Southern RR Fans- PHOTOS

I took an Atlas O Trainman flat and repainted it for Southern.  The decals are from a Microscale HO scale freight car sheet for Southern Railway.

 

 

 

New arrivals …

 

 

 

 

 

 

The LCCA offered customized yard sets.  These are the Southern offerings.

 

 

Golly - Didn't realize that this thread was STILL going...   Am doubtful if it will ever catch up to the wonderful one on GG1's!

 

We've added a couple of new engines to the Southern roster recently.

A Legacy U30C and a RK Scale RS1 with terrific Alco sounds.

 

Even though the home layout is history, work continues on the club layout and we're just about fully functional. Are beginning with scenery and a yard now.

 

 

 Smaller, Shorter Equipment for Southern Ry Name Passenger Trains:

 

Having been reduced to a much smaller layout in recent years and now running short 4-car passenger and 7-car freight consists + Caboose; I realized that in responding to questions regarding engines in the past I always emphasized the Long E units and scale Ps-4s as favored power. I still have wider curves and run E6s or Ps-4 Pacifics but I adapt to my limited 9x16 trackage with the shorter trains and slower running..

 

However, for those who wish to run a less expensive smaller/shorter locomotives as well as shorter passenger cars[max 18"] one can lead a Crescent, a Royal Palm, a Birmingham Special, etc....a "name train" ; with the shorter F3s or semic-scale Ps-4s which are very appropriate and...prototypical. 

 

Photos of trains leaving  Alexandria in Washington show that F3s [delivered by 11/46], equipped with steam generators and geared for passenger service, regularly headed the Crescent in the years after WWII as well as other mainline and secondary "name trains". This was true in particular in the postwar years when new passenger power and lightweight stainless passenger equipment was scarce and slow to be delivered[until 1949].

 

As regards semi-scale 4-6-2s, just examine the photo of the excellent K-Line Ps-4 posted by Vulcan on page #1 of this long thread. I am not familiar with all, but know that Railking and other 4-6-2 semi-scale steam has been available.

 

It is not essential to be prototypical, but remember Southern passenger Diesel was not introduced until 1940-41 and The Crescent Limited "brand" on Ps-4s and the train itself, pretty much had ended by 1934. Many Ps-4s with only "Southern"[and "Road Freight" F3s] lettered on the tender, pulled the "name trains".

 

Typically a F3 AB pair[3,000 H.P.] headed up to 11 Heavyweight-car trains and often a single F3 A unit was found on secondary lines with 3-7 Heavyweight cars. During 1950 F3s took over the Southern's New York New Orleans Pelican from the N&W "J" at Bristol and took it down to the Crescent City. F3s headed the Sunnyland from Birmingham to Atlanta where it was to become the Peach Queen for NYC. Versatile engines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good for you Sean. The F3s were truly versatile freight and passenger workhorses of the Southern Ry taking over when the 2-8-0s and then the 2-8-2s faded out.

Dang, here I am talking up Rogers "dismal" Diesels. He will undoubtedly soon pounce!

Here is my Southern Steam Roster.  Consists of MTH Kanawha, MTH Ps-4 Crescent Limited,  K-line Mikado, and RailKing 0-6-0.  I don't have permanent layout, but this picture was taken a several months ago when I was beginning to set up my Christmas layout.  I just added Lionel's Legacy Ps-4 along with matching Crescent Limited passenger cars to my steam roster this past week.  However, my favorite is still my Southern Kanawha! 

DID SOMEBODY CALL MY NAME!!!! Finally Dewey has given some respect to my "stinkin' diesels". I knew that the F-3, E-8, E-6, etc. were all essential engines on southern passenger trains. And to set the record straight! I didn't say that on our club modules you couldn't run any steam trains!!! (lol........Dewey!). You can run steam trains but you MUST have some diesel engines running too!!!....lol.............Rogerw.

Don't forget Roger, I can get on the old Atlantic & Yadkin Line from here to Mt. Airy and steam right into your big "Whitsett Yard" in Germanton. Those fancy NS diesels with the "Mule Logo" on the nose will stand in awe when a little coal-fired 2-8-0 passes through. I need to lay a little soot to improve the kerosene atmosphere in that Yard.

 

You need to go back and collect all the Southern early diesels to solidify you NS heritage: Fairbanks Morse 800 H.P. Powered Rail Cars[1939], FTs[1940-43], DL-109/110s[1941], E6s[1941] and you know the rest, F3s delivered postwar,1946 and on.

 

Anyway hope you are doing well. Are you all  through with School for now?

Hey Dewey, I have in my Southern roster:

MTH-Premier Southern PS-4 Crescent Limited 4-6-2 steam engine

2- MTH-Premier Southern E-8 A-B-A diesel engine sets

MTH-Premier Southern E-6 A-B-B-A diesel engine set

MTH-Premier Southern F-3 A-B-B-A (tuxedo scheme) diesel engine set

MTH- Premier Southern Alco PA A-B-B-A diesel engine set

MTH-Premier Southern SD-24 diesel engine

MTH-Premier Southern GP-9

MTH-Premier Southern SD-35 (tuxedo scheme)

MTH-Premier Southern GP-35 (tuxedo scheme)

MTH-Railking Southern SW-1500 Switch engine

All of my other engines are Norfolk-Southern

I'm finished with school. I received my Bachelor's degree in computer and information science  September 2012.

I just started my new job working as a systems analyst for TDarx Communications in Winston-Salem.................Roger

Good, congratulations on the degree and most of all the new job!

I'll straighten you out on the early dismals later.

