Even with the 4th winding down (at the time I write this), I'm wondering about 4449's Southern Steam Special that occurred from August 28th to the 29th in 1976

The main things I need to know are:

1. The consist (the only cars that I can confirm are the "Claytor Lake" business car & the Central of Georgia combine car currently owned by NS & TVRM respectively)

2. Are there any more photos and/or video of the event? There's not much when you look for it

Daylight 25,
From the images I took when riding on both days, this is what I can advise you about the consist on the headend of the train:
SR water car WT 50
"Claytor Lake" operating open platform forward on August 29 only
"Shenandoah" - ex-C&O 10-6 sleeper "City of Petosky" owned by George Pins at the time
"Clover Colony"
SR "Lake Pearl (??? unable to positively determine)
SR/CofG 726 "Man 'O War"

Then assorted coaches (it appears the A/C cars were operated ahead of the open window coaches). The was probably a baggage car opening as a commissary car and "Lookout Mountain" was on the rear.

I hope this helps you at least a little.

Don C.

The best story of that Sunday related to an urgent conversation on the station platform at Charlottesville between Messrs. Claytor and Purdie.

This special train was hours late arriving Charlottesville due to multiple stops at HBDs alarming on the trailing truck of 4449 (reading the firebox above). At the time, the likely arrival at Alexandria was sufficiently late to risk stranding those passengers dependent upon connecting public transit. Operation from Charlottesville was authorized to exceed timetable speed, with due regard to signals other than "Clear" and public highway crossings with Special Agents dispatched where available to protect.

4449 did not disappoint: the Manassas Speedway was confirmed in fact as well as in legend.

Arrival at Alexandria was timely for all connections.

I recall a quote by Bill Purdie to the efffect he had never gone that fast unless something was wrong.

Six years later, the story goes that Mr. Claytor, now president of Amtrak, was at the throttle of 611 on the final leg of the inaugural trips of the J on Labor Day weekend 1982. The final trip from Roanoke to Alexandria was running behind, and many on-board had planned to make return connections on #19, the southbound Amtrak Crescent. According to those monitoring the scanner, a call was heard from the cab of 611 to Alexandria station to "Hold #19 for connecting passengers." The agent acknowledged the transmission, which concluded, "Claytor, out."

I was privileged, as a guest of the Claytor family, to ride aboard the Claytor Lake on that special day. The Claytor Lake was equipped with the first LCD speed indicator (non-recording) I had ever seen, measuring "to the tenth".

Considering the length and weight of this train, Bill Purdy attained the remarkable unofficial and unrecorded maximum speed of 89.6 MPH!!!

RPC.

Two questions about this legendary “dash.”

Was Purdie or Doyle in the engineer’s seat

Is there any video of this leg of the trip?

Wesley