Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501
Chattanooga, TN, United States 		Location: East Station - TVRM
Status: Operational
Posted: Aug 18, 2023 @ 11:08:21 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: Aug 7, 2019 @ 09:08:33 by Russell Newman
Former Southern Railway MS Class 2-8-2 No. 4501 the most famous Steam Locomotive in the United States of America is to have a make over into Louisville & Nashville J-3 No. 1593 for the L&N Historical Society annual convention on September 19th to 21st 2019.
Posted: Oct 30, 2014 @ 20:10:13 by
Please change status to : OPERATIONAL. It has been nearly 2 months since the restoration was complete. 4501 has been running the Summerville Steam Special this season.
Posted: Sep 12, 2014 @ 14:09:48 by steven cage
Southern Railway MS1 2-8-2 4501 is back in steam baby Boiler Pressure is at 205 psi.
Posted: Sep 5, 2014 @ 09:09:19 by Will
Restoration on the 4501 was complete as of this morning, September 5, 2014
Posted: Sep 4, 2014 @ 19:09:36 by Micah
I just heard that Southern 4501 is now restored to operation and will be running at Railfest at TVRM on Sept 6 &7
Posted: Sep 3, 2014 @ 18:09:37 by Joe Newstead
Will not be green. Unfortunately. Will be black.
Posted: May 6, 2014 @ 19:05:00 by Brian Wentworth
We went to the shop and the 4501 is nearly completed. The estimated date is June/ July 2014. It looks good and is most of the way together.
Posted: Nov 26, 2013 @ 09:11:33 by Ryan Gerhardt
4501 recently passed its hydro test.
Posted: Aug 15, 2011 @ 20:08:37 by Eros Gochicoa
I asked one of the workers and he said it will be up and running in about 2 years.
Posted: Apr 10, 2011 @ 08:04:48 by Jeremy
I visited the Tennessee Valley Railroad museum today and 4501 is in the Soule Shops being restored. PS 630 is WONDERFUL!
Posted: Aug 29, 2010 @ 22:08:09 by NICK
Norfolk Southern will be leasing 4501, 630 and 610 from TVRM which means 4501 will steam again in 2011.
Posted: Apr 14, 2010 @ 17:04:46 by CSmith
4501 has been torn down to allow for boiler survey, inspection, etc. The boiler was sand blasted and then painted in primer to protect it from the elements. You can stick your fingers in the washout plugs...and still get a handful of sand. Some of the items that are interchangable between engines...accessories, air pump, etc. are being installed on the SOU 630. The museum is not saying whether she will be on display or restored prior to her 100th birthday at this time.
Posted: Nov 17, 2008 @ 19:11:57 by Jake Crayton
I saw a pic of her in the shops being torn apart for restoration. Date of pic was 10/9/08.
Posted: Jul 5, 2008 @ 14:07:50 by PK
Southern 4501 was used in the filming of the 1999 movie October Sky with O. Winston Link as the engineer in the scene with the locomotive.
Posted: Jan 22, 2008 @ 13:01:55 by Andrew Durden
She's not in pieces. She was parked after her last run and never torn down. She is nicely displayed at the front of the storage shed in East Chattanooga. You walk right by her on the shop tour. $200,000 would be a nice start...LOL.
Posted: Sep 25, 2007 @ 24:09:57 by R.Freeman
Southern #4501 can be seen in Johnny Cash's video of "Hurt" http://youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go and if im not mistaken thats him at the throttle in his youth.
Posted: Aug 18, 2007 @ 23:08:56 by rA
Sitting In peces in floor in shop floor waiting for 200k for rebuild
Posted: Jun 23, 2007 @ 14:06:18 by martin
4501 started running excursions in 1964 and ended her carrier in about 1998-99ish. Out of the other excursion locomotives on the Southern/Norfolk Southern program she lasted the longest in operation. The tender she carries now is not her original. A very good locomotive for excursions on the Tennessee Valley Railroad and hope to see it run again soon.
Posted: Sep 1, 2004 @ 18:09:57 by Steve Sharpe
The second photo in the photo album shows the 4501 passing the old gravity gas pump in Vesuvius VA, the gas pump was made famous in O. Winston Link's photograph "Sometimes The Electricity Fails"
Posted: Jul 18, 2004 @ 01:07:15 by Chris Lindsey Elpatric
The Tennesse Valley Railway exspects old 4501 to return to service but in able for that to happen the boiler must be retubed and the fire box needs repairs.  The railroad is trying to raise $200K for old 4501 to return to service.  Once she is back in operation they will use her on the long Dixie Land excursions, while locomotives #610 and #630 haul trains on the local excursions.
Posted: Jul 2, 2004 @ 09:07:54 by Kyle Jonathan Chang

Once Southern Railway Mikado No. 4501 is operational again. They might possibly return 4501 to its Virginia Green paint scheme.

Posted: May 17, 2004 @ 02:05:11 by Alan Walker

The official "Last Run" of Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's ex-Southern Railway No. 4501 was September 20, 1998. The last day of service (date that her boiler certification expired) was spent in Local service, following her last excursion (for the time being) the previous day. Local train consisted of ex-Southern Railway heavyweight coach 1688 (original SOU 1683) and ex-Central of Georgia Railway streamlined coaches 661 and 907. The official crew for the 4501's last day in service were A. P. Brock, Road Foreman of Engines; Conductor A. A. Walker (yours truely); and Firemen H. G. Kitts and M. A. Brown. As mentioned by one of our other members, we do desire to return the 4501 to service at some future time. However, other more pressing needs and traffic levels dictate that the 4501 restoration be considered lowest priority at this time.

Posted: Apr 9, 2004 @ 21:04:24 by Rob Kerr
She's stored at East Chattanooga shops, a little dusty but under cover and available for viewing.  No current plans for rebuilding, as she is best suited to mainline work.  The 630 is the current project and coming along nicely. Come and See us!!
Posted: Nov 20, 2003 @ 18:11:53 by Gregg pullano
4501 Ran a few trips for the Tennissee Valley Railroad In The spring of 1999. but she has been out of service since mid 1999.