Archives: Southern Railway Historical Association Photograph Collection: Tennessee

Back to Archives

Southern Railway Historical Association Photograph Collection: Tennessee

Accession P.2003.009

Provenance:

These records are on loan from the Southern Railway Historical Association.

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes for a small fee. Permission to publish materials from this collection must be obtained from the Director of Library/Archives.

C. Pat Cates and Dick Hillman processed these photographs in 2005-2006.

Size: 1 cubic foot

Description: On August 15, 2003, representatives from the Southern Railway Historical Association and the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History signed an agreement to place the association’s archives in the museum. Part of the massive collection of materials was photographs that had been taken from the 1930s to the 1990s. Many of the photographs were official pictures taken by the Southern Railway for publicity and for the company magazine Ties. These photographs were stored in a variety of containers and had been roughly organized into the various states that were served by the Southern Railway. There was also a collection of negatives although many had been separated from the original photographs. There is also evidence of a number of filing systems that had been used by the railroad to identify the photographs. No information has been found relative to this filing system. In addition to the photographs of the Southern Railway there were a number of photographs from individuals that had been organized into binders with headings such as “Steam Locomotives”, “Diesel Locomotives”, “Depots” as well as under individual cities and states. All the photographs of this collection have been removed from their original storage containers and placed in acid free envelopes. The original documentation has been retained with the photographs as well as additional information when it has been found. Every effort has been made to place the negative with the corresponding photograph. Researchers should be aware that the negatives are larger than the traditional 35mm format. A number of museum volunteers and staff have worked in the organization of this collection.

1. Chattanooga

• Steam Locomotive No. 738 and passenger cars c1947; Dale Roberts Collection

• Southern Railway Office c1934

• Downtown Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain 1963 (6-12-F; 6-13-F) includes negatives

• Aerial views of Chattanooga—four different photographs (6-4-F; 6-5-F; 6-6-F; No. ID) includes negatives

• Tunnel west of Chattanooga—two different photographs 1947 (34-9; 3-14) includes negative

• Diesel Locomotive No. 6247 with freight train at Chattanooga September 1978; Jim Wrinn Collection

• Steam Locomotive on display at Chattanooga Choo Choo

• Tracks between Chattanooga and Memphis (34-10)

2. Citico Yard (1 of 2)

• Aerial view showing roundhouse and turntable

• Installing cellulose peg into coupler (1589)

• Train wheels at diesel shop (316)

• Applying oil automatically to journals—four different photographs (1057; 1157; 1368; No. ID)

• Air brake charging lines—three different photographs

• Radio “shanties” (935)

• Dwarf talkbacks at north end of classification yard (2430)

• Mercury vapor lights (2602)

• Diesel Locomotives No. 6109 and 4169 at wash rack at diesel shop (1499)

• Communication room interior photograph (2433)

• Main yard office (177)

• Pneumatic tube system center at yard office (819)

• Yard foreman signals locomotive with radio (2068)

• Yardmaster at console (369)

• Television camera installation—four different photographs (189; 450; 1082; 1601) June 1956 Ties

• Radio repair shop (365)

• Telephone booths in diesel shop (137)

• Diesel shop 1948—two different photographs; November 1948 Ties

• Clerks preparing waybills—six different photographs (390; 688; 915; 945; 1055; 2445)

• Oil testing laboratory—three different photographs (37-12; No ID) November 1949 Ties

• Yard foreman uses talk-back speakers (2072)

• Pit inspector checks running gear of cars—two different photographs (1316; 1320)

• General supervisor of communications checks equipment (2019)

• Jumper cable test board; May 1951 Ties

2. Citico Yard (2 of 2)

• Engineers laying out yard (26-42 aka 2614) includes negative; August 1953 Ties

• Aerial views—nine different photographs (194; 210; 211; 213 2278; 3075; No ID)

• Night view—two different photographs (3082; 3046/3092)

• Classification Yard (2248)

• Classification Yard (color photograph)

• Switch locomotives move cars over the hump (354) June 1956 Ties

• View from tower (1302) June 1956 Ties

• Tower—two color photographs

• Stock pens and explosive track (202)

3. Greeneville

• “The Tennessean” May 11, 1941 (color photograph)

• Steam locomotive with freight; April 1947 Ties

• Rock cut near Greeneville (34-2)

