Highlights of Southern Steam: 2011-2019

Just as we began shooting in the 16×9 widescreen format in 2011, several Southern Railway steam locomotives were being restored to operation. In the years that followed, we made numerous trips to film these locomotives in action. This program presents some of the best scenes of these locomotives, shot over the course of a decade.

We begin with 1890 built 2-8-0 #154, shot in 2011 pulling trips on the Three Rivers Rambler in Knoxville, Tennessee. The locomotive is one of the oldest standard gauge steam locomotives in operation in the U.S.

Next, we move to Monticello, Illinois, where 1907 Baldwin 2-8-0 #401 operates at the Monticello Railway Museum. Scenes from 2011 to 2019 are edited geographically along the museum’s mainline, and various consists can be seen along with expansion at the museum over the years. The locomotive is turned every year, so scenes show the locomotive pulling the train in both directions.

Our next stop is Chattanooga, Tennessee, where 1904 Alco 2-8-0 #630 is seen operating at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. In addition to shots of the locomotive on the museum’s own tracks, shots of the locomotive pulling mainline trips from the museum to Cleveland, Tennessee, are seen.

Next along is arguably the most famous Southern Railway steam locomotive: 1911 Baldwin Mikado #4501. We filmed a number of runs of the famed fantrip Mike from the museum in Chattanooga down the old Central of Georgia to Summerville. Highlights of these trips are presented in geographical order from the museum to Summerville, and return. Then we see scenes of the locomotive pulling trips from the museum to Cleveland and return.

The last segment of show features doubleheaded trips to Summerville with #630 leading #4501. Again, scenes shot over several years are presented geographically.

It’s two hours of the best scenes we captured of Southern Railway steam power during the second decade of the Twenty-First Century!