Southern Railway 154

Southern Railway 154
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Schenectady Locomotive Works
Serial number 3114
Build date 1890
Specifications
Configuration:
 ​
 • Whyte 2-8-0
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia. 50 in (1.270 m)
Fuel type Coal
Boiler pressure 150 psi (1.03 MPa)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 20 in × 24 in (508 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gear Stephenson
Performance figures
Tractive effort 24,500 lbf (109 kN)
Career
Operators East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway, Southern Railway, Smoky Mountain Railroad (leased)
Class G
Numbers 466 (ETV&G), 154 (SOU)
Retired August 1953
Restored July 3, 2010
Current owner Gulf and Ohio Railways
Disposition Operational

Southern Railway 154 is a 2-8-0 steam locomotive built in 1890 by Schenectady Locomotive Works for Southern Railway.[1]

History

The locomotive was originally delivered in 1890 to the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway (ETV&G) as #466.[1] In 1894, ETV&G was merged with the Richmond and Danville Railroad to form the Southern Railway and 466 was renumbered to 154.[1] On at least one occasion (Autumn 1951), #154 was rented by the Smoky Mountain Railroad for temporary service as a road engine. It served the Southern in the Tennessee area on the Southern's Knoxville to Asheville mainline. In her later years, #154 served as the "goat" (railroad slang for yard switcher) at City Yard in Knoxville until its retirement in August 1953[2] and given to the City of Knoxville to be on display at the Chilhowee Park.[1]

When Knoxville's 1982 World's Fair was being planned, restoration of the locomotive for local excursions was seriously considered. However, Southern Railway inspectors deemed the task too daunting and, as a result, unworthy of the expense.[3] In 1989, the locomotive was given to the Old Smoky Railway Museum which donated the locomotive to the Gulf & Ohio Railway in August 2008.[1] The City of Knoxville and Old Smoky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society made plans to restore 154 and made it become the oldest operating Southern steam locomotive.[1] On July 3, 2010, #154 made her first debut at the Three Rivers Rambler and pulled her first passenger train on the Gulf & Ohio Railways.[4]

However, in August 2013, #154's bell had been stolen by a thief who had climbed over the fence and cradled to the Gulf & Ohio Railway yard where the locomotive was parked last night.[5] On January 20, 2015, 154's bell was found at last when the Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigate a house on Kimberlin Heights Road, recovering everything from stolen cars to lawn equipment.[6] The locomotive's bell was stolen by Gary Steven Valentin a 54 years old thief, but it was finally reunited with the 154.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Locomotive History". Southern154.com. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  2. ↑ http://www.trainweb.org/smokymtnrr/locos.html#154
  3. ↑ http://www.trainweb.org/smokymtnrr/locos.html#154
  4. ↑ Craft, John (July 3, 2010). "Southern 2-8-0 154 makes its debut". SteamCentral. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  5. ↑ Brown, Fred (August 2, 2013). "Bell taken from Old No. 154 engine". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Beecken, Stephanie (January 20, 2015). "Missing bell returned to Knoxville's Three Rivers Rambler tourist train". WATE-TV. Retrieved November 22, 2016.


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