The Story Of The Southern Steam Program (Documentary)

After 3 years of working on this project, it is finally done! This hour long Documentary covers the story of the Southern Steam Program, from its inception in the early 1960s as spearheaded by W. Graham Claytor Jr to the bitter end in December of 1994. The program enjoyed 28 years as a stellar public relations program for both the Southern Railway & the Norfolk Southern Railroad. A grand total of 17 locomotives participated in the program, some for many years & others for brief tenures.
The Music Video is has been uploaded separately and can be seen here:
• Southern Steam Program...
*Disclaimer*
Nickel Plated Productions does not lay claim to any of the material used in this documentary. Any and all material used belong to their rightful owners. Any material used in this documentary is used for the purpose of educating the public on the Southern Steam Program.
©2023 Nickel Plated Productions, All Rights Reserved
Please refrain from copying this video in any form.

[@WorldOfNothin]

Well as of like two weeks ago the 722 is finally undergoing restoration, so it will see life once again.

[@e-train765]

GSMR just announced they're starting work on Southern 722!!!

[@southern_railman]

Fun fact about 4449, this engine was primarily responsible for the Southern being inspired for looking for bigger and better engines for their steam program. Mr. Claytor even wanted to lease 4449 for their program and paint it in the Southern Railway’s Virginian Green & Gold! But the crew of 4449 stated she needed to return to Portland after her AFT tour was completed. However, they did recommend an alternative with a curtain Texas type. 😉😏

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

Same when 290 was leased. Only southerned accessory a ps4 3 chime from 1387 or 1407. 750 had one of those

[@mr.minebloxdaylighttwinkle442]

Lionel: Write that down, write that down!

[@parmin31]

@southern_railman i don't think Mr claytor wanted 4449 to lease southern steam program and so far i know to lease the southern steam program for 4449 and repainted as a southern black paint scheme it was too hard and also the engineer of 4449 doyle mccormack was need to bring 4449 back home to Portland for some repairs and repaint the 4449 to original daylight colors that 4449 done in 1941 and some memories that people wanted to see the daylight and as a good news in 2009 4449 touch the Norfolk southern Chicago line former nickel plate road line from Michigan city IN to east Chicago and 4449 was on the way to Minneapolis and Portland OR after the train festival series so that's the journey of 4449 that the other steam locomotive in southern steam program won't know about the real truth the 4449 and also according the nickel plate production 4449 was pulling only southern steam from Atlanta to Alexandria and took over the freedom Train again when 4449 and reading T1 2101 met in Washington DC

[@brianfalzon6739]

Wow, thanks for sharing this documentary, wish mainline steam excursion operations will return to the mainline again one day after the PTC gets settled and the banner gets uplifted first!

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

Good news the great Smoky Mountain Railroad has begun restoration work on Southern 722 and they were going to keep her in the green and gold paint scheme. The only changes she’s gonna be converted to burn oil.

[@HustleMuscleGhias]

What is the music at 2:28? I've heard one before plenty of other places and have never been able to put a name to it.

[@NickelPlatedProductions]

The song is Old No. 7 by Network Music Ensemble. It was used in I Love Toy Trains, All About Fast Moving Trains & Many more railroad videos in the 1990s. It can be listened to here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqKUp6Chjqh9pdk

[@littlejoe1633]

Two engines I would note that technically served the program were K&T 10 as well as Mississippian 77. K&T 10 technically ran a single excursion before it was retired immediately after. Mississippian 77 ran a single excursion as well, but suffered a broken axle afterwards and wouldn't return.

[@NickelPlatedProductions]

I was going to actually mention them alongside Hampton & Branchville 44 (that i had assumed was in the program, but just happened to be in the 1970 NRHS convention and nothing else) as being part of the program, but scrapped their sections as I wasn't sure if i should've included them.

[@matthewpowell2429]

587 was my favorite of these engines. Great job covering to full history and are of the engines involved.

[@isaiahtheclassichistorian]

Awesome job on the documentary! This was really well researched and it was nice to know all of the engines who took part in this legendary Steam program, even if it was for a short time. Also what’s the name of this music track at 29:07? I’ve heard it multiple times in the past but never knew the name of it.

[@NickelPlatedProductions]

Thanks. Im glad you liked it the track in question is called "No Need To Ask Me" kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHSmZJZtg5KjY7c It was featured in the TM Books & Video on the Building of the 1949 Lionel Showroom Layout.

[@isaiahtheclassichistorian]

@@NickelPlatedProductions You’re welcome and ok thanks

[@michaelbarrett5149]

@@NickelPlatedProductions do you have full video of western maryland scenic railroad 734? i like to see that

[@awesomeaustin5704]

I heard that the man who bought 587 was a member of Kentucky steam. That’s about all I know. Would love to see her and 2716 operate in Kentucky

[@doggerbendrailway6002]

Great video mate

[@jeremiahwilliams7809]

I find it highly commendable that these men had the foresight way back then,to purchase, preserve and document these wonderful steam Locomotives!! To be able to see these locomotives in person or through filmed footage is a wonderful thing.......

