Southern Railway 4-6-2 No. 1401
Washington, District of Columbia, United States 		Location: Smithsonian Museum
Status: Display
Related Notes
Photo Copyright © David Penland
Here are the notes for Southern Railway No. 1401, a 4-6-2 located in Washington, DC. If you have additional information about this locomotive, and would like to share it, click the Add Note button.
Posted: Aug 18, 2023 @ 11:08:57 by Steve Frost, European Editor
The company was The Southern RAILWAY! Not all US companies took the title "Railroad" and the Southern was one that did not. Take a look at their herald. Please check your facts before adding comments.
Posted: Dec 4, 2017 @ 07:12:14 by
It was not in the museum in early 2017
Posted: Jul 20, 2016 @ 19:07:31 by Michael
The 1401 was in operating condition when it was presented to the Smithsonian. It is painted Sylvan Green. It will never come out of the museum, do to that was asked and the museum said no.
Posted: Nov 19, 2013 @ 05:11:25 by Gerald Smith
I wonder if the 1401 ever hauled troops from St. Louis to Louisville. My wife had an uncle who we always thought was an engineer on this engine. He worked and retired from the Southern but as far as we know he just run the above route. We have a beautiful 14 X 16 colored print of the 1401 in our possession. His name was Chris Small. He did move from North Carolina to Indiana.
Posted: Jan 28, 2011 @ 22:01:23 by fm elliott
I will be glad to allow a copy of our picture to be displayed here if interested. The position of the Southern 1401 (in our picture), is very close to the position shown here on this site.
Posted: Nov 8, 2009 @ 14:11:01 by New York Central
It would be an interesting idea if the president had his own private train, I could see this engine, or maybe even a Pennsy K4 being prime candidates. But as the previous note says, money and facilities are essential.
Posted: May 13, 2008 @ 15:05:04 by martin
I suppose the reason it doesn't run is because mainly of money. I know the Smithsonian makes a great deal of money, but restoring one steam locomotive requires alot of time, effort, skill, and most of all money. We don't tectnically know what 1401's mechanical condition is or whether she has all her interior parts. Some engines have been disabled so they will never run again. You also have to consider where to do the repairs to make her operational. They would need a shop to restore her as well as the nessessary tools to make it happen. I hope that we will see 1401 run again, but I think that she has a good enough life as a display engine for right now. If I recall, I read on the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museums site that CN 4-6-2 #5288 will return to service as a PS-2 or PS-4 lookalike. Hopefully it will happen.
Posted: May 11, 2008 @ 09:05:15 by craig smith
You know i was wondering since the smithsonian has preserved the 1401 and is in excellent condition why can't they run it. I mean the president could use it for traveling i mean it would be better to see the president use a train and pulled by the 1401 would be a better site to see than him in a jet. Don't you agree? It would be like the early 20th century to see the president traveling by rail pulled by the 1401. I remembered the 1401 when i was 10 and it was a highlight of the vacation and i was impressed.
Posted: Jan 11, 2007 @ 08:01:09 by nah
this engine is a must see even though the veiw of it isnt the greatest ever. they have put a light in the firebox and 2 fake people in the cab along with some amazing sound effects.i was almost fooled in to thinking she was live.her preservation out of all the static locomotives in this country is second to none! she is held in the musem of american transportation i think..... someone correct me if im wrong.
Posted: Sep 24, 2003 @ 15:09:58 by Andrew Morris
The 1401 was built by the American Locomotive Works at their Richmond, Virginia Shops in 1926. The locomotive was designated in the PS-4 class and was delivered in the famous Virgina Green. It had a twelve wheel tender along with the elesco type feedwater heater. It also had 73" drivers and was 91' 11 inches long and put out 47,500 lbs. of tractive effort. It served the south until 1953 and was put on display in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. The museum will have the locomoitve exhibit back open in Nov of 2003 with 1401 being the show piece.