Atlanta and West Point 290

Atlanta and West Point 290

A&WP 290 in Southeastern Railway Museum shops as of December 2009.
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Lima Locomotive Works
Serial number 7008
Build date 1926
Specifications
Configuration 4-6-2
UIC class 2′C1′ h2
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia. 33 in (0.838 m)
Driver dia. 74 in (1.880 m)
Trailing dia. 43 in (1.092 m)
Length 72 ft 5 in (22.07 m)
Adhesive weight 192,500 lb (87.3 t)
Loco weight 303,500 lb (137.7 t)
Total weight 504,000 lb (228.6 t)
Fuel type Coal
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 27 in × 28 in (686 mm × 711 mm)
Valve gear Baker
Performance figures
Tractive effort 47,500 lbf (211.3 kN)
Factor of adh. 4.05
Career
Operators Atlanta and West Point Railroad
Class P-74
Number in class 1st of 2
Numbers 290
Retired 1954 (revenue)
1992 (excursion)
Restored 1989
Current owner Atlanta Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society
Disposition Undergoing cosmetic restoration at the Southeastern Railway Museum, though they might restore her to operation, if she is rebuilt good enough to meet with the regulations needed to run excursions, like positive boiler ultrasound tests, etc.

Atlanta and West Point 290 is a steam locomotive built in 1926 by the Lima Locomotive Works for the Atlanta and West Point Railroad. The engine is a 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific-type steam locomotive, remarkably similar to Southern Railway's Ps-4s class. With sister locomotive No. 190 built for the Western Railway of Alabama, the 290 pulled the Crescent passenger train from Atlanta, Georgia, to Montgomery, Alabama, until the engine's retirement from revenue-producing service in 1954.

History

290 entered service for the West Point Route in 1926, pulling the Crescent from Atlanta, Georgia, to Montgomery, Alabama.

When she was taken out of service in 1954, fans of 290 established the "290 Club" which succeeded in persuading the Atlanta and West Point Railroad to preserve the locomotive rather than sell her for scrap. 290 remained on immobile display for several years before she was donated to the Atlanta Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in 1961.

Restoration

In the late 1980s, the New Georgia Railroad, an Atlanta-based steam excursion railroad, needed another locomotive and 290 was quickly restored. Under her own steam again for the first time in 1989, 290 pulled regular excursions in the Atlanta vicinity and made several longer excursions to other cities including a historic trip to Montgomery in 1992.

In 1991, 290 was sent to the Norris Yard Steam Shop in Irondale, Alabama, for running-gear maintenance work to resolve hot-running bearings. Shortly thereafter, the New Georgia Railroad stopped operating steam locomotives when the state government discontinued its funding. 290 operated for the last time under steam in 1992.

As of 2012, 290 was undergoing preservation at the Southeastern Railway Museum. As there were no plans for a complete operational overhaul of 290, she would probably be placed on display.

Legacy

The locomotive was the subject of Pentrex's New Georgia Steam Excursions: A&WP #290, a film appealing to rail fans covering a ceremonial run between Atlanta and Montgomery over 290's home rails. The engine itself also made a cameo appearance the motion picture Fried Green Tomatoes.

References

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.