Southern Appalachia Railway Museum

This Electro-Motive Division F3 locomotive was built in 1948 for the Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railroad, better known as the “Clinchfield”. The 800’s life is one of a storied career hauling time freight, coal, business and Christmas trains along the sweeping rivers and deep gorges of the Clinchfield mainline. 800’s career is a distinct one, in that the unit has never been retired from active service in the over 70 years it has been used. Over that 70 year career, the 800 has served the Clinchfield, Family Lines System, Seaboard System, CSX Transportation, Potomac Eagle Dinner Train and now Southern Appalachia Railway Museum. The 800 came to SARM in 2016 after receiving a generous restoration-donation by CSX Transportation at their Huntington Shops. CSX also featured the locomotive, along with sister SARM unit SCL #2024 on their 2017 Santa Train. 800 also served in 2019 to move the New Haven, KY based Kentucky Railway Museum’s C&O #2716 steam locomotive to its new home with the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation in Ravenna, KY over CSX mainlines in Kentucky. In 2018, the locomotive was dedicated in honor of the late George Hatcher, a longtime employee of the Clinchfield Railroad and fan of the 800.

800 is housed at SARM in operational condition.
(Photo courtesy of Tyler Hardin)

This Electro-Motive Division SD45 locomotive was built in 1971 for the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. The 2024 enjoyed a career of several decades across the country. Serving on home rails from 1971 through its retirement from CSX Transportation in the late 1980s, the 2024 was then sold to regional railroad I&M Rail-Link in northern Illinois. After a career at IMRL and parent company Montana Rail-Link, the unit was sold to a leasing firm in eastern Washington to move grain. 2024 came to SARM in 2015 and received restoration to its as-built Seaboard Coast Line appearance. 2024 is housed at SARM in operational condition with pending radiator system upgrades.

This Electro-Motive Division SW1 locomotive was built for the Southern Railway in 1947. The locomotive lived its life switching small yard, stations and light density branchlines for the railroad. An SW1 example with a longer career than most, the 2008 made it to the 1982 merger into Norfolk Southern as #1012 and was later sold to short-line Knoxville & Holston River under the same number. The locomotive was retired and brought to SARM where it was stored for many years.

In Summer of 2020, SARM along with help from East Tennessee Railcar and Crossroads Railcar Services conducted both an operational and cosmetic restoration on the 2008 to its Southern Railway tuxedo green paint scheme.

This ALCo C420 locomotive was built in 1966 for the Louisville & Nashville railroad. The locomotive saw service in general freight and coal applications throughout the L&N and Family Lines System for most of its life. Upon retirement by the Family Lines System, it was sold into shortline service where it saw use at numerous midwest railroads prior to coming to SARM. In 2008 the locomotive was restored to her original L&N splendor.

The locomotive is actively receiving restoration work at SARM and is nearing completion of her second restoration. If you would like to donate to 1315’s progress, please visit our donation link!

This General Electric U23B locomotive was built in 1977 for the Southern Railway. The 3965 enjoyed a career of four decades with Southern, successor Norfolk Southern and short-line Georgia Central before coming to SARM in 2015. The 3965 arrived operational and was put in service. Volunteers quickly went to work sprucing up the Georgia Central lettering on the locomotive to improve its appearance. While the unit is operational, SARM would like to conduct a cosmetic restoration on the locomotive in the near future.
You can help make this happen by visiting our donation link and contacting us to offer your support or volunteer labor!

This Electro-Motive Division GP30 was built in 1963 for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. The unit was used in general freight service across the L&N system as well as under successors Family Lines System and Seaboard System. 1030 was eventually sold to short-lines Pine Belt Southern and Sequatchie Valley before coming to SARM.

1030 is housed at SARM in operational condition awaiting a cosmetic restoration.

This General Electric U23B locomotive was built in 1976 for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad as their #2817. The locomotive was used in fast freight and trailer on flat-car service for the L&N and successors Family Lines System and Seaboard System. Both railroads transformed into today’s CSX Transportation who used the unit in dedicated Maintenance of Way service where it received the unique orange “pumpkin” paint scheme it still wears today.

