Southern Railway 1950's Film

Vintage Southern Railway Film from the 1950's....If you enjoyed this video please do not forget to hit that LIKE and SUBSCRIBE button.

[@anb7408]

Filmed during the height of Bill Brosnan’s overhaul of the entire railroad. Everything from automated yards to microwave radio transmission and mechanized track gangs. A lot of his ideas/inventions are still in use today.

[@timothywilson1609]

I love these older railroad films! 😊

[@JerryNSretired]

I, too, worked for Southern Railway and then Norfolk Southern. Seeing those "green 'n gold" engines brings memories! I worked with and around them during the 70's and 80's, and then Amtrak took over the passenger trains. I went back to the Shops and retired in 2001. Southern was quite a railroad,but it gets little or no recognition for its achievements. It garnered quiet envy in the railroad community. It still does as part of NS! I am proud to have been part of it!!!!!!

[@deputysheriff100]

Thanks for the vid. I loved and worked for Southern Railroad. Then it changed to Norfolk Southern. I spent most of my time at Inman Yard in Atlanta. The largest classification yard in the United States. 65 class tracks. I retired from Norfolk Southern as Terminal Manager Intermodal (Piggyback). This vid is EXACTLY the way it was when I hired on back in the 60's. I've walked many miles of track with a switch list in my hand. Brought back fond memories. Thanks you very much.

[@Winternight11]

Southern the pig

[@Winternight11]

Southern crescent 🌙

[@Winternight11]

Southern 1401 Southern 630 Suda grade

[@jameslineberger8055]

I grew up in Spencer, NC. I remember the sound, smells and sights of the old Southern Shops as a kid. My uncle was a Southern brakeman and conductor.

[@BackshopRailProductions]

Oh I agree the Southern Railway was one of the best class 1 railroads. and they had one of the most beautiful passenger steam locomotives the PS-4

[@trainchaserlouisvilleindia7096]

I love SOU and just seeing the nature made me cry

[@general5104]

"F-unit & 2 calves" Loved them! I've held class in an "F-unit" cab fir a specialized wiring, when the unit was being rewired. I never got to rewire the whole unit, though I wanted to, just to say I had done it. They're kewl units. The "Calves" are single engine locomotives with everything a "F-unit" has except a cab. It MU's to the Lead unit via a 27 pin cable and 4 air hoses and one steam hose. There is an engine, an air compressor and a steam generator along with a large generator and a small generator in each unit. The small generator charges its onboard batteries and supplies power for operating its switchgear and the lights. The big generator supplies DC power for the motors direct geared to the axles/wheels of the locomotives. The steam hoses connect to the cars for their heat. The air, for their brakes.

[@tommythomason6187]

First train I rode was The Royal Palm, out of Atlanta Terminal Station, at 9:00 at night, to Jacksonville. That Terminal had a grand look and an atmosphere I never forgot. We could smell the diesel, hear the trains blowing their whistles at the ticket line. Backed in to Jacksonville Terminal, I remember. I was four. Southern Crescent, as a teenager. It was the class passenger train in the U.S. at that time - a cut above the motley Amtrak trains of the early 70s. Some of the E8s, still in the standard black paint scheme. Got off at Charlottsville, VA in the wee hours of the morning. By the time the last car left the platform, that train was tearing, hell bent for leather, outta there, on it's way to Washington. I was so allured by the atmosphere and culture of the railroad by these experiences, I've been fascinated by railroads my entire life. The engineers on the freights that passed through the night, always waved at the Southern Crescent.

[@MrCzechers]

Nothing against NS, but I still miss the old Southern Railway. ... Southern Railway ... Serves The South ... Look Ahead ... Look SOUTH!

[@itmcbhpbgf.6374]

the Southern merged with Norfolk Western to create Norfolk Southern... .w.

[@andythomas2864]

Southern was 100% better

[@w.rustylane5650]

I, also, miss the ole Southern Railway - serves the south. I run Southern Crescent on my model HO scale railroad although I model the Central of Georgia.

