The Little River’s Little Pacific

When you think of all of the steam locomotives that were built in the U.S., the ranks of survivors are thin; even more so for operable examples. So what would the odds be that a one-of-a-kind locomotive built for a small logging operation not only survive, but operate in the Twenty-First Century? Not good. But that is tale of Little River Railroad 4-6-2 #110. Reputed to be the smallest standard gauge Pacific ever built, she was constructed in 1911 to haul passenger trains on a logging railroad in the mountains of Tennessee. She changed hands when her original owner shut down, and was shoved onto a siding an abandoned when her second owner quit. And then she was noticed by a family on vacation. The rest, as they say, is history. We made two visits to today’s Little River Railroad in late May and late October, to film this unique locomotive in operation. We filmed trackside scenes, rode the cab, and mounted cameras around the locomotive and train to present the most comprehensive look at this one-of-a-kind survivor.