Greetings All,
Locomotive Spotlight #6-2026
Welcome to another installment of the long running locomotive spotlight series. Today the spotlight will shine on a pair of Southern Railway E8As, #6905K and #6914R.
Prototype Information
The EMD E8 is a 2,250-horsepower, A1A-A1A passenger-train locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of La Grange, Illinois. A total of 449 cab versions, or E8As, were built from August 1949 to January 1954, 446 for the U.S. and 3 for Canada. 46 E8Bs were built from December 1949 to January 1954, all for the U.S.
The 2,250 hp came from two 12 cylinder model 567B engines, each driving a generator to power the two traction motors on one truck. The E8 was the ninth model in the line of passenger diesels of similar design known as EMD E-units. Starting in September 1953, a total of 21 E8As were built which used either the 567BC or 567C engines.
In profile the front of the nose of E7, E8, and E9 units is less slanted than earlier EMD units, so E7/8/9s (and their four axle cousins, the F-unit series) have been nicknamed "bulldog nose" units. Earlier E-unit locomotives were nicknamed "slant nose" units.
After passenger trains were canceled on the Erie Lackawanna in 1970 (excluding their commuter service, which the State of New Jersey subsidized starting in the late 1960s), the E8s were re-geared for freight and were very reliable for the EL. These units were on freight trains until the early years of the Consolidated Railroad Corporation ("Conrail"). (Note the 811 is coupled to an Alco freight engine. JR)
Southern Railway E8 Locomotive Roster
Between January 1951 and January 1953 the Southern acquired nineteen E8As (6900-6916 and 811-812) from EMD.
Southern Railway E8A Preservation
There are four Southern Railway E8As preserved. Unit #6900 is operational at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina, while the railway's #6901 is preserved at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, GA, and recently underwent an operational restoration by Norfolk Southern.
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These engines have pulled the Southern Crescent and both bear this train's distinct logo. A Southern Railway E8, #6913, is being restored at the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum in Oak Ridge, TN for their Southern excursion train.
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"File:Southern Railway E8 6900 (2970940930).jpg" by Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Southern #6914 is nearing the completion of a nearly two-decade-long restoration at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, having been unveiled at the railroad's 2018 "Rail-fest", resplendent in green and gold complete with "NO&NE" sub-lettering.
Southern Railway Passenger Trains
The Southern Railway had a proud tradition of first class service on their passenger trains. A total of 16 named passenger trains are listed on Wikipedia (link below). Perhaps the best known was the New York - Washington DC - New Orleans Crescent that debuted in 1925. The NY-DC portion would be handled by the PRR and then PC.
When Amtrak took over most intercity rail service in 1971, Southern initially opted out of turning over its passenger routes to the new organization. However, it shared operation of its flagship train, the New Orleans–New York Southern Crescent, with Amtrak. Under a longstanding haulage agreement inherited from Penn Central and the Pennsylvania Railroad, Amtrak carried the train north of Washington.
By the late 1970s, growing revenue losses and equipment-replacement expenses convinced Southern it could not continue in the passenger business. It handed full control of its passenger routes to Amtrak on February 01,1979.
Southern Railway E8A Dispositions
as Reported by Hawkins Rails
6 units renumbered from 2923-2929 rooftop air tanks, water tanks added.
2 donated to railroad museums (Four count from Wikipedia above)
6 to New Jersey Dept of Transportation
All units retired off roster by 1979
Southern Railway Information
The Southern Railway (also known as Southern Railway Company; reporting mark SOU) was a class 1 railroad based in the Southern United States between 1894 and 1982, at which time it merged with the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) to form the Norfolk Southern Railway. The railroad was the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined, reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s, formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894.
"Central of Georgia RR near Augusta GA 1967" by over 26 MILLION views Thanks is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
At the end of 1971, the Southern operated 6,026 miles of railroad, not including its Class I subsidiaries Alabama Great Southern (528 miles); Central of Georgia (1729 miles); Savannah & Atlanta (167 miles); Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (415 miles); Georgia Southern & Florida (454 miles); and twelve Class II subsidiaries. That year, the Southern itself reported 26,111 million net ton-miles of revenue freight and 110 million passenger-miles.
In response to the creation of the CSX Corporation in November 1980, the Southern Railway joined forces with the Norfolk and Western Railway and formed the Norfolk Southern Corporation in 1980 which began operations in 1982, further consolidating railroads in the eastern half of the United States.
