SOUTHERN #401
Builder: BLW
Build Date: December 1907
Type: 2-8-0 Consolidation
Status: Operational
Southern Railway No. 401 was built in December of 1907 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. It is a 2-8-0 “Consolidation” type steam locomotive, which at the time of its construction was considered to be large for locomotives. No. 401 has a total weight of 82 tons spread over four pairs of driving wheels, and a two wheel leading truck.
Built primarily for use on freight trains, No. 401 was retired by the Southern in 1949 and sold to the Alabama Asphaltic Limestone Company of Margerum, Alabama, who used it for many years as a switcher locomotive at their quarry. In 1964, it was retired and placed into outdoor storage. The museum purchased it in 1967.
It was then shipped on a flat car to Decatur, Illinois, arriving in January 1968. It was unloaded and stored in Decatur until October 1971, when it and 12 other pieces of equipment were moved by rail to the museum site in Monticello. From 1971 to 1995, the locomotive was on static display at the museum, with occasional cosmetic work being done to stabilize it and prevent further deterioration.
In 1995, a donor stepped forward with a proposal to return an operating steam locomotive to the Monticello Railway Museum, as one had not ran since 1988. To that end, a process began to identify what locomotive we felt was the best candidate for restoration. After considering several alternatives, it was decided to restore No. 401 to operational status. After fifteen years of work, the locomotive operated at the museum for the first time in September 2010.
Scroll down to view pictures of No. 401 from the time it was built to present day, including photos of the restoration process.
No. 401 fresh out of the Baldwin Locomotive Works factory in December 1907.
No. 401 in storage at Decatur, Illinois before coming to the museum.
No. 401 on static display at the museum in 1989.
The first step in No. 401's restoration was to start the disassembly. Here, the engine is in the museum's back shop with its drivers removed.
With more parts removed, the boiler is ready to be removed from the frame.
We found many parts with quite a bit of wear.
After the boiler was removed, restoration work commenced on the frame.
No. 401's drivers were sent to the Norfolk Southern Railway's shop in Birmingham, Alabama for restoration. At the time, the Birmingham shop was home to steam locomotives participating in the Norfolk Southern's steam program. The tender for Norfolk & Western No. 1218 is in the background.
Meanwhile, back at Monticello, work on the frame continued.
It was determined that No. 401's old boiler was in too rough of shape to be restored, so a new one was fabricated in St. Louis, Missouri. Here, the new boiler is being prepared for shipment to Monticello.
A little frame straightening was needed. Here, burners are setup to heat the frame so it can be bent back into alignment.
It fits! The new boiler has been installed on the restored frame.
Work to prepare the boiler is underway. The drivers have returned from Birmingham and are being installed as well.
No. 401 is starting to look like a locomotive again. Here, supports are being added in preparation for installation of the cab.
The remaining driver sets are installed.
All the wheels are back under and the running boards start to appear.
Handrails start to appear.
Work on the cab begins.
Work continues with walkways and cab supports.
The turret is added.
Injector piping starts to be fitted.
Injectors are mounted.
The cab is ready to set on the frame.
Test firing the locomotive to ensure everything works properly and safely.
After final assembly and some more testing, the locomotive is painted.
At long last, No. 401 is ready to go. Here, the locomotives makes its first run at the museum on September 10, 2010.