Southern Railway 1509
Encyclopedia
Southern Railway "Maud," 1509 is the oldest surviving steam locomotive of the Southern Railway. The engine was built by Baldwin
in 1880 for the Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railway, originally numbered 27 and named "Talullah." The railroad was later absorbed by the Richmond and Danville Railroad
which itself became the Southern Railway, with the engines being renumbered, and as such, the Talullah had ultimately become Southern #1509.
A misprint in one of the Southern's early locomotive rosters had confused the engine with number 1101, a Baldwin 4-6-0. As a result, many believed the engine was originally built as a 4-6-0 for the Washington City, Virginia Midland, and Great Southern Railway(presumably 1101's original owner). However, the road's accounting department's roster lists both engines being present since the road's beginning. While 1509's early history is not entirely clear, it is more likely to have always remained a 0-4-4
, or perhaps been built as a 0-4-0
, as opposed to a larger engine such as a 4-6-0.
Southern rebuilt the engine in 1925, and from then until retirement, served as a switcher for the railway's Pegram Shops in Atlanta. There, it was given the name, "Maud" by the shop employees. Maud was retired in 1949, and moved to Inman, GA where it was to be scrapped. However, the shop's workers had favored the Maud, and wrote to then Southern Railway president E. E. Norris requesting the engine be preserved. Norris obliged, and the Maud was placed on display outside of the shops until 1960. That year, the engine was donated to the Atlanta chapter of the National Railway Historical Society
, who had placed it in their Southeastern Railway Museum
in Duluth, GA.
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
in 1880 for the Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railway, originally numbered 27 and named "Talullah." The railroad was later absorbed by the Richmond and Danville Railroad
Richmond and Danville Railroad
The Richmond and Danville Railroad was chartered in Virginia in the United States in 1847. The portion between Richmond and Danville, Virginia was completed in 1856...
which itself became the Southern Railway, with the engines being renumbered, and as such, the Talullah had ultimately become Southern #1509.
A misprint in one of the Southern's early locomotive rosters had confused the engine with number 1101, a Baldwin 4-6-0. As a result, many believed the engine was originally built as a 4-6-0 for the Washington City, Virginia Midland, and Great Southern Railway(presumably 1101's original owner). However, the road's accounting department's roster lists both engines being present since the road's beginning. While 1509's early history is not entirely clear, it is more likely to have always remained a 0-4-4
0-4-4
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-4 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles...
, or perhaps been built as a 0-4-0
0-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
, as opposed to a larger engine such as a 4-6-0.
Southern rebuilt the engine in 1925, and from then until retirement, served as a switcher for the railway's Pegram Shops in Atlanta. There, it was given the name, "Maud" by the shop employees. Maud was retired in 1949, and moved to Inman, GA where it was to be scrapped. However, the shop's workers had favored the Maud, and wrote to then Southern Railway president E. E. Norris requesting the engine be preserved. Norris obliged, and the Maud was placed on display outside of the shops until 1960. That year, the engine 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...
, who had placed it in their 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...
in Duluth, GA.