A Connie Returns

[ebtnut]

Good to see this old friend back in the traces again.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=357883&nseq=2

For those who care about such things, No. 630 has Southern valve gear.  As you might deduce, this valve gear was developed by a SR master mechanic and was used on a fair number of that road's locos.  Interestingly, the EBT's 3 heavy Mikes also have this same valve gear.  The light Mikes have Walschearts. 

[jonathan]

Beautiful!

Would love to see that pulling a string of cars one day.  Thanks.

Regards,

Jonathan

[ebtnut]

Jonathon:  Your wish might be answered.  I believe 630 is expected to participate in NS's commerative program with steam excursions.  Don't know yet if they intend to come to the DC area.  She and her sister 722 ran a number of trips here back in the '70's.  I actually chased one of them to Front Royal by plane.  My then-girlfriend's dad was a pilot and we flew in the Cessna Cardinal he co-owned.  Nice thing about that plane was that it was a high-wing design, but did not have a wing strut to get in the way of taking photos out the windows. 

[Johnson Bar Jeff]

Good to see this old friend back in the traces again.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=357883&nseq=2

Beautiful! Bright and shiny as a new penny! 

[J3a-614]

Some more photos from Railpictures:

http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?road_number=SOU%20630

Some video clips of her in action, starting with some test work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_wwwg2uTLs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGhz56hFJ9k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ojwxyu5u-Xc&feature=related

Slide show of 630 and sister 722, including shots from when the two engines worked the standard gauge section of the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina--the famous "Tweetsie."  The Tweetsie was not only famous as a narrow-gauge road (an amusement park inspired by it operates in Blowing Rock, N.C., with No. 12, which is the prototype for Bachmann's Baldwin 4-6-0s in On30 and Gauge 1), but also for running steam into the 1960s.  The engines were later repurchased by what was then Southern Railway to expand its nascent steam program.  Bigger engines with roller bearings and boiler troubles would eventually sideline these engines (and the 2-8-2, No. 4501, as well)--but we now have the 630 back and the 4501 is supposed to be next in line for a new NS steam program.  Why, it sounds like 1966 all over again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxgFKbfy1_Y&feature=related

Other old Southern excursion clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwP7mWGVWyw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeHNA7LOajY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdaESrvXHy8&feature=related

Movie film used to be expensive, so you will see some totally unrelated footage on the second half of that last segment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuog3wR2lQo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAdF6q7d274&feature=related

Amazingly, we have three Southern 2-8-0s operational today; the other two are smaller and older than the 630.

No. 401:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3YmzgATye4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D02kJfqlxM&feature=related

No. 154, on the Three Rivers Rambler, a second Baldwin 2-8-0 keeps her company:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2a3hshHfQA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHm8hBIZdy4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DufBK58Fmx0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3TG65vJGCQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3TG65vJGCQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia4XZTTx6EM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iABhs4NcYwA&feature=related

Have fun!

[J3a-614]

More on the 630:

http://tvrail.com/pages/standard/news.php

[GN.2-6-8-0]

WHAT'A DOLL!!!!