On June 23, 2015, Southern Railway 2-8-2 #4501, a 1911 product of the Baldwin Locomotive Company, and the first Mikado built for the Southern Railway, hit the rails of Norfolk Southern to begin her ferry move to Bristol, Virginia for her first public mainline excursion in 21 years. Assisting the steamer, is Norfolk Southern's SD40 #3170, the first SD40 built for the Southern, recently restored to service, and returned to as delivered paint. The train made good time on the run to Knoxville as we chase between Ooltewah, Tennessee, beginning at the frequently photographed "Bootlegger's Crossing" at Ooltewah Cemetery Road, past the recently restored Southern Railway station in Cleveland, through the farmlands near Charleston and Philadelphia, and passing the oldest depot in the state of Tennessee at Niota. Our chase ends along the banks of the Tennessee River at Farragut.

So sit back, and enjoy the chase of the first two engines of their type owned by the Southern, as they romp up the Knoxville West End District to kick off the first mainline trips for 4501 in over 20 years.

Consist:

Southern Railway #4501: Baldwin-1911
WT-51
Southern Railway #3170: EMD-1971
NS #40: Power Car Boxcar, ex. Conrail #50
TVRM #50: St. Louis Car-1953, ex. U.S. Army
TVRM #857: Budd-1947, ex. R.F.&P.
TVRM #661: ACF-1947, ex. Central of Georgia
TVRM #907: ACF-1947, ex. Central of Georgia
BMCX #6604: Budd-1947, ex. Seaboard Air Line