[@jimwalsh233]

Southern, gives the green light to innovation

[@mikeytrains1]

MrCzechers Well technically, the SOU is currently rebranded as Norfolk Southern, after merging the N&W’s assets into itself.

[@fstop6139]

When I was a freight conductor at Inman, they still used old terms such as "Ice House" and "Stockyard" as reference to locations in the yard that were long gone. lol

[@JerryNSretired]

mr chzechers, When I worked in Charlotte Yard, a yellow tiger-striped tomcat showed up. He waltzed right in the side door, hopped up on the waybill table/rack and made himself at home! We called him "Moxie". I have a photo of him grooming himself on that table. Sweet cat, and even the Terminal Agent tolerated him. I was about to take him home, but he disappeared before I could. I often wondered what happened to Moxie.

[@waltonwarrior7428]

My parents were from Laurel, MS and I remember as a kid going down to the Southern Station to watch the passenger trains come through. Great memories. Thanks

[@jamesrussell6123]

I always been a fan of the southern railway because I used to see them when I was a little kid to a teenager to a young adult

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

Is there any more thrilling sound than an American train horn? Not to my English ears! Being a cross country loco driver in the USA must be one of the best jobs ever... not only do you get to blast the horn, but you’d also see the staggering natural beauty America has in such abundance every workday!

[@scott6305]

I wish someone would go in and restore these old video's to 4K !

[@jamochashake57]

too bad they had such primitive technology to film these great subjects back then, now we've got the ultimate technology when there's nothing left to shoot

[@JamieSmith-fz2mz]

This was filmed by an impressionistic painter. Possibly a student of Monet or Morisot. The brush strokes are a tell.

[@benlahrman4149]

Check out O Winston Link Photography.

[@JohnJohn-zn8ib]

@@JamieSmith-fz2mz funny.

[@thebeaz1]

Why don't you just stop whining and complaining.

[@albertpatterson3675]

My grandmother lived right on the tracks of the Southern: in Pachuta, Mississippi (look it up, it's a real place). I spent my summers in the late 40's and 50's watching beautiful Southern passenger trains headed south to New Orleans, and north toward Washington and on to New York speed by an snag the mail pouch and throw out the local mail. They got mail twice a day at the post office, one from the north bound and one from the south bound. Quite a sight. I miss those days.

[@twiconnor643]

A lot of these 1950s railroad promotional films, while railfan eye-candy, can be somewhat boring otherwise. This one though is rather interesting. A large portion of it is dedicated to showing and explaining, in depth, the step-by-step operation of one of Southern’s main yards. The narration in this is good too; it feels more like a story being told rather than just some guy reading out scripted lines. Nicely done, Southern.

[@goodoldbubba6620]

Nostalgia plays a large role.

[@TheMNrailfan227]

These films ain’t boring

[@bwild61]

Great video, thanks for sharing. Several Southern Trains a day would pass through my home town in Tennessee as I was growing up. I will always remember seeing " Southern Serves The South " on all of the rolling stock.

[@shanecochran1969]

Grew up in Lynchburg Virginia watching those big beautiful Southern Railway locomotive's running in, and out of Montview yard in Lynchburg VA, back in the late 1970's, and 1980's....

[@Chasingrail]

The dude has such an enthusiastic voice! Lol great video

[@flamingoefarms]

THANK YOU! so much for putting this on!!!! It was greatly enjoyed!

[@usmale4915]

Very interesting and informative video. Thank you so very much for the up-load!!

[@rogerhuber3133]

Really good film. Shame the Southern is gone now! It's amazing how the film has deteriorated though. Also a shame the Southern language and accent is disappearing too.

[@Blacktopmafia660]

Great video... I model The southern railway because it’s such a diverse railroad.

[@BackshopRailProductions]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I model a combo of the Southern & N&W

[@BillyAlabama]

Boy did I enjoy this. Thank you for sharing it with us! 🚂

[@dockshund5916]

Thanks for putting this up. As a teenager I lived near Potomac yard in VA. I used to think I'd work there someday. I liked watching GG1's mix with Southern and RF&P power. Unfortunately it's gone now.

