When was Southern Railway 1401 last operated? The Smithsonian webpage below says last overhauled at Spencer in 1951 and retired in 1952. Was it ever used after overhaul? The wheel profiles that I could see looked perfect, suggesting little, if any use.

http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/collection/object_15.html
ryarger@rypn.org

Bob, I think I recall that it saw some limited use on the local that trundled down the mainline in its later years but I cannot recall if that was before or after 1950. There is a nice color photo of it by David Driscoll, who shot many good photos at Reidsville, his hometown, and Spencer, where he apparently was good friends with Roundhouse Foreman Bob Julian (Spencer was notoriously anti-railfan in the SR steam days, and I know of at least 2 photographers who were ejected in the 1940s) because Driscroll apparently had free run of the place.

Lemme see if Dale Roberts, our SR steam expert in Spartanburg, SC, knows and I'll get back to you. Jim

http://nctrans.org
Wrinnbo@aol.com

I also recall Jack White said to me some years ago that the Smithsonian got some of 1401's record files from the Southern. Perhaps Bill Withuhn or Susan Tolbert in SI's Division of the History of Technology might be able to shed some light on her service history, since artifact provenance is usually (but not always) kept in an accession file.

Interestingly the new exhibit now has 1401 wired up with 13 speakers for a magnificant surround sound effect. I remember back in 1999 when I was treated to a cab ride in 2317 at Steamtown when Withuhn brought 1401's whistle up during Labor day weekend--what a sweet melody! In the old Railroad Hall, Jack White had 1401 rigged "for sound" with a 1964 Semaphore Records recording of her whistle on 4501. Gotta love those ol' Southern locos!

K.R. Bell

> Bob, I think I recall that it saw some
> limited use on the local that trundled down
> the mainline in its later years but I cannot
> recall if that was before or after 1950.
> There is a nice color photo of it by David
> Driscoll, who shot many good photos at
> Reidsville, his hometown, and Spencer, where
> he apparently was good friends with
> Roundhouse Foreman Bob Julian (Spencer was
> notoriously anti-railfan in the SR steam
> days, and I know of at least 2 photographers
> who were ejected in the 1940s) because
> Driscroll apparently had free run of the
> place.

> Lemme see if Dale Roberts, our SR steam
> expert in Spartanburg, SC, knows and I'll
> get back to you. Jim