Okay Dewey!!!..................lol...............Roger

Hey Roger Congrats on the new job. I've been a System Analyst for Duke for the last 13years. Dewey The Greensboro station looks great the last time I was there it used to be a night club called the depot.....I was at N.C.A&T at the time.I was more interested in look at the station then trying to meet girls!

Thanks Sean, Dewey, and C.Sam!!!!..............................Roger

A model of: One of the Southern Ry's smallest steam Locomotives. Atlas Passenger Yard Switcher 0-6-0 #1689  assigned to Greensboro Yard by Spencer in 1950. Worked the Passenger Yard at the Depot as well as near the Pomona Shops/Roundhouse.

There's been a lot of good information presented here since inception. A big 'Thank You" to several of you and especially Dewey for the detailed historical accounts. I'll wager that there is as much, if not more data here than in some of the books written on the Southern Railway!

Here's my favorite piece of Southern rolling stock

 

 

 Tell us about it?

Dewey,

I'm going to hold out to see if someone makes a Southern Ls-2.

I feel the arrival of a Ms-4 might not be to far behind.

Heh,heh, good luck Sean you may be my ancient age before either a Southern Ls-2 or Ms-4 is imported if ever?   Hope I'm wrong.

 

One of the Williams brass Mikados I bought in 1990 from a Memphis LHS was numbered in the Ms-4 4800 series as was a Lionel diecast version I bought at a New Jersey Show about 20 years ago. Both are the lighter Ms or Ms-1 Class. So, others apparently solved the problem for themselves by simply re-numbering. The heaviest so far that I own has been the K-Line Lima-built 6600 Class for the AGS [aka the Ms-1.5 Mikado]. It still doesn't measure up near the Ms-4 size.

 

At the time, I had considered installing a Elesco Feedwaterheater on the smokebox of the Ms Mikado and trying to bulk up the the diecast engine with piping and tanks and a 6-axle Tender to more closely resemble a heavier Ms-4 unit. But finally decided that it [the boiler] still wouldn't look right.    

 

I have seen very detailed O scale two-rail Ms-4s that were fabricated in a machine shop. I participated in a couple of operating sessions in Virginia at Joe Scales home where his scale Ms-4s were operated. He also had a live steam Ms-4 he machined and fabricated in his basement shop that folks could ride around his yard and pasture. His basement was also his Enginehouse for the live steamer that rode rails right out into the yard.

 

Joe didn't  build for sale but suggested that Harry Heinke had also probably fabricated some in two rail--I'm not certain.

Someone said, "Small is Beautiful" and I think that applies for my little Weaver Southern 0-6-0 Switcher from back in the day.  Haven't operated it[QSI] in many years, had planned to see if TMCC was now sized to the extent that I could upgrade it to Command. --#31 of 35 Limited Edition issued in several roadnames.

Looking at the Weaver 0-6-0 I would have to say it's still a good looking model when you see that the Atlas O 0-6-0 is a newer model.

Here's some shot of Paul Reeves layout.....I have to say my pictures don't tell the whole story of the detail Paul put into his layout. I was amazed when I saw it. I'm also looking forward to visiting ask for another operating session! Thanks for the invite Paul!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice pictures, Sean.  I visited Paul's layout on my vacation a couple of weeks ago.  He has a very nice layout.  His Southern Railroad Collection of engines including the details on his layout are amazing.  The painting on his back wall of Columbia is very eye catching when you walk into his train room.  Thanks again, Paul for letting me come see your layout.

Ken

Great pictures SRR Sean!! I would love to have my club see Paul Reeves layout in person!! (Especially since it has a SOUTHERN theme!!).............Roger

Paul lives outside of Columbia,SC so it was over an Hour drive to get to his house. 

We're planning to make another trip back down but we haven't been able to nail down a good date yet. I left my new camera at home so I ended up using my cell phone.

My next visit I well have alot more photo's to share.

Here are some pictures of my NS Southern ES44 Diesel Engine (MTH)..............Roger

That is a beautiful engine Roger! We saw one at York and it truly is impressive in person...

Alright Roger where are the other Nineteen?

Roger
Very nice latch up. I like the picture of ES44 next to your Crescent Limited engine.  I have pre-ordered Lionel's version of NS Southern ES44. I look forward to getting it.  It might be shipped by the end of the year.  Thanks for sharing.

Hey Ron, They're coming!! I have Central of Georgia, Savannah and Atlanta, Wabash, and Norfolk & Western on order (all powered). I plan on getting the rest of the engines as dummy units.....................Roger

Roger,

I'm going to hunt down a Southern, Norfolk Southern  and Norfolk & Western unit for Christmas. Hey you think you can recreate my images in O scale!!

Hey Sean, I can create the engines, but not the scenery!!!...........Roger

Here is a video of my Crescent Limited steam engine and passenger cars...........Roger

Here is a video of my Southern Grain Train..................Roger

More Southern Pictures. The Southern unit with the tuxedo scheme is a MTH SD70Ace Engine (2010 Vol.2). The caboose with the black roof is the NS Heritage caboose that goes with the Southern Heritage engine. The other caboose is a fantasy scheme that was in MTH's 2007 Vol.1 catalog..............Roger

Here is a video of my 4-Unit NS Intermodal Consist: NS Southern Heritage ES44, NS AC60CW, NS Dash-8, & Southern SD70Ace. All engines are powered, no dummy engines!!!..................Roger

Because the track in Sean's pics actually has BALLAST on it!

Hey Mike....hahaha!  very funny!!!!................Roger