[@ronniedelahoussayechauvin6717]

I personally never heard of this station & no nothing about Trains but I do APPRECIATE THERE PURPOSE❤️

[@Zapruderfilm1963]

Thank you for the upload!!

[@elektrosoundwave]

Love this. My dad's family is from Inman, SC on the southside of saluda. My grandparents live don the spur that went off to Inman Mills and I remember seeing the tail end/early NS days here. amazing video.

[@JDAbelRN]

Fascinating, thanks for posting.

[@pappap1702]

Pretty good technology for the time period and still required actual people. Gotta love them trains!

[@TommyZTrains]

THAT WAS GREAT ! "Oh take me back" !! Thanks !!

[@FireCaptE9]

really good !! Great post !! very inetresting stuff!

[@GunMetalJeep45]

thanks for sharing this Heath! It was awesome!

[@davecampbell8756]

Nice video. Completely explained the yard operations.

[@intuitive7274]

The Streamliner is the ultimate bueatiful train built

[@southerncrescent1401]

Great documentary Heath. Thanks for posting this. I was born and raised in Chattanooga, it makes me feel good that this documentary included my home town. It was called Harry Debutts yard during the time I lived there. They may have renamed it after they improved it mentioned in your video as I don't remember it being called Citico yard. I was born in 1961 and this documentary was done in 1950.

[@No-lk7qm]

give this guy a poetry award please....idk why

[@kjfitzgerald593]

Wow, my understanding of railroad operations just increased a lot! I got a kick out of seeing freshly painted box cars, in color, from lines that have been merged or gone out of business. I grew up around the Central of GA line from Atlanta to Macon, which is now part of the Norfolk Southern system. I';ve seen a lot of Triple Crown Service trains on it in recent years. One of the videos on my channel shows one of the the Triple Crown trains going through Hapeville, GA. Very big thanks!

[@Danvers97]

I live between macon and augusta!

[@1940limited]

"Southern Serves The South." "Southern Gives A Green Light To Innovation." Slogans I remember painted on the sides of boxcars back when trains were a lot more interesting to watch. The narrator mentions how advanced Southern was by replacing steam locomotives with diesels early on. Eventually they merged with Norfolk & Western who took the exact opposite approach to steam locomotives!

[@nvet91]

I know what you mean.I worked for Bankhead Railway Welding in the early 80's .Did contract work for southern during transition to Norfolk Southern,as track maintenance foreman. Loved the time there,and miss the old Southern .

[@general5104]

me 2...I miss Southern Railway. Back then, we considered the Locomotives like "Part of the Family" We LOVED our units and working together for the good of the SOUTHERN...Unfortunately, now, the quality has suffered and is in danger of folding. It's so SAD !!!

[@chiconian49]

You see, we really did not need computers. We had people with brains.

[@cassidy5099]

Clickety clack

[@roadmaster720]

@@cassidy5099 clickety-clack, clickety-clack, eat the hairy end my crack, clickety-clack !!!!

[@plshelpmeawkdough]

Yes people with big brains sure would encourage Jim Crow and racism lmao

[@whispofwords2590]

@@plshelpmeawkdough dude shutup. Honestly, its disgusting that you cant appreciate a single thing from the past without someone jamming in their two cents about obvious social issues that everyone is aware were going on at the time. In this particular instance it isnt even justified. Those laws were being challenged and those issues faced when this film was being made, and it ultimately has nothing to do with what the original commentor or the film is saying. Why did you even feel the need to add this? And how can you make the moral argument that its wrong to marginalize and judge people from one group based on stereotypes, then turn around and do it yourself in the same breath. That makes you just as bad ad them, my friend.

[@huskerhank6231]

Sadly in those days the railroads were very much racist at worse & totally indifferent to minorities at worse. I worked for the UP Shops in Omaha. Largest employer in Omaha and the best blue collar jobs in town. Great wages, protected by Union seniority. Out of 5000 employees there were exactly zero blacks or hispanics . And this was as late as 1964-1969. I think the hiring record is much better now but even by minimal 1964-1969 standards the railroad did not hire any minorities. Hardly on the cusp of social justice,

[@Ericstrains]

What a neat video. Thanks!

