If all goes according to plan, railroad excursions on a 106-year-old coal-powered steam locomotive could begin later this year as part of an agreement between the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and Norfolk Southern.
The two railway entities are hammering out details on a “21st Century Steam” program that would highlight milestones in rail history through locomotive event appearances and passenger excursions. The program is to feature three steam- engine trains that will be rebuilt to meet Federal Railroad Administration standards.
“Our shop is going to be very, very busy,” said Tim Andrews, TVRM executive director.
Southern Railway 630, built in 1904 and later donated to TVRM by Southern Railway, now Norfolk Southern, has been in the TVRM shop for the past six years undergoing an extensive rehabilitation and refurbishing process. Work on the train should be complete in the next couple months, Andrews said, and the locomotive is slated to be the first to run in the 21st Century Steam program.
After work is finished on the 630 train, Southern Railway 4501 – the largest of the three locomotives, with 63-inch driving wheels – will go in the shop and should be ready to run within a year.