Smoky Mountain 110: Little River's Little Pacific
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- 110 years after rolling out the Baldwin Locomotive Works erecting hall, Little River Railroad 110 celebrated its birthday with an excursion from Coldwater to Hillsdale, Michigan. To make the occasion even more special, the engine was lettered for her second owner - the Smoky Mountain Railroad - for the first time in over 50 years. Despite gloomy skies a small group of chasers turned out to witness the littlest pacific putting on a grand show as she galloped down the former NYC "Old Road" through the earliest colors of the coming fall. I had a great time and was glad to see the most iconic locomotive of the Smokies again after a decade. This was also my first chase with my new Sachtler Ace M tripod, so please forgive some overzealous panning & zooming as I got to know my new toy.
110 was built in November 1911 by Baldwin Locomotive Works right next to Southern 4501 on the shop floor. She was built for the Little River Railroad, a logging line that ran between Walland and Elkmont, Tennessee entirely within the Smoky Mountains. Above Townsend the line entered the gorge of the Little River's East Prong, a stretch of railroad with tortuously tight curves that had twice before caused the railroad to send locomotives back to Baldwin. To meet these requirements, 110 was the smallest standard-gauge 4-6-2 Pacific ever built, with 47" drivers (the center of which was had no flange to accommodate tight curves) and a mere 8.5 feet of fixed wheelbase. Her four-wheel lead truck and elegant lines made her the road's showpony, adorned with a portrait of the owner's wife in the cab window and assigned to pull passenger trains of the local wealthy on scenic excursions to mountain retreats such as Kinzel Springs and the famous Wonderland Hotel, helping kickstart the region's tourism industry. In 1925, with the lumber on the East Prong cut, the line to Elkmont was abruptly removed and the rails moved to a new line up the Middle Prong to Tremont. 110 continued its duties on the new line, but as the logging removed more of the scenic beauty of the mountains and operations began to wind down passenger service was discontinued and 110 found itself hauling log trains, carrying the final load of timber from the mountains to the Townsend mill in 1939. With the Great Smoky Mountains established as a new National Park and logging operations ended, the Little River liquidated its assets and 110 was sold to the nearby Smoky Mountain Railroad, a shortline running from Knoxville to Sevierville. Originally built as the Knoxville, Sevierville and Eastern, the "Slow & Easy" was a perpetually struggling road financially and 110 joined a stable of two other second-hand engines pulling whatever cargo there was on increasingly unmaintained track. In 1954, 110 pulled the last steam train over the line before the entire fleet was replaced by a single 44-tonner diesel. She was abandoned on the siding at Shook's Gap in Seymour when the railroad was abandoned in 1961 and marooned a few years later when the tracks were torn up. After a few grim years of rusting in the weeds, a man from Indiana named Terry Bloom discovered the locomotive and purchased her, shipping her to Brooksville, Ohio for a full restoration to operation. In 1976, the Smoky's little pacific triumphantly returned to steam on a new "Little River Railroad" in Angola, Indiana. Some time later the operation was moved North to Coldwater, Michigan where 110 continues operate into the present day, having now been owned by the Bloom family for longer than either of her previous owners.
This brings a whole new meaning to “living up to your name” ;)
Indeed, I've been waiting for the opportunity to shoot an engine in Smoky Mtn RR lettering for a long time.
Imagine this: that 110 was invited to one of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Railfest events. Here’s why it’s a good idea:
1. Both 110 and Southern 4501 were built by Baldwin at the same time.
2. Both have spent time in their lives in Tennessee (4501 post-preservation, 110 pre-preservation).
3. Having a mainline steam rockstar and the smallest pacific ever built under steam at the same time will bring out the railfans in droves.
Now if they talked to the Three Rivers Rambler to also get Southern 154 to be at the same event to have all the operating standard gauge steam locomotives in Tennessee in one place, that’d be awesome.
Agree
Yes
Heavily agreed :)
It really is amazing how much stuff from the Smoky MTN exists 110,107,206, 440, and 154 (even if it was just on lease). The speed they were running as they got closer towards Hillsdale is definitely a welcome sight for an engine that small.
Yeah every locomotive they had post WWII is still around, and 440 being under restoration means there will soon be 3 in operation. And 110 was really booking it, I'd have lost them in traffic at Jonesville if they hadn't made a service stop there. It was a great sight indeed.
I love 110 so much! Awesome video!
Thanks!
Sure is great to have another pacific running since 110 was out of service undergoing a rebuild til late 2020
Awesome video! I find 110 very underrated for what she is.
Thanks! She really is, but at least that keeps the crowds small lol.
@@SmokyMtnSteam 😂
Awesome job! 110 is a fascinating little pacific. Great shots as well!
Thanks! She's definitely one of my favorites.
Ahh, I've missed little River railroad 110 for a while. Thank you for making another video of this splendid steam locomotive. I love hearing her whistle so much!!!
Awesome video man! Just a glimpse at what 110 once was!
Thanks! And what a glimpse it was!
Every sence Indiana and northeastern upgraded their tracks every video of trains I see running on there get decent speed can't wait for the 765 trips
Yes those should be exciting, I'm hoping I can make it up to see them.
Good to see you again my friend. Glad you made it up.
For as close as we filmed together I’m surprised we didn’t run into each other more.
20:41 is my only appearance, so thanks for the Cameo. 😉😎
It was great meeting you again too, looking forward to your coverage of the event.
I know this video is 10 months old but the 110’s whistle is VERY familiar to me. It’s like hearing an old friend. The shot at 4:55 is where I live. My farm is less than a 10th of a mile from the tracks at this point. I am privileged to see and hear the 110 and the 1 all year round. I am so glad to see her back up and running after her inspection and rebuild.
Awesome video!
This engine would be right at home in Knoville on the Rambler.
Indeed she would, perfect size for it. She runs more often in Coldwater than she would on the Rambler though lol
I'm going to be volunteering at the little river railroad museum for Townsend train days 2021 on October 30th.
Cool, have fun - its a great museum!
@@SmokyMtnSteam yes it is.
little river railroad 110 might have a railroad name after the youtuber smoky mtn steam
like
I am fairly certain that this same engine used to run in sevierville Tennessee on the knox & sevier railroad .
She sure did.
I wonder it says Smokey mountain on #1 never seen that saddle tank online in 2021
The little engine is cute. In British language term, she is called the smallest American steam engine. She can consider herself part of my steam engine family.😂🙃
Did you shoot this video? I've seen it a couple of times and each videographer intimates they shot the video. Not challenging you, just asking. Thanks
Yes I did shoot this video. I'm curious to know where else you've seen it because I haven't given anyone else permission to upload it.
Is she sporting a Crosby 3 chime?
What kind of whistle is this?
A pacific in the midwest
But I thought 110 was a 4-6-0
Nope, it has a trailing axle.
Love this little engine. I did a "G scale model " of LRRR #110 a few years ago. Here is a short video of the model. czcams.com/video/aIkq0tSPjFc/video.html
Nice model, looks right at home running among the greenery.
First
**the amount of care i have for this comment has left the chat**
@@DerpyPossum wow harsh