I'm curious. Does anyone know the true situation of S&A 4-6-2 750 and whether she might run again?
Lois
Friends of the 611

As far as I can tell you I'd say it's highly unlikely she'll ever steam again unless a generous benefactor came forward. Being stranger things have happened I wouldn't go as far to say as she'd never steam again but it's just highly unlikely. The story goes she was rode hard and put away wet. I'm sure countless others more involved in her operation many years ago could tell you what's wrong with her and I will let them do that.

Southeastern Railway Museum has done a beautiful cosmetic restoration and placed 750 at the head of a short period restored passenger consist inside a building. She's just fine where she is. Few museums have a good passenger train displayed indoors as an entirety.

Of the FEC light pacifics, probably 113 is the most likely to be available for operation by a prospective purchaser and operator....148 is in Colorado in a fire, and 153 is also very well restored cosmetically in Miami. I'd question the need for another operating light passenger locomotive in the southeast right now......and wonder if there was one, might 290 not be a better choice given the higher tractive value?

I'm not forgetting, Stephen...but I don't see Albany as the hub of steam tourist service right now.

I think we need to support the NS program with the very good freight locomotives provided by Tennessee Valley at this point. If something faster and more powerful is required, then perhaps 611. It doesn't hurt to be ready just in case.

dave

750 would require a good deal of firebox work and a complete running gear overhaul, at the very least, to operate again. No evaluation has ever been done, taking the most current inspection standards into account or otherwise, to determine what other work would be needed. There is no smoking gun from her past that would prevent her from running, if funding and a feasible, appropriate operating scenario presented itself. The locomotive is simply well worn, like so many others.

Andrew Durden
Operations Manager
Southeastern Railway Museum

Without trying to hijack this thread; was there an "issue" with #290 (other than a tube job, 1472 etc.) that caused her to stop operating? Seemed like she didn't run for all that many years after being restored and didn't know whether it was a "climate change" or mechanical issues that put her to the sidelines. Sweet engine that I did not get a chance to see operate.

290 stopped operating when the State of Georgia, which had leased the engine since 1986 and operated her since 1989, pulled the plug on steam in 1992. The engine received some work after her return to the museum, most notably truing of the drivers, in the hopes that she might operate on NS trips. This hope ended when NS ceased steam operations in 1994.

There are no current plans to return 290 to operation, but no extraordinary issues that would prevent it if the opportunity arises.

Andrew Durden
Operations Manager
Southeastern Railway Museum

Dave, you are correct. But since I'm no longer associated with that museum all I can hope for is the County forcing them to get the engine back together. Museum management won't lift a finger (except maybe the middle one) to finish what was started 17 years ago.

If you are not aware, 750 was nicknamed "the ballerina" by Sara Purdie, first wife of Southern master steam mechanic Bill Purdie. Why she picked this particular name I don't know, unless it had something to do with the 750's appearance.
Lois
Friends of the 611

I'm going to take a wild guess and say because the 750 was light on its feet, high stepping and graceful when under load.