It's always unfortunate when people fail to understand the basic premise of social media.

I think the 4501 team member who posted all the news and photos here decided to walk away from the thread after the Rypn moderators moved the thread to the dismal "railfanning" category that no one reads.

I never have quite figured the logic in moving this thread myself.

It is better than deleting threads or locking them, but the name "Railfanning" doesn't necessarily fit.

As rudimentary as the rail fanning category may seem, it does serve its function for channeling non-preservation related questions. Helps keep the Interchange more informative and less gossipy.

Anyhow, back to the topic at hand, here is a photo of her dated July 11th (to those who may not have already seen it). She appears to be coming along nicely:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 13&nseq=15

Once she's been back in service a while, I'd love to hear an assessment of her performance from the guys at TVRM. The addition of the stoker and feedwater heater may make a new engine out of it.

4501 has a really big firebox to be a hand-bomber. I'm sure the crews will enjoy the stoker.

I really hate the color discussion as well, but I do have a thought on the green paint.... Is it possible that its for the E unit they are restoring on the other side of the shop? I think someone thought it would be funny to take pictures of the green paint in front of 4501. Also, I talked to a trustworthy friend on the crew of 630 at Lexington in May and he told me that the paint would be black HOWEVER, it would be getting gold striping like some of the black steam passenger power got.

MOVING ON.......

Some people say that hand bombing the locomotive is really hard, my thought is that its just in some ways a lack of experience (hear me out). For years and years all of the Ms class locomotives were hand fired before stokers came about in the upgrades to the locomotives. That would also be in many cases with just one fireman on each trip. I am not saying that its a lack of experience on how to fire properly, I am just saying that since the fireman dont go out and fire every single day of the week on long runs that its a lack of experience on firing long runs all the time. In a way im saying many of us could not just get up and run a marathon today, but with practice maybe we could if that makes sense?
I will say this however, the men in the past were real brutes and hard workers to be able to fire long runs single handedly! There is some of me that is jealous inside and wished I had that capacity.

Thoughts, ideas?

The Southern Black and Gold scheme is pretty handsome. 2716 was done that way.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 181&nseq=2

There is a certain blue pacific in PA that has a slightly larger firebox. She is a hand-bomber and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Give ya that on the grate area. For the Ms, the steam hungry cylinders made for a tough day. From folk I know that fired her, 4501 could be a real bear, and you better not get behind.

You are absolutely right! I can image it was a hand full. If we get behind it's all over!

The color picture of the Southern mountain is from Jim Herron and is know to be colorized. It is not a defense to red roofs. I have never seen a true color slide of a Southern passenger engine with green paint and red roof. Seen several that indicated green roof but nothing definitive.

As of now nothing at the Southern Railway Historical Association (SRHA) archives defines roof color. There is so much to go through still.

Bill Purdie said to several people that the only reason 722 & 4501 had red roofs is because Graham Claytor said they should. When the Boss says that's how they should be painted you do so.

I do agree, 2716 is fantastic looking in the gold trim. To me 2716 was the best looking big engine Southern used in excursions, 610 looked the most like it meant business, and 750 the best of the bunch. No offense to 4501 for sure, I love the original Southern engines (630, 722, 4501, and now 154, 401.)

Here is a picture from Railpictures of her a little more than a month ago! Hope she is ready for railfest!

TVRM's Facebook page just posted pictures of the cab and half of the tender of 4501. Solid black. All black. Everyone's question is pretty much answered right there.