Atlanta and West Point 290 is a steam locomotive

Steam locomotive

A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...

 built in 1926 by the Lima Locomotive Works

Lima Locomotive Works

Lima Locomotive Works was an American firm that manufactured railroad locomotives from the 1870s through the 1950s. The company took the most distinctive part of its name from its main shops location in Lima, Ohio. The shops were located between the Baltimore & Ohio's Cincinnati-Toledo main line...

 for the Atlanta and West Point Railroad. The engine is a 4-6-2

4-6-2

4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...

 Heavy Pacific type steam locomotive, remarkably similar to Southern Railway's Ps-4s class. With sister locomotive No. 190 built for the Western Railway of Alabama

Western Railway of Alabama

The Western Railway of Alabama was created as the Western Railroad of Alabama by the owners of the Montgomery and West Point Railroad in 1860. It was built to further the M&WP's development West from Montgomery, Alabama to Selma, Alabama. When the line was finally constructed in 1870, the M&WP...

, 290 pulled the Crescent passenger service from Atlanta, GA, to Montgomery, Alabama, until her retirement from revenue service in 1954.

History

290 entered service for the West Point Route in 1926 pulling the Crescent from Atlanta to Montgomery, Alabama.

When she was taken out of service in 1954, fans of 290 established the "290 Club" that succeeded in persuading the Atlanta and West Point Railroad to preserve the locomotive rather than sell her for scrap. 290 remained on static display for several years before she was donated to the Atlanta Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society

National Railway Historical Society

The National Railway Historical Society is a non-profit organization established in 1935 in the United States to promote interest in, and appreciation for, the historical development of railroads. It is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and organized into 16 regions and...

 in 1961.

Restoration

In the late 1980s, the New Georgia Railroad, an Atlanta-based steam excursion railroad, had need for another locomotive and 290 was quickly restored. Under her own steam for the first time in 1989, 290 pulled regular excursions around Atlanta and made several longer excursions to nearby cities including a historic trip to Montgomery in 1992. In 1991, 290 was sent to the Norris Yard Steam Shop in Irondale, Alabama, for running gear maintenance to resolve hot-running bearings. Shortly thereafter, the New Georgia Railroad stopped running steam locomotives when the State of Georgia discontinued its funding. 290 operated for the last time under steam in 1992.

As of 2010, 290 is currently undergoing preservation at the Southeastern Railway Museum

Southeastern Railway Museum

The Southeastern Railway Museum is a railroad museum located in Duluth, Georgia in suburban Atlanta.The museum was founded in 1970 by the Atlanta Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. It is recognized by the IRS as a 501 non-profit organization for historical and educational purposes...

 where it is hoped that renewed interest in steam excursions will result in her return to operational status.

Pop Culture

A&WP 290 starred in the 1991 film Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes (film)

Fried Green Tomatoes is a 1991 comedy-drama film based on the novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg. It was released in the UK under the novel's full title. Directed by Jon Avnet and written by Fannie Flagg and Carol Sobieski, it stars Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy,...

making numerous appearances. It has also been the subject of Pentrex's New Georgia Steam Excursions: A & WP #290, a film appealing to rail fans covering a ceremonial run between Atlanta to Montgomery over 290's home rails.