In June, 1994, the annual convention of the National Railway Historical Society was held in Atlanta, Georgia. The convention featured two mainline locomotives: Norfolk Southern’s former Norfolk & Western Class J 4-8-4 #611, and restored St. Louis & San Francisco 4-8-2 #1522.
#1522 is owned by the Museum of Transportation near St. Louis, Missouri, and was operated by the St. Louis Steam Train Association from 1987 to 2002. From her St. Louis home, the locomotive was operated to Atlanta via Springfield, Missouri, Memphis, Tennessee, and Birmingham, Alabama, on an excursion called the Peach Blossom Special. After the convention, she returned to St. Louis on the point of several freight trains.
In this program we cover 1522’s run over the former Frisco on the Peach Blossom Special and the returning freight moves: including a run with no crew or passenger cars and a caboose bringing up the rear! Also covered are the steam powered convention specials to Macon and Lula, Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. These excursions included two double-headers, with #611 joining #1522 from Macon to Atlanta and Atlanta to Chattanooga. #611 handled the trip to Lula with a pair of GP59 diesels.
All aboard, for this look at what would be the last N.R.H.S. convention to feature the Norfolk Southern steam program.
