Southern Crescent Downtown Birmingham, AL and Cook Springs, AL 1970's with sound

Southern Crescent Downtown Birmingham, AL and Cook Springs, AL 1970's with original sound. This is the sound movie footage we have of the crescent.

[@waltonwarrior7428]

I remember watching the Crescent come into Laurel, MS at the station as a young boy fascinated by trains especially passenger trains. Beautiful EMD engines and color scheme. Great memories.

[@tommythomason6187]

I worked at a Ramada Inn back in the mid-late 1970s that was near the Southern Railway System mainline, not far from Atlanta Brookwood Station. Many nights after finishing work, I'd go to the back lot and watch The Southern Crescent tear down the tracks, northbound, and roar across the Peachtree Creek trestle. It was a sight!

[@JerryNSretired]

I was privileged to work for Southern Railway and with the Southern Crescent passenger train on the Piedmont Division. I rode on several of the E8 engines even crossing thru that little hatch door on the nose at speed. When we merged into NS Corp, I was at Hayne Yard. We SR types weren't thrilled at the idea. I am now retired. I remember the Crescent very well and the trips and deadheads I took on it. Seems like forever ago.....!

[@GTRailroadVideos]

Awesome! I can barely remember seeing The Crescent when Southern still ran it back then! 5*****! Thanks for posting this!

[@alanpope179]

Had the great memory and pleasure to ride this train in June 1975 from Anniston Alabama to New Orleans! Riding in the Dome car and diner service was fantastic to this 15 year old going back to LA to visit family! The Amtrak portion couldn't hold a candle to the Crescent service but the people were friendly!

[@vonmazur1]

Thanbks for posting this, I love the puzzle switches at 27th street!!

[@gordonsnell6735]

Cool, down in Spencer NC at the transportation museum, they have a Southern crescent #6900 but they don't ever run it much, they run Southern 6133 which is an FP7

[@NS3210]

Im sure those were the glory days of train watching! I wish I was around then, Nice video, and I love that horn!

[@canders37]

I used to sit at the Alexandria, VA station when I was a teen and watch trains in and out. I guess I had forgotten how many Amtrak cars were in an average consist of the Southern Crescent. I really appreciate these old video's as I am modeling the area circa late 70's

[@AGSGuy]

what horn is that I love it

[@nickelplatestudios2162]

It's a Nathan M5.

[@brainerdrebel]

@FMS1950 , you are right. I started working at Debutts Yard in Chattanooga in 1971. We have the regional diesel shop. Management hated the train, it had right over piggyback trains that made millions. When the railroads lost the mail contract they didn't want anything to do with passenger service. I worked the Terminal Station Job a few times, it is now the Choo Choo. Those were the days, time goes by so fast. I was 21, we laughed at the old heads, they called the young guys hippies.

[@ACLTony]

Outstanding that this film was taken of a wonderful symbol of what America used to be. I'd prefer those roomy, comfortable Budd heritage streamlined cars over the bouncy riding Amfleet "Amcans" any day. The Canadians knew the difference and kept there Budds in service decades longer. Thanks so much for posting this.

[@bhamrails]

wow great vid of the old orginal crescent, is that by sloss?

[@jordimikado]

GREAT VIDEO!!! 5*****

[@ACLTony]

@kmothersil - It was incredible that Southern was still operating passenger rail in the 70s after Amtrak had taken over most of the USA's long distance passenger trains. The costs for operating the Crescent kept climbing and the tragic derailment on a curve sealed it's demise.

[@Interestingenough4]

Sadly, I think they saw the writing on the wall: that passenger trains simply would not be viable to keep in operation anymore.

[@zathras9now]

Proper diesels on a proper passenger train!

[@sonnydean1617]

Roll Tide! Go Big Green!