[@UnionCountyPhotography]

hello Eric!

[@aocruiser]

Awesome video Heath!! Very informative!!

[@bbrockRailFan]

Great video Heath!!!

[@PoetryETrain]

Thank you, added to a playlist...

[@blsmith4740]

I was at Southern Railway Inman, last Hostler Pegram and Inman. Worked SRR 1979-1986 then SO like you. Third generation SRR. Brad

[@PRRK4Lover]

Awesome video Heath!!! Its so original man!

[@MrCzechers]

@MrCzechers Awesome caboose @ 2:44. Kill F.R.E.D.. Bring back the caboose! SR's bay window cabooses were awesome.

[@JohnHorvath42]

Great find.

[@scenariomckinney]

I grew up in Memphis in the 80's. It was Southern, Illinois Central, and BN. Miss those days. (And a little bit of Cotton Belt)

[@mmandmcb14]

Southern boxcar #20862 - "Old Timer" Southern boxcar #24395 - "Junior"

[@jamesrussell6123]

Any model of the southern railway they was fun to watch plus a caboose afterwards

[@suppylarue220]

clickty clack, clickty clack, SOU had odd F unit lash ups, the one here was FTA - F7B - FTA. you'd never see that on other roads.

[@johnatsf1564]

Thanks!

[@rogerrobertson2958]

I worked a few "hump" job at GTW; It was fun! This was mid 1990's. SOUTHERN RR was way ahead of times! Also, friends, this was ex DT&I RR.

[@Robbi496]

Great stuff!

[@BackshopRailProductions]

Thanks!

[@jamesrussell6123]

I grew up watching southern railway when I was from a little boy to a young man until they were made into Norfolk southern railway

[@Johnny35130]

Great Film!

When I was a kid we worked P/T doing yard work at an old folks home. I would finish work and sit and listen to the stories of men and women that actually experienced these sort of things. It's sad that kids don't really care about the human side of history or the people that can paint a picture of how things used to be. It does have value, more value than any damn video game you can buy. It's just that they'd have to engage their brains, feel and imagine things, and sadly that's just too much work for 95 percent of today's youth. The world went wrong somewhere in time, i'd say around the mid 80's the whole thing went all cattywampus and nobody cared to fix it. Or it could be I was born in the wrong decade too, perhaps a bit of both.

[@andrewthacker114]

Interesting !

[@pruittiii]

The narrator has what can only be described as a "Southern Railways Voice."

[@mshum538]

B&O Linking 13 great states with the nation, a beautiful company with a beautiful phrase~~~

[@jgabby_0111]

The microfilming shown here is filmed probably in 1954.

[@Iraski]

It's a shame the video quality isn't just a hair sharper. I've been looking for examples of freight consists from the 50s to give me a better idea what road names are prototypical to put behind my n-scale Southern loco. Easy to spot Central of Georgia at least with that black and silver color scheme.

[@Junee704]

Wow such a great piece of historical information. I would love to see an updated version of how the yard works in 2020, and do they still inspect the freight cars manually before they’re attached to a train? I grew up in a neighborhood adjacent to the Charlotte yard and would ride my bike to Liddell Street to railfan on the wknd just to get a closer look at the trains.🤦🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️

[@25mfd]

yards are still run the exact same way today, it's just with FEWER workers... carmen still do inspect every car before any train departs, so a lot of railroading is still the exact same way it was in the past

[@bullfrog1954]

The Southern Railway really isn't totally gone. They're merged with Norfolk and Western and now operate as...Norfolk Southern! But I too am one of those people who miss when railroads STILL had their identity! Another example: Seaboard RR (or SAL) merging w/Atlantic Coast Line-were Seaboard Coast line for a while before dropping "Coast Line," and now (unfortunately) they're the "S" in CSX!! Gimme Seaboard and ACL (and Southern) any day!!

[@Rebel9668]

And I miss the Louisville & Nashville, the Dixie Line, The Old Reliable, The L&N. It's all CSX now too.

[@MrThewildrider]

Don't hate on the C&O, chessie did no wrong. Her owners, on the other hand...

