North Alabama Railroad Club

he North Alabama Railroad Club (for a time called the Muscle Shoals Railroad Club) was formed in 1966 as a chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Motivated by the disappearance of steam locomotives in the region, the Club siezed an opportunity to purchase Mississippian Railway #77, a 1920 Baldwin Consolidation. The northeast Mississippi shortline was ready to dieselize, and both of their fabled steamers would be sold to interested railfan groups. #77 was moved to Sheffield, Alabama, where overhaul work was conducted by Club members for several years in anticipation of excursion service in the region. By the spring of 1971, #77 was ready for a pair of weekend runs between her new home base in Sheffield and the historic depot in Huntsville, and return — a roundtrip of 140 miles. Although not official Southern Steam Program trips, Southern officials involved with excursion steam were onboard to offer assistance and oversee the runs. Both trips went off without major incident, but a later a broken axle prevented future 77 excursions by the Club. It would be the mid 1980s before she would haul passengers again.