Thirty-four "Gauge 1" live steamers and observers from
Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and
Ohio participated in the Southern Spring 2004 Steam Up. Aster USRA Light
Mikados in black and Southern Green were in abundance.
Passenger service varied from the Southern Crescent, JNR
C62-2 “Swallow” to a Rishion “Pichi Richi” Coffee Pot. A scheduled run of
the Flying Scotsman with eleven custom coaches was curtailed by a spring
shower. Freight traffic featured double and triple headers. An H-8
Allegheny hauled an seemingly endless string of hoppers.
Southern barbeque, sour dough buns, cole slaw, potato
chips, chocolate chip cookies, pitchers of lemonade, soft drinks and iced
tea were on the menu. So, all in attendance along with the locomotives
were fueled and refreshed.
