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Postcard Southern Railway System Locomotive #1459 Postcard #JT-3335 Approx 6X9
Postcard Southern Railway System
Approx. 8 x 5 inches
A major development in Southern Railway's passenger service operation occurred with the initial introduction of thirty mountain type class Ts steam locomotives in 1917. Baldwin Locomotive Works built the Ts 4-8-2's each with 69-inch drivers, tractive force of 47,800-pounds (later increased to 50,300), and weight of 314,800-pounds. After break-in, they were assigned to replace Ps-2 and Ps-3 4-6-2's on mainline varnish runs, where longer and heavier consists, mountain grades, and mechanical endurance were factors for which the older light-Pacifics had found an increasing struggle.
The new locomotives were the first of their type to appear on the Southern Railway System (1450 -1472); and subsidiary lines Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific (6490 - 6494), and Alabama Great Southern (6695, 6696). Subsequent modifications throughout their years of service presented an interesting transformation. The 4-8-2's were rather rough in overall appearance as originally delivered from Philadelphia. Later external changes resulted in a proportioned appearance worthy of the distinctiveness required to haul many of the finest passenger trains to operate over Southern's rails. (The Southern was a convenient bridge-route for a number of name trains originating and terminating in the Midwest and Southeast on lines other than the Southern.)
As new mainline diesel-electric motive power continued to arrive (dieselization on the Southern had begun in 1939), gradually displacing Southern's last stables of steam in the late 1940s, the 4-8-2's breathed extended life. Their dual capacity to handle both passenger and freight runs gave new purpose, if only temporarily. On this date in February 1950, the new internal-combustion diesels had only recently taken charge over specific divisions (starting with the New Orleans & Northeastern in December 1948). The mountainous Asheville Division was still a prime example of steam in transition. Even though regularly assigned diesel passenger trains operated west of Asheville (located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina), steam was still the standard power east and southeast over two separate routes connecting with the high density Washington, DC, - Atlanta, Georgia, mainline.
In this scene, Ts class No. 1459 is awaiting the arrival of No. 28 from the west. Assigned to the Columbia Division, the 1459 would replace the GM-EMD F3 diesel units which had powered the CAROLINA SPECIAL between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Asheville. Eastbound No. 28 was scheduled to depart at 11:20 a.m. for Charleston, South Carolina. The initial portion of this route across Saluda Mountain had proven to be a demanding challenge to both locomotives and train crews since completion in 1879. The critical segment of attention was 3.1 miles of 4.7 percent descending grade between Saluda and Melrose (approximately a 600-foot drop in elevation).
PHOTO COURTESY SHELBY F. LOWE COLLECTION
Illustration: 4-8-2 No. 1459 class Ts Location:Asheville, North Carolina Photo date: February 16, 1950
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