Southern switcher

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:34 am

Just ran across this nice photo and thought I'd share it. Might this be at Spencer?

http://southern.railfan.net/images/arch ... u1575.html

scrmcurator · **Posted:** Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:28 am

Doesn't look like the Spencer I know.

steamguru · **Joined:** Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:02 pm **Posts:** 32

it is a nice looking switcher!
sg

jd johnson · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:50 am **Posts:** 399

Bob,

Nice photo. It reminds me a photo I have of #1643 in 1939. Shortly after 1939, Southern did a rebuild and #1643 now has different crosshead guides.

Of course, #1643 is the only Southern Railway 0-6-0 left. It is still in storage in Clearfied.

J D

jd johnson · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:50 am **Posts:** 399

Bob,

I forgot to mention that #1643 is also a Pittsburg works loco. Septermber of 1905.

For those of you who don't know, this locomotive was sold to the Morehead and North Fork Railroad on May 14, 1952 for a cost of $3500. It was retired in 1963 and has been in storage ever since.

I could tell more but it will have to wait for another time.

JD

dbailey · **Joined:** Tue Aug 31, 2004 4:22 pm **Posts:** 2

Does anyone happen to have a photo, historic or contemporary of this locomotive that I could use on www.steamlocomotive.info to illustrate it? The display page for this locomotive is at:

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=535

Or you could email me at: dougb@steamlocomotive.info

Thanks.

johnacraft · **Joined:** Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:53 pm **Posts:** 660

That doesn't look like Spencer to me.

1575 is painted as a passenger station goat. Only a few switchers got the honor of passenger-style paint (though in black) on the Southern. (1705 was long the Atlanta goat in a similar scheme.) So you're looking for a location with (a) a large Southern-switched passenger terminal, and (b) shop facilities.

4-6-2 6450 was built for the CNO&TP, and transferred to the Southern roster in the 1917 merger of the Queen & Crescent Route into the Southern. Engine numbers starting with a 6 tended to be "owned" by the CNO&TP, the AGS, or the NO&NE. Late in the steam era engines got transferred around, but in 1936 6450 was probably on the Q&C or close by.

I can't read the division lettering under the number on the cab, but it appears to have a break in it. "St. Louis?" No - Princeton put the division name ABOVE the number. "New Orleans?" Maybe. Or maybe it's not two words, but an illusion.

The striping and other details rule out Ferguson Shops in Somerset (passenger striping was two thin gold lines, not one) and Pegram in Atlanta (the corners would be rounded). The engine was probably painted in Finley Shops in Birmingham. Where, coincidentally, a large Southern-owned station was located adjacent to the AGS.

My guess is that 1575 is the Terminal Station switcher, and we're looking at Finley Shops in the background.

JAC

jd johnson · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:50 am **Posts:** 399

Mr. Bailey,

I will see what I can do to honor your request. I think that I a photo or two that could be used for your website.

JD

jimwrinn · **Posted:** Thu Sep 16, 2004 2:26 pm

Ungot and unhad buildings like those in the background.

Wish we had an 0-6-0 like that! jim