I noticed the picture of 630 in the most recent issue of Trains Magazine shows a good shot of the top of the locomotive's boiler. I noticed 630 sports a low water alarm. Was this something she had in her original SOU and ET&WNC days? Or, did she receive this during her second Southern career or later?

Does 4501 have a low water alarm?

Yes, 630 and 722 both had one by the time they arrived on the ET&WNC. 4501 has one as well. According to what he wrote in the book, "Weekend Steam," apparently Purdie liked them so much, that he got one to put on the 750 off one of the Y6s in the Roanoke scrap yard. And on several of the engines, there were mishaps that occurred in which these devices may have saved a bigger mishap in the excursion era.

Kyle

Kyle,

That's pretty interesting. A couple of the people involved in L&N 152's restoration were also involved in the Southern program, and 152 received a low water alarm during its restoration. I believe it came from one of the C&O 2-8-4s that were cut up at Russell, KY in the 1970s.

David

From this photo, she did not originally come with a low water alarm, of course she also had that original large pilot which helps to give a sense of time to the photo.

Interesting photo indeed. My best guess is 1930s? By then, those pointy pilots fell out of favor with several railroads.

Also, other interesting details I noticed:

Running board is at different heights, 630 now has a single running board at the higher height.

No mechanical lubricator.

No steps down to the pilot.

Bell is mounted on a platform, rather than the angle bracket.

Interesting photo. Thanks again!

Also note that the smoke box is of a riveted construction, she still has her original alligator cross heads, the power reverser is mounted in reverse, and that the snif(f?)ter valves are in a different location (all per-modification program). I love how the Southern sent their locomotives through a complete rebuild program to modernize their aging power!

630 was superheated in 1917 and that is when the 24" diameter, piston-valve equipped cylinders were added. Her original slide valve cylinders were 22" diameter. Her current cylinders were added in the 1940's.

The power reverse is located in the same position today.

Note the smoke lifter located on top of the stack.

Can anyone read the division name on the side of the cab?

No, but from other photos I've seen, the Asheville division seemed to deviate from the typical Southern practice of using "fingernail" headlight visors (absent from 630 in this photo). Just a wild guess, but it would fit with the known history of the engine.

Is that smoke lifter like the one someone posted recently on a Western Maryland locomotive?

Also, notice the handrail on the side of the cab.

Very interesting.

That is how the 4501 is. Somewhat interesting and relevant is a random in service picture I found of 630 on the Lake Toxaway Branch in North Carolina in a logging railroads book with a tender tank nearly identical to the one that Mark had redesigned for 630 based off another prototype. I need to show that to you Mark.

The bell bracket, I believe by the unused four bolt flange, had to have been from something with a King pneumatic rocker. Probably was lying around one of the shops when 630 was in for a rebuild. Be nice if we can find one, probably be a lot less fiddly than the Viloco Ringer.

Thanks for catching my mistake gmray! I am so used to seeing it mounted the other way I must not have caught that. Did the 630 also have loose dead block hangers?

How did these low water alarms work?

Somewhat simple design based in the change in expansion of metals. There's a probe tube, set 3-3.5 inches above the lowest point of the crown sheet. In normal operation, water is covering the opening in the bottom, preventing hot steam from traveling up the tube. At the other end of this tube is a copper or brass (can't remember) tube, that when heated expands and activates a bell crank which controls a valve that sets off the alarm whistle.