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Postcard Southern Railway System Locomotive #1397 JT-3530 Approx 6X9
Postcard Southern Railway System
Approx. 8 x 5 inches
When the Ps-4 class of 1926 began to arrive in June at Southern's shops in Spencer, North Carolina, for break-in, there was more than one level of attention. Considering the striking new paint scheme and the precedent it established, this was understandable. Never before in this country had a steam locomotive been so attired in a color which was not basic. Inspired media publicity was now extended to the deluxe all-Pullman CRESCENT LIMITED pulled by fast passenger locomotives, tastefully finished in Virginia green with gold trim.
The CRESCENT LIMITED was inaugurated the previous year (April 26, 1925) with fanfare, though response was less than planned. The allusive ingredient in Southern's inaugural advertising was captured the following year in the form of a subtle, but powerful stimulus when Southern's president, Fairfax Harrison directed ALCO to finish the Ps-4's under construction in their Richmond works in a shade of green similar to that viewed in 1925, while in England. Often referred to as Virginia green, the color was, in fact, simply a number.
Southern Railway's mechanical officers had thoroughly studied the performance of the Ps-4's in operation since their introduction in 1923. As a result, the 1926 built Ps-4 a were delivered with functional changes. A primary concern was a reduction in refueling time en route. An enlarged capacity to hold water was imperative in order to maintain the schedule carried forth by the new CRESCENT LIMITED. Prior to this date, smaller 10,000-gallon, 16-ton (coal), 8-wheel tenders accompanied the Ps-4 Pacifics. Now, in 1926, Southern opted for a larger 14,000-gallon tender mounted on 6-wheel trucks. The new, longer 12-wheel design also added increased balance to the fine overall appearance, as exhibited in this scene by Ps-4 No. 1397. Having fulfilled a specific need, Southern chose not to repeat the 1926 tender design when Baldwin turned out the last group of Ps-4's in 1928.
Mechanically, the 1397 was one of two Ps-4's to receive the Elesco feedwater heater pipes installed directly inside the smokebox section. This unusual modification was performed at Spencer Shops during a mid-1940s general overhaul. Only the 1396 received the same treatment.
PHOTO BY LEONARD W. RICE
Illustration: 4-6-2 No. 1397 class Ps-4 Location: Washington, DC Photo date: February 14, 1950
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