[@milepost4846]

Oh to have been around back then to witness the rail action. Southern, Seaboard, Atlantic Coast Line (and ACL subsidies Charleston & Western Carolina and Columbia Newberry & Laurens), Clinchfield, Piedmont & Northern.....all in my stomping grounds.

[@godoftheinterwebz]

people are still watching this

[@Bob-ed9tc]

My favorite train of all time is 4501 with GREEN paint

[@kevingthompson14]

You know it. I quit my membership to TVRM over that nonsense. Their argument was/is: the engine was black in regular service. OK WELL SR President Graham Claytor had that locomotive on the active engine roster painted in Virginia Green and that color made it one of the most famous locomotives in the world. Same nonsense is killing steam preservation efforts all over especially regarding BOILERS. NEW TECH DESIGNS & MATERIALS ARE SUPERIOR and any locomotive refurbished with one of these would had decades of new life as a mainline runner, BUT OH NO< that would not be historic. I was involved with a project my uncle had involving the only restored Atlanta streetcar (Ga Power Co 948 at Branford Conn). He began the project around the time I was born (mid 60s) and all those years later was not making progress so I waded in and read him/them the riot act. TROLLEY SHOPS as well as locomotive shops were ALWAYS UPGRADING every time anything came of for rebuild and by the actual end of life many streetcars and locomotives barely resembled what they looked like when built. So you have to allow for that. All street railways and railroads always did and STILL DO. But you know, lets kill history in the name of saving it. OMG

[@crazyjay1975]

you see the old journal boxes on the bogeys of the boxcars..now every thing is a sealed bearing

[@brainerdrebel]

This brings back memories, I was a Trainman at Chattanooga, Tennessee at the new Debutts Yard mentioned at the beginning of the film.

[@MrCzechers]

Great video. I, too, miss the old Southern. Simpson Yard in Jacksonville is another great place to watch NS activity. (Watched Southern there years ago) Dont go on the tracks, though. The NS cops are a bit overzealous about trespassers. One day at Simpson I found a stray kitten. He was covered with dirt & oil. Brought him home, took him to the vet, and named him SOUTHERN! Southern was a great cat. Sadly, he only lived for a few years even though he stayed inside.

[@LD60]

Burlington Northern made one too back in the 70s.

[@mikeclark3013]

Knoxville is my hometown. My great grandfather worked for Southern at the Sevier yard. I think he was a yard master, and I’m wondering if he was in this film. I think I saw him, but I’m not sure.

[@rickcoffey5309]

My grandfather worked in John Sevier yard as well. Retired in the 70's

[@imlevel6]

I remember seeing boxcars with Southern on them as late as 1999

[@bluegrassman3040]

Trevor Allison I’ve seen a few on the CSX.

[@brianbooher7318]

I still see them to this day not as many as it once was tho

[@Iconoclasher]

Great film. It looks to be a 3rd or 4th generation print. Probably 35mm to 16mm. I wonder if NS has the original 35mm print in their archives.

[@jgabby_0111]

The "Junior" here is Southern boxcar # 24395

[@davidwayne1475]

Fantastic. Is this available on dvd? Thanks.

[@benschlechter]

Bring back passenger service and the caboose!

[@nicholaschard7143]

And Saluda Grade !

[@JOSEPHRORICK]

old old but cool

[@charlessmileyvideo]

Wow! "An investment of 3-million Dollars". Today that wouldn't pay for more than a couple of presidential golf trips.

[@samiam619]

Charles Smiley TRump made up for it by charging the Secret Service rent for their rooms and use of golf carts! Of course that means he is charging us (you and me) those rates... making money of of Us...

[@deputysheriff100]

Sent you a PM about Southern Railway. Forgot to mention I also knew Red Mullens and I know his boss but I can't think of his name. Grumpy old man but everybody liked him including me. Used to go to the Rail Fab Plant a lot. I know why they call it "32 pound rail." Every 3 feet it weighed 32 pounds.Lots of railroaders don't even know that.