9553 is housed at SARM in operational condition and frequently used to move freight for Walden’s Ridge, a short-line railroad operating company.

This General Electric U30C locomotive was built for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1972. The 1497 spent most of its career with L&N hauling coal trains from mines throughout eastern Kentucky to various points on the railroad’s system. It would later work in mixed freight service for successors Family Lines System, Seaboard System and CSX Transportation before making its way to a college to be used by a diesel mechanics class.

1497 came to SARM in 2002 in non-operational condition and has been stored since. In 2020, SARM volunteers oversaw a stabilization rehab project on the 1497 to rid the locomotive of its rusty Family Lines System appearance and slow further body deterioration. SARM appreciate the generation donations of labor and supplies from both members and non-members alike who contributed to this project.

If you would like to see further progress on this locomotive, please utilize the contact us and online donation options!

This General Electric U28B locomotive was built in 1966 for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. The 5323 spent most of its career hauling mixed freight, intermodal and local service trains for the L&N and successors Family Lines System, Seaboard System and CSX Transportation. CSX retired the locomotive and sold it to short-line railroad Nashville & Eastern where it spent a secondary career participating in the rebuilding of the former Tennessee Central Railway’s mainline into a successful short-line railroad. The 5323 is one of only three remaining U28B locomotives in existence.

5323 is housed at SARM in non-operational condition pending minor mechanical work. For more details on what needs done and what you can do to help bring the locomotive operational, please utilize our contact us or donations links!

This Electro-Motive Division GP18 locomotive was built in 1960 for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. The unit spent its career in a variety of applications. It holds the distinction of being the first locomotive the L&N painted gray rather than black. The experimental paint scheme would ultimately be adopted for the rest of L&N’s existence. 900 went on to serve successors Family Lines System, Seaboard System and CSX Transportation before being sold to the Aberdeen, Carolina & Western short-line as their #18 in thee early 1990s.

900 is housed at SARM in non-operational condition pending minor engine work.

This American Locomotive Company C420 locomotive was built in 1966 for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. It spent most of its life on short haul coal mine runs in eastern Kentucky for L&N and successor Family Lines System. 1310 was then sold to short-line Kankakee, Beaverville & Southern to move grain in central Illinois.

1310 is housed at SARM in non-operational condition.

This Electro-Motive Division SD35 locomotive was built for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1965. It spent most of its life hauling coal in eastern Kentucky for the L&N and later Family Lines System. 1216 is a rare SD35 example having never received major mechanical or electrical alterations or upgrades. The locomotive is in its original “as-built” status as an SD35. The locomotive’s frame is specially weighted to create additional traction for pulling heavy coal trains through the rugged Kentucky terrain.

1216 is housed at SARM in operational condition pending minor upgrade work. SARM is always open to donations to complete 1216’s restoration to former L&N appearance. If you would like to help, you may use our online donation link or contact us about a donation by check and specify your desire to help with the 1216 restoration!

This Electro-Motive Division E8A locomotive was built in 1953 for the Southern Railway. The locomotive was used in mainline passenger service hauling the Southern’s name trains such as The Crescent, The Tennessean and others. Upon retirement from Southern in 1979, the locomotive moved on to haul inner-city commuters with transit authority New Jersey Transit. The locomotive was acquired by SARM with plans to restore to its Southern Railway appearance.

6913 is housed at SARM in non-operational condition. SARM volunteers have recently stepped up and begun stabilization efforts to preserve the body. This includes sealing window openings, repairing doors and begin prep-work to remove peeling paint and apply a coat of primer to preserve the body from further deterioration until such time a full restoration can be achieved. If you would like to volunteer your efforts, donate supplies or funds, please contact us!

Coach #664, the Fort Oglethorpe, was SARM’s first passenger car. The pride of the fleet, she continues to carry passengers in first class luxury in her beautifully restored, period-correct coach experience. A step back to the glory days of railroading, the 664 offers riders a look at the Central of Georgia’s best offerings in passenger service aboard the “Man O’ War” passenger train. The car currently wears brilliantly shined stainless steel and her later Southern Railway lettering.