Southern manifest waits for a signal.

The Crescent backs out of the station to the coach yard.

Crescent Car Attendant

The Crescent stops for servicing.

Engineer Scott Ogle opens the cylinder cocks as the 154 coasts downgrade with the Christmas Lantern Express.

Southern 154 lets off some steam as is it departs from downtown after receiving some minor repairs.

Southern 154 crosses over the CSX connection as it powers its train east with the first departure of the day of the Christmas Lantern Express.

Southern 154 coasts over the Holston River bridge just outside of Marbledale with the Christmas Lantern Express.

Southern 154 pauses next to her shed for some quick repairs before continuing on toward Marbledale with the 1pm departure of the Christmas Lantern Express. Hard to believe this engine will be 130 ... (more)

Southern SD40 3170 leads a caboose train around the NCTM grounds.

The engineer, framed by the unique interior lines of the GP30 cab checks the night's orders while loading passengers.

Dressed up in Polar Express lettering, Southern GP30 2610 pauses to load passengers for the next trip to the north pole during a rainy evening at Spencer shops.

A pretty healthy turn is arriving in Opelika after a trip to Lafayette and Roanoke. By this date, I believe there was just a single shipper in Roanoke - a cotton mill - and it would not be long u... (more)

Sitting in the snow by the old Giant Grocery warehouse. Photo by F. David Petke. From my collection.