CSX Transportation Historical Society

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Southern Ry. - Tennessee Div.

Rail Fan Adventure --

1. Southern 3001-3087-3034-3081 rip through Charleston TN, on 05-12-1977 with the southbound Arco unit coal train. This train loaded at Consol’s Arco mine near Clairfield TN.
Southern 3001-3087-3034-3081 rip through Charleston TN, on 05-12-1977 with the southbound Arco unit coal train. This train loaded at Consol’s Arco mine near Clairfield TN.

2. Southern “Slave” car 905917 tells CofGa 215-Sou 3049-6327 when to start working.
Southern “Slave” car 905917 tells CofGa 215-Sou 3049-6327 when to start working.

3. The train used GSCX (Greenville Steel Car Co.) leased gons. I don’t recall if they had the “Consol” logo like those used in other places.
The train used GSCX (Greenville Steel Car Co.) leased gons. I don’t recall if they had the “Consol” logo like those used in other places.

4. CT Junction (Chattanooga Terminal Jct.) where the L&N (NC&StL) and Southern main lines crossed. 01-30-1979.
CT Junction (Chattanooga Terminal Jct.) where the L&N (NC&StL) and Southern main lines crossed. 01-30-1979.

5. Southern Switcher 1026 comes north heading toward DeButts Yard. Lookout Mountain, location of the famous Civil War, battlefield, is on the right.
Southern Switcher 1026 comes north heading toward DeButts Yard. Lookout Mountain, location of the famous Civil War, battlefield, is on the right.

6. Southern 1028 approaches the junction as L&N 533 comes south. That’s the tower in the distance.
Southern 1028 approaches the junction as L&N 533 comes south. That’s the tower in the distance.

7. Southern 1061-1031-1050 come north.
Southern 1061-1031-1050 come north.

8. All four switchers photographed were NW2s and retired in the early 1980s. Southern 1061-1031-1050. View 2. Lookout Mountain is in the background.
All four switchers photographed were NW2s and retired in the early 1980s. Southern 1061-1031-1050. Lookout Mountain is in the background.

9. Southern 1050-1031-1061. View 3.
Southern 1050-1031-1061. View 3.

10. TA&G GP7s 8237-8236 head south with a freight. Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Ry. was acquired by Southern in 1970. TAG ran from Chattanooga to Gadsden AL.
TA&G GP7s 8237-8236 head south with a freight. Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Ry. was acquired by Southern in 1970. TAG ran from Chattanooga to Gadsden AL.

11. TA&G GP7s 8237-8236. View 2.
TA&G GP7s 8237-8236. View 2.

12. Southern SW1500 2342 and yard slug 915 at DeButts Yard. 01-30-1979.
Southern SW1500 2342 and yard slug 915 at DeButts Yard. 01-30-1979.

13. Records show slug 915 was converted from an ex-C of Ga F-M H-15-44 in 1965.
Records show slug 915 was converted from an ex-C of Ga F-M H-15-44 in 1965.

14. Southern Chattanooga map 1.
Southern Chattanooga map 1.

15. Southern Chattanooga map 2.
Southern Chattanooga map 2.

16. Later in the day we caught ex-TAG 8235 and ex-CG 171 westbound on L&N trackage rights at Whiteside TN. 01-30-1979.
Later in the day we caught ex-TAG 8235 and ex-CG 171 westbound on L&N trackage rights at Whiteside TN. 01-30-1979.

17. Southern 171 and 8235. View 2.
Southern 171 and 8235. View 2.

18. Southern operated over the L&N (ex-NC&StL) between Wauhatchie TN and Stevenson AL, for their Memphis trains. Sou Tenn Div map.
Southern operated over the L&N (ex-NC&StL) between Wauhatchie TN and Stevenson AL, for their Memphis trains. Sou Tenn Div map.

19. Southern 3810-3809-3801 rumble around the Beverly Block in Knoxville TN, with a southbound freight for Sevier Yard. 06-17-1973.
Southern 3810-3809-3801 rumble around the Beverly Block in Knoxville TN, with a southbound freight for Sevier Yard. 06-17-1973.