"Locomotives" by Donald Lee Pardue is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
The Southern Railway was renamed Norfolk Southern Railway as the Norfolk and Western Railway became a subsidiary to its system on June 1, 1982. The railroad then acquired more than half of Conrail on June 1, 1999.
Model Information
I came across the used two unit set during a trip to my not so local Hobby Shop, Trainmaster Models in Auburn, GA during their 50% off sale on used merchandise. The Southern EA8As are part of a two locomotive set offered by Walthers Proto. Not the Walthers Mainline FA-FB set I keep looking for but these engines were beautiful and with the 50% off price point I would have regretted not buying them.
Walthers boasts that these Proto units have exquisite detail and I have to agree. Both the 6905K and the 6914R are very good looking models with plenty of extra details added.
After arriving in Terminal Yard and cutting away from their train the DJS Southern E8As are parked on a ready track to await their return train to Sterling Yard. As always engine hostler Wet Willie has the new units parked on track #1 which is adjacent to a public street that allows railfans and railroaders alike easy access for photos.
A short time later Train DJS-2 gets ready to depart Terminal Yard for Sterling Yard.
See Trains DJS-1 & DJS-2 making their runs below.
Next Stop Sterling Yard!!!
Several days later the DJS Railway Southern E8As are in charge of a Mail & Express Train from Sterling Drive Station to Empire City Station that will be delivered to the Pennsylvania Railroad, a long time passenger and freight interchange partner.
The DJS Southern Railway interchanges M&E traffic with the Pennsylvania Railroad at Empire City Station.
The surprise ending features a freight train going to Sterling Yard. Next stop Sterling Yard!!!
Final Thoughts & Comments
The Walthers Proto E8As are very smooth running engines and their many add on details look great however some led to a few operational problems where the rear couplers coupled the engines very close together (good) but did not allow sufficient clearance for the engines to run thru a #6 turnout without making a clicking nose as the diaphragms rubbed together.
To eliminate this I decided to add a Kadee Long Shank coupler to one engine for a little more clearance. Surprise #1, I found the rear coupler box contained a knuckle coupler with a head similar to a Kadee coupler but a shank with a round hole and small metal strip for a spring in the coupler box.
New Models with the Same Old Problems
While the Walthers E8As feature many improvements like the add on details, helical gears, LED bi directional lights and lighted number boards the same old coupler problem dating back over twenty years to the pre Walthers Life-Like Proto 1000 and Proto 2000 line were found in how the mounting of the swivel coupler arm is secured to the body. It's not.
These photos of the coupler arm loosely held by a plastic pin inserted into the metal chassis which allows what I call coupler slop where the arm rides up and down are from a 2013 blog entry documenting the problem and the solution. (Link Below)
2013 Blog Entry. Photo by author
The offending plastic pin.
2013 blog entry. Photo by author
To correct this I removed the shell and top weight of the chassis to access the coupler arm pin. I poked that out the plastic pin and added a 2-56 nut and bolt to hold the coupler arm firm but still allowing it to swivel.
After some trial and error with the Southern E8A using different styles of long shank couplers and Kadee red and gray washers I finally got a center set long shank coupler to meet the Kadee Height gauge and hold firm when pulled.
C'mon Man!!!
This two DC engine set has an MSRP of $399.98. With all the great looking details a simple inexpensive nut and bolt to ensure operational reliability should have been put into these locomotives more than a decade ago but yet the problem persists. For the price point I should not have to disassemble the locomotive to make this repair.
And without fail a blue wire from the front circuit board broke off from the soldered connection during the disassembly portion of the project. Where does it go? Where is my soldering iron? I pinpointed the location and soldered the wire back to its original connection.
On the Positive Side
Lets end this on a positive note. With the coupler alteration complete and electrical issue fixed the Southern E8As ran smooth and strong in their first revenue runs. My nephew, DJS Himself, who these engines were bought for was ecstatic with the purchase and original viewing which is what really counts for me. Here they are in a combination Youtube Video.
Additional Links & Info
Southern Railway Passenger Trains Wikipedia
Southern Railway Locomotives Hawkins Rails.
February 2013 E8A Coupler Upgrade
Thanks for Reading & Watching!!!
See You Soon!!!