• Tomb of President Andrew Johnson (6-9-F; 6-10-F) includes negatives

• Looking eastward towards mountains from Andrew Johnson National Cemetery (6-8-F) includes negative

• Home of President Andrew Johnson (6-11-F) includes negative

4. Knoxville

• Grave marker of Samuel R. Bush—Southern Railway locomotive No. 1236 (color photograph)

• Diesel Locomotive No. 6143 with “Director’s Special” at City Yard February 4, 1980—eleven color photographs

• Gay Street; negative only

• Knoxville depot and roundhouse 1882

• Officials of Knoxville Division in front of Knoxville Office Building (30-12) includes negative. Note: all personnel identified

• Mountain scene near Knoxville

• Steam Locomotive No. 1492 with Passenger Train No. 26 September 1938; F.E. Ardrey, Jr. Collection

• Steam Locomotive No. 1429 with passenger train

• Mayor Fred Allen and Miss Margaret Carmon “Miss Steamliner” at the christening of the Tavern-Observation Car No. 1151 “Knoxville” May 10, 1941

• Coster Wheel Shop—four photographs, two black/white and two color

• Sets of wheels at Coster Wheel Shop

5. Knoxville—Sevier Yard

• Aerial View 1925—eight different photographs

• Fire hose locker May 1990—two different photographs; Jim King Collection

• Night work (302)

• Diesel switcher and “Slug” March 1952 Ties

• Yard tower July 1951 Ties

• A.O. McEllen squits hot oil with a pressure gun into journal boxes; July 1951 Ties

• View of facilities including classification yard (144)

• C.E. Galbraith, car inspector, places a Celotex wedge in a coupler (40-19-D) April 1952 Ties

• Car inspector pit and journal box oiling station (31)

• Hump Yard Retarder Track and Tower—nine different photographs (140; 2480; 40-5-D; 40-6-D; 40-8-D; 40-18-D)

• Hump yard classification office—two different photographs (32; 36)

• Transfer Yard—two different photographs; January 1950 Ties

• Coal cars being classified—two different photographs (2544; No. ID)

6. Memphis

• Back hoe at Memphis Yard September 1970 (color photograph)

• Run through train showing Southern Diesel Locomotive No. 2598 and Union Pacific No. 3008; negative only

• Forrest Yard—six different photographs (22-6-B; 40-9; 40-10; 40-11; 40-13; 40-2-F) January 1958 Ties

• Freight office—two different photographs (27-6) includes negative

• Downtown Memphis at dusk (6-3-F) includes negative

• Downtown Memphis (6-2-F) includes negative

• Original brochure, opening of Memphis Union Station April 1, 1912

7.Miscellaneous Cities

• Southbound diesels at Helenwood 1971

• Crown viewing “The Tennessean” at Cleveland May 9, 1941

• “The Tennessean” at Jonesboro May 11, 1941—seven different photographs (six color, 1 b/w) includes negatives

• “The Tennessean” at Johnson City May 11, 1941—two different photographs (39-19-A; 39-25-A) Includes negative

• Interior and Exterior views of passenger car “Knoxville” on “The Tennessean” in Jonesboro May 11, 1941—two different photographs (color and b/w)

• Mayor & Mrs. Robert May with O.B. Keister beside “The Tennessean” in Jonesboro May 11, 1941—two different photographs

• Limestone taken from car of “The Tennessean”

• E-6 Diesel “The Tennessean” passing Lick Creek Christian Church in eastern Tennessee; includes negative; April 1949 Ties

• Lenoir Car Work, Lenoir City—three different photographs (35-87-B; 35-89-B; 35-90-B)

8. New River Bridge

• Diesel freight on New River Bridge with “Big John” hoppers—three different photographs (38-32-C; 38-34-C) includes negatives

• Diesel locomotives with coal train

9. Depots

• Clinton 1912 (destroyed by fire in 1913)

• Jefferson City—three color photographs (interior and exterior)

• Oakdale February 16, 1984 (color photograph)

• Terminal Station Chattanooga

• Terminal Station Chattanooga February 1938

• Steam Locomotive No. 6493 with Passenger Train No. 42 at Lenoir City September 1938; F.E. Ardrey, Jr. Collection

10. Diesel Freight

• Norfolk Southern Diesel Locomotive No. 3290 with Freight Train No. 175 outside Clinton December 10, 1987—two different photographs

