SR 722/ CP 2839 at Wilmington & Western in the 1970s

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6486

Kevin Gilliam wrote:

southern154 wrote:

Does anyone know why 722's headlight was above center unlike 630, 750, and 4501's?

That is likely due to Southern Railway operating practices. The Southern shops were semi-autonomous, so repairs and practices differed depending on where things were done. In other words, Chattanooga-based engines had distinct differences to Knoxville-based engines, or Spencer-based engines or Asheville-based engines. What this meant in the big picture is that you could look at an engine and tell what shop did the repairs if you knew what to look for.....and it also meant that finding two identical Southern steam engines was basically impossible. Location of the headlight, and the type of the visor (or absence thereof) was just one of many identifying factors.
Kevin

Kevin -

Would be great if you, or someone else, could list those differences, maybe posting some photos as examples. Would make an interesting Brief or Article.

Les

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

Jeff Lisowski wrote:

Just to add some more information about 2839 being on W&W property;

I scanned in some more slides from my Father.

The slides are stamped with the date "Aug 1983." I'm sure that's when they were processed, but they were not taken in 1983.

I would wager they were summer of 1982. 2839 is still sporting her "Southern" livery.

On the only trip under steam over W&N she had "Atlantic Central" only on the Fireman's side of the tender. The gold trim on the running boards and tender were absent on the Engineer's side. There was no name on the engineer's side of the tender.

So, my guess is summer of 1982 getting 2839 ready for that December trip.

Anyone remember who the Schlosser Bros were? All my pictures of work being performed have at least 2-3 guys with work shirts that say that on the back.

It always surprises me that no one has ever attempted to vandalize and/or remove the crowns from the Royal Hudsons. Only four left, even at that point in time, you'd think that'd be the ultimate treasure for railfans who have a tendency to vandalize.

gmray · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 9:34 am **Posts:** 382

Andrew Durden wrote:

southern154 wrote:

Does anyone know why 722's headlight was above center unlike 630, 750, and 4501's?
Thanks Heres hoping she runs again!

630's was at the same height as 722's during her steam program (v. 1.0) days, and was moved down to its current level in the late 70's or early 80's.

750's headlight was higher in her "regular service" days on the S&A, as well as her early excursion days. It was moved down around 1965 or 66. I guess Bill thought there would be more room for the bronze buzzard if the headlight were lowered. ;-)

630's headlight was lowered in April, 1981. How do I know? Because I am the one that did it. We removed the smokebox door, welded up the old holes, drilled new ones and mounted the current cast aluminum headlight bracket. The previous headlight bracket was a fabrication. We never got around to doing 722's before she left for Asheville.

p51 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 20, 2013 8:25 pm

gmray wrote:

630's headlight was lowered in April, 1981. How do I know? Because I am the one that did it. We removed the smokebox door, welded up the old holes, drilled new ones and mounted the current cast aluminum headlight bracket. The previous headlight bracket was a fabrication.

Was that possibly from her ET&WNC days or from after when the SRR traded 630 for those RS-3s?

southern154 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:54 pm **Posts:** 321

p51 wrote:

gmray wrote:

630's headlight was lowered in April, 1981. How do I know? Because I am the one that did it. We removed the smokebox door, welded up the old holes, drilled new ones and mounted the current cast aluminum headlight bracket. The previous headlight bracket was a fabrication.

Was that possibly from her ET&WNC days or from after when the SRR traded 630 for those RS-3s?

I think the light/bracket was the one that she carried in the ET&WNC days, I saw a picture of her in "Steam's Camelot" in Roanoke and she had the same style of headlight.

SR6900 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 21, 2013 4:25 pm

It's a Southern thing, pre-ET&WNC, such brackets can be seen in old photos of many of their engines. The old fabricated bracket was likely changed for the new cast one because of the preservation era commandment that "all Southern steam shall have the headlight 3 inches below center" and also because Soule had the pattern made.

Mike Tillger · **Posted:** Sat Aug 15, 2015 3:28 am

Jeff,
Thanks for sharing, brought back the good memories a second time.

Mike Tillger