The Knoxville, TN employee excursions ended up being THE best trips of the 630 adventure. The original route from the old Southern Coster Yard to the new Sevier Yard (a very unphotogenic route) was changed to run south from Knoxville to Alcoa, TN, repeating the trip from last fall. With the 630 powering south this time (as opposed to pulling north in November), she would face the 1.5% grades with 9 passenger cars and 3 diesels on the back end.
The real surprise came on the first trip Saturday when they let 630 do all the work. She was down on her knees with the throttle on the roof, and talking up a storm pulling that hill. It was quite simply, the best steam show in the Southeast since the days when the Great Smoky Mountains Railway in western North Carolina pushed their 2-8-0 #1702 to the limit slogging out of Bryson City and up Red Marble Grade. Subsequent trips had the diesels working a bit more (and a heck of a rainstorm to boot), but that first pull made everything worthwhile. The pictures just don't do it justice (the video is better!!). It was most unexpected, and I just wish everyone could have been there.
On Monday, 630 ferried home to Chattanooga, and the action would shift north to the 765....but that's another post!
Kevin
