Excursion Steam

nder the leadership of W. Graham Claytor, Jr., Southern Railway in 1966 inaugurated what would become a popular steam excursion program lasting nearly three decades. Throughout these years, Southern operated on its southeastern mainlines a variety of locomotives and hauled thousands of happy railfans. A handful of its own former steamers would become excursion veterans, such as Southern #630, Southern #722, and principally Southern #4501. Along the way, other non-Southern steamers were recruited to expand the bench of available excursion power: Savannah & Atlanta #750, Canadian Pacific #2839, Chesapeake & Ohio #2716, and Texas & Pacific #610. Many of these weekend steam trips were hosted in partnership with regional National Railway Historical Society chapters and other railfan organizations. Over time, a fleet of former heavyweight coaches, combines, and observation cars was assembled for carrying the riding public.

In 1982 the Southern merged with Norfolk & Western Railway to become Norfolk Southern, which had as its chairman and CEO Robert B. Claytor, brother of former Southern president Graham Claytor. Robert retained the steam excursion program. Following the merger, the Norfolk Southern steam program acquired two new locomotives for power: Norfolk & Western #611, which debuted in 1982, and articulated Norfolk & Western #1218, which debuted in 1987. Because the Southern program transitioned almost seamlessly into Norfolk Southern excursions, locomotives from both programs are shown here.