian said "no dice."

It's too bad NS doesn't want her now. The Museum of American History is closed for renovations. In any event, I'm still dreaming of getting her to Spencer by hook or by crook.

Kevin is exactly right. Claytor even offered to place 4501 in the museum as a replacement, prior to rebuilding the Mike for service. 4501 was painted apple green only after the Smithsonian turned them down.

My question would be, is a place being constructed for the remaining ALCO PA unit, once Doyle Mc. is done rebuilding it?

I've asked the same question before. The wheels on 1401 look like they have no wear, like it might have been overhauled and then not used.

I doubt Mr. Claytor offered 4501 in trade for 1401 simply because neither he nor the Southern Ry. owned 4501. The 4501 was owned by Paul Merriman until traded to TVRM for Southern Wood Piedmont 3. The Southern has not owned 4501 since the forties. Southern did own 630 and 722. Perhaps one of these engines was offered in trade.

John Bohon

From the Southern Railways' company magazine "Ties"


1962

http://southern.railfan.net/ties/1962/62-1/loco.html

http://southern.railfan.net/ties/1962/62-7/1401.html

1964

http://southern.railfan.net/ties/1964/64-3/1401.html

"Ties" Index... For some good readin'

http://southern.railfan.net/ties/master_index.html

In the Ties employee magazine. Good stuff here, like this photo of 2-8-0 630, said to be taken in 1948:

http://southern.railfan.net/ties/1967/67-11/family.html

As much as we all have our favorite engines we would like to see in steam, we have also discussed here the loss of original fabric during operation. Keeping the 1401 intact, indoors, at the Smithsonian is the most perfect example of historic fabric preservation. I would argue that operation candidates should be selected from those engines suffering in outdoor displays. That is, engines that have already suffered loss of historic fabric.

There are some other engines under current mechanical restoration that violate this principal, but I won't name names.

Wasn't there talk of converting a CP Pacific into a PS4 look alike?

Smokebox

TVRM acquired a CN 4-6-2 from Steamtown a few years ago. Were they thinking along these lines? I saw this engine last September in Chattanooga. It looked like it had just been cosmetically restored and it looked good. A little small to be a Ps4 look-alike I think.

Slightly O/T, but Doyle McCormack was never contracted to restore other PA (ex-D&H #16), nor has its final display spot been decided. Aside from placing it on trucks, no restoration work has been done since it was returned to the US.

Actually TVRM was thinking of making the CN engine into a PS-2 clone. It is to small for a PS-4. There is no timetable for this project so far as I know.

John Bohon

Interesting the comments made about viewing the engine through the windows from the outside. Now except for driving by they certainly won't let you walk up to it anymore

Edit: PS- Even though she's cold we have heard her- the whistle was loaned to Steamtown a few years back.

Joshua

When SI rearranged the hall for "America on the Move" it was necessary to shift SR 1401 back about 10-20 feet. As I recall the story, they gave the engine a push with a bobcat or forklift and she wouldn't budge. Someone realized the girder rail was loaded with 40 years of grit. After they cleaned out the running rail the engine rolled back just fine.

Wesley

About three weeks ago, with the building closed, I walked down to the window and looked in. The loco is covered with tarps, although you can see the running gear pretty well. Certainly look forward to see her when the building is reopened.

When I was last in the musuem, I found the John Bull exhibit to be interesting as they billed it as the oldest operational steam loco in the country. Wouldn't it need form 4 work to be steamed up again?

Bob