20. Southern 3810 and 3809 were U33Cs built in 1970. 3801 was a U30C built in 1967. The bell was on the long end supposedly making it the front. Shown arriving at John Sevier Yard on the east side of Knoxville on 06-17-1973. I can’t determine if these GEs had dual controls.
Southern 3810 and 3809 were U33Cs built in 1970. 3801 was a U30C built in 1967. The bell was on the long end supposedly making it the front. Shown arriving at John Sevier Yard on the east side of Knoxville on 06-17-1973. I can’t determine if these GEs had dual controls.

21. The trio was later found at the engine terminal.
The trio was later found at the engine terminal.

22. Southern slug 919 and 2304 work in John Sevier Yard. Slug 919 was rebuilt from a Southern H-15-44 hence the FM trucks. 06-17-1973.
Southern slug 919 and 2304 work in John Sevier Yard. Slug 919 was rebuilt from a Southern H-15-44 hence the FM trucks. 06-17-1973.

23. I didn’t do a good job with my cheap 200mm telephoto lens in capturing 6719 at the Sevier engine terminal. The reason I had gone to Knoxville was to shoot the diminishing fleet of F-units which had congregated in this area. 06-17-1973.
I didn’t do a good job with my cheap 200mm telephoto lens in capturing 6719 at the Sevier engine terminal. The reason I had gone to Knoxville was to shoot the diminishing fleet of F-units which had congregated in this area. 06-17-1973.

24. Like the 1011 at Lawrenceburg KY, SW1 1012 was kept at Bulls Gap TN, for use on the branch between Coran and Rogersville TN, which had a weight restriction of 203,000 lbs. for locomotives. The SW1 at 199,000 lbs. found a home. 06-16-1973.
Like the 1011 at Lawrenceburg KY, SW1 1012 was kept at Bulls Gap TN, for use on the branch between Coran and Rogersville TN, which had a weight restriction of 203,000 lbs. for locomotives. The SW1 at 199,000 lbs. found a home. 06-16-1973.

25. Southern 5077, 2744 and 1012 at Bulls Gap on 06-20-1982. Southern 1012 is still stationed here nine years after the previous visit.
Southern 5077, 2744 and 1012 at Bulls Gap on 06-20-1982. Southern 1012 is still stationed here nine years after the previous visit.

26. Bulls Gap was the junction of the Tennessee Div. Knoxville-Bristol line with the Appalachia Div. the served the coal fields of southwest Virginia. There was also a connection to the Asheville line allowing coal trains to go south.
Bulls Gap was the junction of the Tennessee Div. Knoxville-Bristol line with the Appalachia Div. the served the coal fields of southwest Virginia. There was also a connection to the Asheville line allowing coal trains to go south.

27. The conductor of our westbound “Smokey Mt. Special” (behind 2-8-2 4501) acknowledge the passing of this Asheville-bound freight at Leadvale TN, on 07-22-1972. Jim Overholser, whom I had met at the 2nd C&OHS convention in White Sulphur Springs WV, was a member of the Old Smokey Chapter of the NRHS and advised me of this trip. Sue and I drove early to Morristown TN, and boarded the train there. We spent several hours in Asheville and got back to Morristown about 8:00 PM. The fare was $13.00 each! This wasn’t the only F-powered freight we saw that day either. Sue and I were in college and were not married until ‘74. This was her first rail excursion! Thanks Jim.
The conductor of our westbound “Smokey Mt. Special” (behind 2-8-2 4501) acknowledge the passing of this Asheville-bound freight at Leadvale TN, on 07-22-1972. Jim Overholser, whom I had met at the 2nd C&OHS convention in White Sulphur Springs WV, was a member of the Old Smokey Chapter of the NRHS and advised me of this trip. Sue and I drove early to Morristown TN, and boarded the train there. We spent several hours in Asheville and got back to Morristown about 8:00 PM. The fare was $13.00 each! This wasn’t the only F-powered freight we saw that day either. Sue and I were in college and were not married until ‘74. This was her first rail excursion! Thanks Jim.

All for now.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young