My wife's grandfather worked for Southern RR in the late 30's and or the early to mid 1940's. She has an old photo of him in the cab of an engine, #535. Is there any info on this steam engine or personell during this time peiriod?

-- Johnnie Needham (johnnien@yhhoo.com), July 26, 2003

Answers

John, according to the 'Southern Railway Handbook', # 535 is listed as a 2-8-0 class j locomotive with 56" drivers. There is a class j engine # 542 at the North Carolina Transportation Museum thats under- going restoration.I don't have any info on what branch the 535 served on or any personel information. Hope this helps. rdc

-- Robert Daniel Cashwell (rdcsouthern@earthlink.net), July 27, 2003.

HI JOHNNIE, MY GRANDFATHER WAS AN ENGINEER FOR SOUTHERN FOR FIFTY YEARS. HIS NAME WAS WALDO HITT. HE ENGINEERED THE 1401 AND THE 4501. I RODE IN BOTH ENGINES WITH HIM WHEN I WAS LITTLE. THE 1401 IS IN THE SMITHSINIAN AND THE 4501 IS IN THE TENNESSEE RAIL MUSEUM IN CHATT. IM LOOKING FOR A PICTURE OF BOTH AND AM NOT HAVING MUCH LUCK. I KNOW AN ARTIST AND WANT HIM TO WATER COLOR A PRINT SO I CAN GIVE IT TO MY DAD FOR CHRISTMAS, IF YOU KNOW OF ANY SITES THAT WOULD BE GREAT OR IF YOUR WIFES GRANDFATHER NEW HIM THAT WOULD BE COOL TO ...THANKS BOB

-- bob hitt (wwheels@tampabay.rr.com), August 21, 2003.