[@SouthernerFloridain2006]

I feel like there’s a Certain Rant Sessions about to happen here. (Get the joke?)

[@Ian-qs3fz]

very nicely done

[@danielboone3770]

❤❤❤❤

[@jacksalvin364]

1966-1994

[@JayTheTrainFan]

But the 722 is Going to be Restored

[@NickelPlatedProductions]

This video was put together, prior to the announcement of GSMR of restoring 722.

[@robertweldon7909]

What is interesting is that of all of the locomotives mentioned in this video only one was never RETIRED from service and left to decay. I know it was not part of the southern steam program too. That locomotive is UP 844. When the the 290 was finally brought up for restoration, it was a rusting hulk stored at the NRHS location in Duluth, GA (Atlanta). The job done to bring back 290 was almost unbelievable, It is sad that it has gone down hill again. ;-)

[@metalheadrailfan]

If anyone would like further reading on the program, I highly recommend the late Jim Wrinn's book entitled "Steam's Camelot: Southern and Norfolk Southern Steam Excursions in Color". It's a wonderful read that not only documents the locomotives, but also the people that made the program run.

[@CWFTrains]

Really well done!!! Hats off!

[@peterrosenquist]

37:51 when did that excursion occur? 1522 only visited Georgia and Alabama in 1994.

[@NickelPlatedProductions]

The 3 611/1522 Doubleheaders took place before & during the 1994 NRHS Convention. (the 1st time on a deadhead move to the 1994 NRHS Convention on June 21st, 1994, The 2nd time during an '94 NRHS Convention run on June 23rd, 1994 & the 3rd time on an '94 NRHS Convention run on June 26th, 1994.)

[@parmin31]

I wish 4449 reunite with 4501 and 611

[@kingofthemonsters3712]

I don't think the 4449 and the 611 ever met

[@TripleMofficial15]

Even though 2839 didn’t last long with the Southern, I really enjoyed it’s time while it was operating with the railroad, provided great speed on most of its trips and had a southern ps-4 whistle equipped which really sounded badass on it :]

[@mr.minebloxdaylighttwinkle442]

1:28 It was kinda of a missed opportunity for #1380, the only streamlined southern engine to be preserved and in excursion use.

[@WardsOfDOOM]

did you know that southern 630 was a part of this and that is very famous. none of the N&W trains were apart of the southern steam program the engines that were in the program are: Southern 4501 Southern 630 Southern 722 and Southern 2716

[@peterrosenquist]

50:57 she didn’t doublehead with 611 during the NRHS Convention.

[@isaiahtheclassichistorian]

She was towed along with 611 to meet up with 587 for the final leg of the journey to Chicago.

[@peterrosenquist]

@@isaiahtheclassichistorian 765 was in Fort Wayne. 611 was pulling the Independence Limited from Richlands, Virginia to Fort Wayne, Indiana solo. Unless 765 operated earlier in 1993, this doubleheader with 611 did not happen.

[@stillcrass]

Such a huge part of my life in the 1970s

[@sargentrowell81]

Cool video, but it would be nice to have a brief update on where the engines stand now. Where they ended up, and if they're in static display, in storage or being rebuilt again.

[@NickelPlatedProductions]

The conclusion section covers that

[@peterrosenquist]

24:16 June 14, 1958 was a freight run between Chicago and Fort Wayne. She supplied heat to a stranded passenger train in December 1958.

[@JayTheTrainFan]

Good Thing that 4501 is a Lucky MS Class Because she was a Movie Star Locomotive and Still Continues to Operate with 630

[@jordaneriksson5417]

4:00 one of my home locomotives

[@brennan-p6j]

44:27 290 was a Lima

[@amyreynolds3619]

Most of this locomotives are running today or being restored right now.

[@1TruNub]

That intro gave me flashbacks

[@rogerlollar4325]

You forgot reading 2101

[@SouthernerFloridain2006]

2101 only went to Birmingham for maintenance no excursion for southern

[@DARTH_DRAGON]

Anyone know the background song that comes on at the beginning of the commentary after the really cool intro. Ive been trying to find this song ever since i heard it as a kid in i love toy trains 3 or 4. It has a very awesome harmonica but yea its the background song right after the intro i need to know the name of lol 😂

[@NickelPlatedProductions]

That background song is Old No. 7. It was used a lot in the 1990s in various Railroad video productions. It can be heard here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqKUp6Chjqh9pdk

[@DARTH_DRAGON]

@@NickelPlatedProductionsTHANK YOU!!!

[@SouthernRailwayProductio-rw8wb]

Awesome