Southern Railway excursion favorite restoration moves forward
Published: August 27, 2013CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501, under restoration to operation as part of Norfolk Southern’s 21st Century Steam program, got its first set of drivers placed under the engine Monday. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum shop expects to install two more sets of drivers today.
No. 4501 undergoing work on Aug. 26.Photo by Jim Wrinn
The 1911 Baldwin was moved into position shortly after lunch Monday, and the crew at the Soule Shops went to work to place the No. 1 axle drivers under the engine. By 6 p.m., they were finishing with the binders that hold the axle in place. The locomotive’s fourth set of drivers will remain out until the arch tubes are installed to give workers room to do their job beneath the firebox.
The excursion favorite from 1966 to the end of Norfolk Southern’s original steam program has been under restoration for two years since Southern 2-8-0 No. 630 was restored in 2011. If all goes well, No. 4501 could be under steam by the end of the year. Museum officials expect to place it into main line excursion service in 2014.
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