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Chattahoochee Valley 1961 Steam Special |
In the spring of 1961, I drove up from Pensacola, Florida with my friend Pard Lively to ride the Chattahoochee Steam Special. The Atlanta & West Point brought in a special train from Atlanta to West Point. We rode behind #21 from West Point over to Bleecker, Alabama, where the train was turned and we made our way back. The Alco switcher rode along behind the train as backup power, since by that time #21 had been placed in standy service on the shortline. To my knowledge, this trip was the last time #21 ever operated under steam.
My friend Pard Lively, also a railfan, shows up in several of my pictures here. You might say that Pard was never in a hurry, which led my wife to wonder if his last name was really a nickname. Still, we had a lot of fun visiting railroads together in those days. Pard also made several trips with me to see the Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern.
CHV 1961 brochure / collection
from Steam Locomotive & Railroad Tradition
#8 - Jun 1961 / collection
Lanett, Al / Apr 1961 / JCH
clipping from Steam Locomotive & Railroad Tradition #8 - Jun 1961 / collection
Bleecker, Al / Apr 1961 / JCH
Bleecker, Al / Apr 1961 / JCH
Bleecker, Al / Apr 1961 / JCH
Bleecker, Al / Apr 1961 / JCH
Bleecker, Al / Apr 1961 / JCH
Lanett, Al / Apr 1961 / JCH
West Point, Ga / Apr 1961 / JCH
West Point, Ga / Apr 1961 / JCH
Gather Round, Boys
Lanett, Al / Apr 1961 / JCH
LaGrange, Ga / Apr 1961 / Matthew Powell collection
The Atlanta & West Point Railroad operated a passenger special from Atlanta to West Point for the steam excursion, handing off a 10-car coach train to the Chattahoochee Valley. A&WP locomotives #574 and #573 were in charge of the mainline movement. Both were GP7 road switchers built by Electro Motive Division in January 1951, 2 of 6 such Geeps on the A&WP roster. #574 would later be wrecked and scrapped.
Atlanta & West Point #574
EMD GP7 / West Point, Ga / Apr 1961 / JCH
Atlanta & West Point #573
EMD GP7 / West Point, Ga / Apr 1961 / JCH
The 2020 calendar of the Atlanta Chapter National Railway Historical Society celebrated 60 years of membership and featured photographs from major chapter excursions over the years. John's shot of Chattahoochee Valley #21 being readied for the 1961 NRHS steam special was featured for April of that year.
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