Just another SR engine that has come back into service; somehow seems wonderfully routine after the news about the potential return of the NS steam program, which is why we should appreciate it all the more. . .

http://steamcentral.com/

http://southern154.com/

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 277&nseq=0

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 269&nseq=1

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 266&nseq=2

No. 630, about 7 months ago:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 336&nseq=6

No. 401:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 61&nseq=10

http://www.mrym.org/401.html

Enjoy!

I went to Knoxville on Sunday with the intent to ride behind the 154. I would have gone on Saturday but was told that the train was only open for a private party and the few public tickets had sold out. Unfortunately, when I arrived I learned that the locomotive developed mechanical problems on Saturday (what kind I am not sure). Needless to say after driving 170 miles I was disappointed, but with steam locomotives and new restorations problems are to be expected. However, they did substitute the 203 in place of the 154 so I still got to ride behind steam and they paused the train to allow passengers to photograph the 154 (albeit behind the fenced-in shelter) on the outbound trip. Here's to hoping that the Three Rivers Rambler crew fix the bugs with the 154 and get it up and running again soon. Here's a brief (low-quality digital video camera) video of the 203 paused at Volunteer Landing prior to departure of the 5 pm train on Sunday July 4 in Knoxville.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwAdoFSS4Wg

Steven Ashley
Spartanburg, SC

Has anyone seen or have any videos of the breakin runs of 154?
The only one I have seen is a Youtube video of the train passing 154 sitting on a siding simmering.
Bruce

This is what I could find:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTocuOFSXyo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FcZREKs ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXJ4paqvPLA

Does anyone know when the SR 630 or the 401 will be completed?

J3A-614,
Thanks for the Youtube links. You found one more than I did!
I was hoping someone on the board was around there during the breakin runs.

The guys in my Knoxville Tn office were keeping their eyes and ears open to see if they could have let me known when they were doing the break in runs, but even though they are close to the RR, they never heard anything. I was going to make a mad dash from Nashville up there to see if I could have gotten some video!

Thank you for your original post!
Bruce

Thanks, Bruce, you're welcome.

Found a little more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9_sUDj_ ... re=related

Other photos:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 500&nseq=5

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 010&nseq=0

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 982&nseq=1

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 526&nseq=4

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 266&nseq=9

Enjoy.

Those are great shots!
Thanks for posting them!!
Bruce

Well, it looks like Southern 154 is settling down to routine operations--running around Knoxville, and nobody here getting all excited about it, judging from the lack of posting on the subject. It's actually kind of a neat thing, regular steam was like that, even if we didn't properly appreciate it at the time--and, as I've commented before, all the more reason to appreciate it now, perhaps in a more subtle way. . .

. . .but oh, those boxcars are too shiny! Oh, the reflections, oh, my eyes, oh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2a3hshHfQA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T9CDOrvPXg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO8O532YphE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI3f5yiP ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DufBK58F ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiRwld6g ... re=related

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 242&nseq=1

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 948&nseq=3

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 944&nseq=4

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 888&nseq=8

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 868&nseq=9

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 35&nseq=13

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 10&nseq=14

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 98&nseq=16

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 18&nseq=17

Right out of "Mixed Train Daily:"

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 50&nseq=19

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 39&nseq=96

Let us also appreciate another 2-8-0, just as pretty as Southern 154, that keeps the 154 company. . .although I wish the crew would touch up those domes with a little black paint--but I won't complain, really. . .

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 894&nseq=6

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 503&nseq=4

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 641&nseq=5

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 367&nseq=6

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 943&nseq=7

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 295&nseq=9

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 307&nseq=8

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 83&nseq=11

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 77&nseq=13

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 77&nseq=25

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 26&nseq=30

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 55&nseq=32

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 50&nseq=34

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 19&nseq=37

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 29&nseq=39

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 18&nseq=46

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 61&nseq=49

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 55&nseq=51

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 80&nseq=55

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 14&nseq=58

Enjoy--and appreciate, , ,

I'm also surprised about how little fanfare this got. The only downside is that the railroad isn't terribly photogenic. But I was overwhelmed with how accommodating and hospitable the crews were. For example, it was advertised that drinks and snacks would be for sale on the train. Those drinks and snacks were GIVEN to the passengers. And at times they were practically begging you to partake. And the snack bags even had a souvenir in them. FWIW, here are my efforts: http://www.pbase.com/sirterp/3rr

Thanks for adding in some more shots, and for your appreciative comments about the crew. And for a line that is "not terribly photogenic," you did pretty good.

Thanks.

I can't say enough about this operation. These are some of the friendliest people I've ever met and one of the most professional operations out there. I tend to make annual trips down south, and a visit to Knoxville to ride the Rambler and enjoy the BBQ at Calhoun's on the River is always a must.

The line can pose a challenge to photograph, it is true, though a drive out to the Holston River Trestle can yield some nice results.

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=313672&nseq=35

I'm going to visit again in December, anyone know what engine will be running?

Dave

The line is actually fairly photogenic....it's just not terribly photogenic for a 50-person photo line. Go up on the bridges near the waterfront, and there are some great shots of downtown/UT/river with the train....and more out towards Marbledale including the big bridge. Hard to do with a big group without hiking them a country mile, but for chasing options, there are some very nice shots to be had once you get familiar with the roads that don't exactly follow the tracks.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 81&nseq=11
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 784&nseq=7
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 18&nseq=35





VERY friendly crew, and they were most definitely begging people to take water. At 96 degrees and high humidity, it wasn't a bad idea either!

They sounded very interested in repeating the event, so it will be interesting to see what they do next time. With tastefully-painted passenger cars, a nice freight consist, and authentically-painted steam and diesel locomotives, the potential is great.

What market are they serving with what product? They seem to be doing a really good ops job, but given all the information I've read so far has been from railfans based on that POV, combined with a low profile from the operator itself, I'm wondering why they are doing what they are doing so well........and how long it will last if the low profile choice is maintained, and if in fact the focus in railfans is a choice or just a perception based on the reports only sources.

dave