Southern SW1's together again in Knoxville

E.M. Bell · November 26, 2011, 09:08:29 PM

About a year ago, after a visit to the Knoxville & Holston River RR in Knoxville, I started to put together an idea to do a photo trip with the pair of Southern SW-1's that they operate on the Three Rivers Rambler there. A good friend of mine who works for the G&O was receptive to the idea, and was able to work with them to organize a trip, which we operated this past weekend.

After all of the good stuff we have had going on this year, a trip with a couple of 64 year old switchers might seem rather tame, but it was one of the best outings of the year for me, and mostly of a personal nature. The pair of engines we used, Former Southern #1002 (CTC #4) & Southern 1007, where both based out of my hometown of Lawrenceburg KY and used to operate the "LL" branch. They where the lightest (and oldest) power on the roster, and the only power that could cross the old, spindly bridges on the branch. They where a solid fixture of my youth, always present, and I have many fond memories of them.

Later in life, I found myself working as an engineer for the Lexington & Ohio RR on the Eastern portion of the branch, and we used both of these engines at one time or another. After the L&O was sold in 2003, the 1007 was moved to G&O's locomotive shop in Knoxville, and soon after the 1002 would join her. The shop rebuilt both engines and put them back in historical accurate paint to be used on the "Rambler", and also in freight service.

As a small group of us gathered on the Knoxville river front last weekend, the weather was less than ideal, and I was suffering from what would be found to be an acute case of Salmonella poisoning. Despite the clouds and 104 fever, we spent the next few hours enjoying the sights and sounds of those Two little engines as we posed them for pictures, and did run-by's for the video camera's. Chris and Scott at the KXHR did an outstanding job with the trip for the group. It brought back a lot of very good memories for me seeing those engines back in Southern paint again, and to be honest, may have brought a tear to my eye a time or Two as I recalled going out with my dad and taking pictures of them around home.

I have most of the better images finished and online, 45 in total. Take a few minutes to visit this link, and see what you think.. http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/southernsw1charter

Here are a few samples.

csx6900 · November 26, 2011, 10:35:39 PM

Awesome pictures, Emmett! I certainly agree; Chris and Scott did excellent jobs of giving us what we wanted and more. I would do it again any day.

-Evan

Kentucky & Indiana Terminal RR · November 26, 2011, 10:49:34 PM

Wow, such a great collection of shots, "running for the clear", the first shot of the two together, the b&w shots, I can't decide my favorite, I love em all! Those two old gals are the very reason I railroad now, great job Mr. Bell.

E.M. Bell · November 26, 2011, 11:29:46 PM

Thanks for the comments guys, I appreciate the positive feedback. . It was a good trip, and perhaps we can do something like that again sometime. I know a place not far from Knoxville that has a couple of Southern diesels getting some TLC right now, perhaps that will be an option in the future

Matt L · November 27, 2011, 08:33:33 PM

The photos are great and I liked the story behind the SW1s, too. I'm a sucker for old switchers, so thanks for sharing.

mikecollins · November 27, 2011, 09:09:49 PM

Fantastic stuff, Emmett, takes me back to Tyrone and the late 1970s too. Even the rock cuts looked similar! I go way back with the 1007 too; on my living room wall I have a night photo of her beside what i think is the hotel building...with the depot and semaphore in the background.

Please let me know if this ever happens again--I'll have to fly out for it.

--Mike

Michael Knight · November 28, 2011, 08:55:59 AM

Quote from: E.M. Bell on November 26, 2011, 11:29:46 PM
Thanks for the comments guys, I appreciate the positive feedback. . It was a good trip, and perhaps we can do something like that again sometime. I know a place not far from Knoxville that has a couple of Southern diesels getting some TLC right now, perhaps that will be an option in the future

Great shots, EM! Kudos to you for your instrumental role in making the event reality.

E.M. Bell · November 28, 2011, 09:05:49 PM

Thanks Hoff, but about all I did is plant the idea, then worry the stew out of CTS until he said yes just to shut me up

It was nice of them to pretty much turn the train over to me during the morning session though, and let me get them spotted up and control the runby's on the radio...kinda hard to go wrong with you have control! They probably got tired of "get ahead about 6 inches...now back about a foot...NO ditch lights...dim your headlight..now get ahead 2.37 inches and smile... It was probably a good thing I left early, before they started chunkin wrenches at me