Trackside Video Presents; 4501: A Farewell Odyssey (1998 VHS)

On October 1, 1998 locomotive 4501 was placed into indefinite semi-retirement.
Ride into history with Southern Railway's 4501 as she makes her final steam powered excursions this century. Go "Trackside" with us as we follow the 4501 along with engine 610 as their seven car passenger consist between Grand Junction and LaFayette, Georgia. Next we join the 4501 in her final hours under steam as she powers five round-trips between East Chattanooga and Grand Junction. We re-visit the Great Freight of '96 with lots of new footage as we bring our program to a close. Enjoy this memorable 44-minute odyssey.
This program was produced by Trackside Video, a small video company which operated from 1987 - 2008 out of Forest Park, Georgia making train related videos. Most of the Trackside Video programs are lost media and are extremely hard to find, with only 14 full programs (including this one) having resurfaced online so far.
A massive thank you goes out to @BenBensonStudios who found the original eBay listing for this tape and asked me to preserve its contents and have them deinterlaced to 60fps! As of August 13, 2023, this tape has been returned to Ben for safe keeping in his personal collection.
This isn't the first time the both of us have found a lost Trackside Video release, either! Click here to see a full playlist of all the Trackside Video releases we've transferred: • Trackside Video
Everything seen here was transferred by me. For video usage guidelines, please see my channel's about page. Thank you!
I do not own any of the content depicted herein. This video was uploaded for historical/preservation purposes. No copyright infringement is, or ever will be, intended.

[@southern2716]

RIP John Nelson and Paul Busson (Trackside Video), A.P. Brock (TVRM, running 610 on the doubleheader and 4501 on the Sunday local) and G.W. Walker (TVRM).

[@nssteampunk4865]

4501 re-entered service September 2014.

[@georgecarter838]

I'm glad I still have my A Rail Fan Weekend On the Hartwell Railway that Trackside Video did when ex Reader Railroad 11 operated. I used to work for the Hartwell Railway back then, and it was a great weekend that ran smoothly and was well attended.

[@southern2716]

If you have the means of digitizing it, you should post. Not much video out there of the Hartwell in those days.

[@georgecarter838]

@@southern2716 I had my copy made to DVD and I would like to post it here, but I have been unable to locate the owner of Trackside Video to get permission. However, I do have my original grand opening from 1983 that is also done to DVD. It's has all the ups and downs from being a novice video shooter (my friend shot the video). It shows when no. 11 was painted in the Southern green and gold scheme and the run covers the entire route between Hartwell and Bowersville GA.

[@southern2716]

@@georgecarter838 the owner, John Nelson, passed away several years ago. His partner, Paul Busson, had passed away several year previous. John's family does not seem to care whether or not any of the videos are posted.

[@DillianTrainzStudios]

It sucks that 610 isn't operable anymore. It would've been amazing to see her operate alongside 4501 and 630.

[@michaelbarrett5149]

Is this video on dvd?

[@YYEArchive]

As far as I know, no. I don't think this ever officially released on DVD.

[@BenBensonStudios]

Actually it was released on DVD sometime in the early 2000's.

[@YYEArchive]

@@BenBensonStudios well oof, i did not know that

[@BenBensonStudios]

*The more you know*

[@YYEArchive]

@@BenBensonStudios *insert NBC the more you know meme here*