[@noelsmith6817]

deputysheriff100 Lloyd Coursey

[@noelsmith6817]

deputysheriff100 Red Mullins' Superintendent of Terminals

[@LMTDDS]

Notice how spray paint somehow wasn't the thing to do then.

[@johnpaul-uc3py]

@denny11lane people that deface someone else's property wouldsteal someone else;sproperty too don't you think :(

[@samhouston4326]

Is it just me or does anyone else see the Lilliputian Brakeman walking next to the forward truck walking towards the end starting at 1:24? Look closely as he is opaque almost invisible.

[@jeffbrewer9411]

My question is..... Where has this film been all these years.I am a SRR. fan and have been for about 60 years. Wonder how many other films from this great railroad are lying around somewhere unknown to rail enthusiasts.

[@JDAbelRN]

In basements, attics and warehouses, will be found on day.

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

watch the Saluda Grade Training Video by elektrosoundwave

[@louisaugustexvi4515]

always loved southern railways, shame i wouldnt have been allowed on. grandfather worked for prr and never liked seeing the segregation whenever he worked with southern railways lol

[@hezekiahvanfarthinghorniii8042]

I can’t get over the comment on the passenger timetable that openly says: “colored passengers cannot be accommodated south of Evansville, Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky, or Washington, DC.”

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

@reverse thrust well said reverse!

[@reganrickson795]

Before the federal government stepped in, they would be accommodated but in separate facilities within the train.

[@MilwaukeeSDman]

The BN Made one in the '80's and Mo-Pac made one in the '70's

[@LycoValleyRRFan]

@chiconian49 The the FRA that. You should see some of the new stuff like PTC.

[@shedontanks]

Back when things were proper and done right

[@benlahrman4149]

Was that Debutts yard at 3:41?

[@suppylarue220]

clickty clack, clickty clack, SOU had odd F unit lash ups, the one here was FTA - F7B - FTA. you'd never see that on other roads.

[@JamieSmith-fz2mz]

They use the term “imagineering” @18:13 which is interesting because Disney claims to have coined it. According to Wiki, it was introduced in the 1940s by Alcoa and used by Union Carbide in 1957. Disney filed for a trademark for the term in 1989, claiming first use of the term in 1962. And I’d like to know where those pigeonhole racks are now. I’d like to use one to store all my bills and bank statement instead of using my kitchen table.

[@BackshopRailProductions]

LOL!!😂

[@jamesrussell6123]

I don't mind watching diesels in freight and passenger I'm a fan of steam myself

[@normanschlongdongovic4124]

The commentator way of comment is almost the same back in the 40s/50s/60s

[@benschlechter]

Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the railroad merger, which created NS.

[@FartyMcloadJr]

Did anyone notice at about 1.13 in. When the narrator talks about the "New" Boxcar. Look along the wheels from right to left and you'll see a very small man, walking or maybe a ( ghost ? ) No taller than the "New boxcars" wheels. Most likely they were reusing film. Strange ......

[@BackshopRailProductions]

I never noticed that until you pointed that out...It is very strange.

[@Motoskichimo1974]

It's just someone in the distance. Your looking underneath the car to the field behind it and someone is walking on the other side of the field

[@tprdfh51]

Railway gnomes...they are everywhere - they even steal underwear!

[@easleybadboy]

tprdfh51 yup my family worked and lived on the saluda grade for 60 years till they retired the line. I come from a long line of switch men, brakemen, and engineers. not a one us has ever worn a pair of underwear more than once.

[@IrishEddie317]

Nice to see rolling stock not all covered with graffiti by little thug punks.

[@KlineDeere]

Graffiti should be a life sentence

[@bluegrassman3040]

I live by the tracks in a small town in western Kentucky. Nearly every train that goes by is covered in it.

[@TheBandit7613]

@@bluegrassman3040 I was the generation after mine. We used to hang out behind some stores. One day we saw some graffiti. We were curious who the hell was spraypainting the back of our stores and why. We waited and saw... it was some "people" who were relocated from the city, into new public housing out by us in the suburbs. (One guess which race) Anyway, we threatened their lives and they stopped until we grew up and they took over. Now, no white people live there anymore and the area is a slum just like where they originally came from.