I had the pleasure of chasing the Southern Railway 154 a couple of weeks ago.
The SOU 154 was built in 1890 by the Schenectady Locomotive Works.
During the season, they run excursions on weekends, in Knoxville, TN.
Ralph
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgU_TcJNVdQ[/youtube]
Good video and a sharp looking engine.
Is it common practise to run a diesel with the steamer excursion? I rode a steam in the snow excursion in NH years ago and we were shadowed by a diesel. It wasn’t attached to the train but simply followed along. ?
Todd,
They have no where to turn the train.
Steamer runs out, the diesel pulls it back.
Norfolk Southern usually has diesels in the consist on mainline excursions.
I think they do this for braking, as well as insurance in case of break downs 
Ralph
Fantastic whistle. That first location is interesting with the ramp track and a Stop sign on the track!
Very nice Loco and train. You also found some very nice place to shoot video. NKP 765 had a diesel behind it when the NS brought it through Pittsburgh. Well done. Thanks for sharing.
Well the diesel can be in the consist for many reasons.
Power (lighting) and heating for the cars is one reason (HEP). Passenger cars used to use steam for heat, but that has long ago been fazed out.
On stretches of track where there is some kind of in cab signaling, the diesel would be needed for that, since the steam locomotive does not carry that kind of equipment. The same would be true if the diesel locomotive carried some kind of radio transponder or GPS locator that interacted with the dispatching computers.
I also wonder if maybe the diesel helps the steamer pull the load a little, so the steamer doesn’t risk breaking a rod or bursting a cylinder or something. This I do not know, I just wonder.
Daktah John said:
Fantastic whistle. That first location is interesting with the ramp track and a Stop sign on the track!
That’s the interchange track with CSX.
The CSX Knoxville yard is up on the hill.
Ralph
What a mournful sound that whistle makes, as if it’s mourning the passing of the steam era.
Lovely video Ralph, very interesting. It reminds me to get my Bachmann ‘Annie’ running again.
Terrific video
And yes a great soundin’ whistle on that steamer !!
Thanks for sharing
doug c