• Diesel Locomotive No. 3201 with northbound freight at Dairy 1971

• Diesel locomotive with freight train near Rogersville January 1961 (38-18-C) includes negative

• Diesel Locomotive No. 4213 at Bulls Gap January 1961 (38-17-C) includes negative

• Diesel locomotive with freight at Ten Bridge (38-28-C)

• Diesel Locomotive No. 6707 between Chattanooga and Memphis—two different photographs (696; 702)

• Diesel Locomotive No. 3083 crossing Emory River near Nemo—photograph in color and b/w

• Diesel Locomotive No. 2117 near Athens February 1953f: F.E. Ardrey, Jr. Collection

• Coal train with “cow and calf” near Jellico

• Diesel Locomotive No. 6802 at water tank at Roddy June 1953. Also shows Steam Locomotive No. 63

• Diesel Locomotive No. 3113 with Freight Train No. 181 on approach to CT Tower at Chattanooga

11. Diesel Passenger

• Diesel locomotive and Passenger Train No. 42 between Knoxville and Morristown c1959 (color photograph)

• “New Royal Palm” near Oakdale—two different photographs (39-15-B; 39-36-B; also shows 39-16-B) includes negatives; December 1950 Ties

• “New Royal Palm” near Oakdale (39-17-B)

• “New Royal Palm” near Chattanooga (39-33-B)

• Diesel Locomotive No. 4137 and the “New Royal Palm” crossing Ten Bridge; includes negative

• “New Royal Palm” at Ten Bridge—two photographs (2428; 39-?-?) includes negatives; February 1951 Ties

• Diesel Locomotive No. 6145 and “The Pelican” near Chattanooga (2413) June 1951 Ties

• “Joe Wheeler” receiving orders westbound at Wauhatchie 1940

• “The Tennessean” crosses Holston River (39-8-A also shown as 1335) near Bluff City

• “The Tennessean” crosses Holston River near Strawberry Plains (2024)

12. Steam Freight

• Steam Locomotive No. 873 at Knoxville April 1951; Dale Roberts Collection

• Steam Locomotive No. 676 near Knoxville April 1951; Dale Roberts Collection

• Steam freight train passing through rock cut south of Greeneville (17-62)

• Steam Locomotive No. 6336 near Oakdale c1950 (color photograph) includes negative

• Steam Locomotive No. 1450 with Freight Train No. 10 at Ooltewah September 18, 1948; F.E. Ardrey, Jr. Collection

• Steam Locomotive No. 6339 crossing Tennessee River at London September 1938; F.E. Ardrey, Jr. Collection

13. Steam Passenger

• Steam Locomotive No. 315 at Jellico c1890

• Steam Locomotive No. 6491 at Ooltewah July 1946

• Steam Locomotive No. 1455 at Morristown 1929

• Steam Locomotive No. 1455 crossing Tennessee River near London September 17, 1938; F.E. Ardrey, Jr. Collection

14. Events

• Floods of July 1916 near Buffalo Rock; negative only

• Roundhouse and steam locomotive flood damage at Oakdale March 23, 1929—five different photographs

• Steam Locomotive wreck at Chattanooga Creek 1907

• Steam whistle being presented to Memphis Furniture Company; negative only

• Last steam run on Southern Railway at Chattanooga with Steam Locomotive No. 6330; Diesel Locomotive No. 4157 and the “Best Friend of Charleston” June 17, 1953 (photograph identified with three numbers: 16-21; 16-27 and 17-88) two different photographs (color and b/w)

• Business and industrial leaders tour the Southern Railway at Chattanooga; November 1948 Ties

• Members of the E. Carl Coleman Class, Knoxville Scottish Rite Bodies 1969; includes negative

• Freight Traffic Organization Sales Meeting at Chattanooga—eight different photographs; June 1948 Ties

• “That Dog at Rader” two different photographs (25-5; 30-14) and an assortment of unprinted negatives; April 1947 Ties

• Bill Schafer Ice Cream Social Train at his wedding June 13, 1998 (color photograph)

• Freight train derailment at Powell—seven different photographs

15. Tennessee—Miscellaneous

• Western entrance to Great Smokey Mountain National Park at Gatlinburg (6-7-F) includes negative

• Man made lake along the railroad (6-1-F) includes negative

• Construction scenes along the C N O & T P lines in Tennessee—two photographs near Robbins, TN (23-65) and the Emory River Bridge

• Semaphore signal on the C N O & T P line (34-23)