I really want to railfan that railroad, I used to watch the Ej&e as a kid before CN took it over. I’m glad that 654 looks almost the same as I remembered.
I was just thinking to myself "Cool. A train museum that earns revenue by performing a commercially useful function, instead of just hauling passengers on weekends." Although they have enough vintage rolling stock they could probably do that too.
Very nice documentary of the Hartwell. I was an engineer on the original railway from 1989 to 1991 when it had the two 44 tonners (no. 2 the original bought 1950, and no. 5 the original New York Ontario and Western number 104 bough second hand in the late 50's) and the SW-1 no. 7 ex New York Central no. 730 purchased from Amtrak in 1988 I believe. We had 6 active customers at the time I was there, at Air Line was inbound aggregate for a builder supply(which the B&LE SD-7 now sits on the unloading conveyor, inbound lumber at Ford Lumber, outbound sand loaded from an off line Mica mine at the site by the Lake Hartwell trestle, Monroe Shock Absorber which brought in lube oil and shipped scrap aluminum, Mearret Brothers Feed that brought in corn, milo, and shipped out winter wheat, and Hartwell Fertilizer that brought inbound fertilizer for local farmers. Too bad you couldn't have experienced the original freight and steam excursions back then.Was a neat time to have been a part before Bennie Ray bought it and changed things. My two videos I have from the original operating day of June 18, 1983 my friend videotaped and the Rail Fan Day on the Hartwell are my most prized possession from those times because now the original line resembles more of a junk yard than what I remember it being.
Very Interesting, George. Why were you only there from "1989 to 1981"?? Did you move on to "greener pastures" as an engineer? Have you noticed, as I have.... that increasingly over the past 5 years +/- , that people (even those who "claim" to be railroaders)... are using the term "Train DRIVERS".... instead of Engineers?? I've commented numerous times that you Can't and Don't "drive" a train... you operate it, or back even further... engineer's were sometimes referred to as train "Handlers".... especially if they were really good as engineer's. One doesn't get to "drive" (steer) a locomotive around curves, etc, etc. What are your thoughts on that? I know that in Europe.... Engineer's have been referred to as "Drivers" for a very long time... to me, that's just "wrong". : )
@ Of course I do! We had a time switching on Georgia's version of The Hooterville before things changed hands. I still have the pic you took of me running the SW-1which is framed. Only took 34 years to meet up by chance here. Who knew!
@ I would have never left, but things didn't work out when it changed hands and I went to another railroad for better pay. I'm retired now so it's all good. I do miss it though, but that was a different time and things today are different in the railroad world. Today's crowd don't know the correct identification of a train anymore, but that's mostly due to it slowly fading from interest with this generation.
@@georgecarter838 Same here, As far as not working out. After I went to the Great Walton I left in about 6 months. B R Sr had said he was going to bring me back to Hartwell, but it never happened. I have fond memories of our time on Hartwell, Along with Dal C., Paul. F, Craig, your wife in the office, I even missed Lee C. ....(Actually had a lot of respect for Lee, just didn't always want show it, LOL). In those times Hartwell was a unique railroad with a unique crew, and we all loved railroading. I ended up going to work for Sperry Rail Service in early 91' and traveled with them a couple of years. Spent my last year with them on the Southern Pacific in Colorado and Utah. I left them to take a supervisory job in Atlanta in a plastics extrusion plant, that was the end my railroading as a career. I've been a local truck driver for XPO Logistics (Formerly Conway) for the last 15 years +. Still love railroads. My wife and I take excursions occasionally. Your right, its a different era now. My Wife and I are cleaning out our basement preparing to finish the inside, and while going through old pictures I still have that one of you in #7 as well, just not framed though...lol
Thanks for posting. This brought back a lot of memories. I grew up in Lavonia in the 1960's and watched this train almost daily as a boy. At that time it was owned and operated by Southern Railway. They operated out of Toccoa, GA in the late afternoon into the night going as far as Elberton, GA. The train always stopped in Lavonia and the crew ate dinner at a local restaurant on the square. It was not unusual to see them pulling 45 or 50 cars daily.
A few years ago, my wife and I would take the long drive from Jacksonville to Toccoa by way of state road 17. My fascination with trains was piqued when we drove by Elberton north to Toccoa. You ahve filled in many gaps for us. Thank you.
More shortlines and smaller railroads like this need attention. They are what keep a ton of our small businesses up and running when the class ones got too big to care.
One of them tipped over in my city spreading big chunks of concrete onto the busy road next to it where people walk all the time, could have easily killed someone
Benny Ray loved his railroad. I think he actually died in one of his locomotives. I rode with him on the Athens Line using a locomotive to cut flangeways through asphalt the company I worked for had just laid. I asked him what he wanted me to do about the flangeways. He said “let me go get an engine and we’ll make them”. Dude was a hoot.
Agreed. I knew him for ages. Did a lot of work for his operations. Always a gentleman. I also heard he died in one of his locomotives in Social Circle.
This is absolutely incredible. That weathered and worn but still original look is absolutely fantastic. Don't get me wrong, freshly painted and bright and shiny is great, but nothing beats the look of something that looks used. That real 'still in service' look. So long is the innards work well, the outside doesn't have to look pretty!
Great to see the old locomotives running. BTW...that was actually a pretty rare Porsche, looks like a 996 GT3. A light weight 911. They were made in the early 2000's. Great video.
I'm a track worker from the UK, That is so strange to see a railway line so buckled and the fact theress no fences seperating you from the track crazy how close you can get to it
@spaceage1060 wasn't the decline of industry mate 1960s was the downfall the government hired Dr Richard Beeching to "Fix" British railways it's an interesting read when you get into it
I could tell you so many stories of Hartwell Railroad. I got to ride on it for approximately 3 years. I actually helped change a turbo screen on #138. was in Lavonia when 1973 was delivered from Norfolk southern
Thank you for documenting this train on the Hartwell Railroad. I enjoyed seeing all the locomotives from Fallen Flags in this video. The Hartwell Railroad also looks like it needs some track rehabilitation. I was amazed at the way the locomotives were bouncing and swaying as they approached. I thought that the train needed to slow down, or it would rock off the track. (Posted on 27 January 2025 at 1431 CST.)
Awesome relics, I love the rocking of the SD38 as it neared your camera!!! #654 is beautiful! I am from the SLR territory in MAINE! Those tracks are in need of some upgrades! Thanks for sharing! I think the #654 is the first SD 38 I’ve ever seen! Pan Am had leased some of the Sisters to the #3000 in the earlier 2010+ years!
That rocking back & forth is called in railroad language harmonic rock.we ha a rule on the Union Pacific that u were not to continue on a speed of between of 15mph to 22mph on certain portions of track because that was when it was at its worse & could cause the car to flip off the track.
Ancient alignment that could absolutely use being redone but the GRWR which operates the old HRT line in doesn't see enough traffic for it to pay for itself. It's only 10 miles of track on a Class III railroad.
Those old engines just like an ol loyal friend ready to go and get er sun. Still ready to do some work and sound off! Awesome video!!! Does my heart good to see them still needed.
So many things to like about this video.....old locomotives, outstanding drone shots, worker throwing the switch stand at 2:17, and wavy rails. Well done my friend.
It surprises me to see an old St Lawrence and Atlantic locomotive in Georgia. The St Lawrence and Atlantic is a short line railroad is based in Maine where I live. The railroad only has one route. It runs between Montreal, Quebec in Canada all the way to Portland, ME.
While I no longer live there, the Leadville, Colorado railroad has two old GP9’s that it runs on its 14 miles of track. It starts at 10,200 feet and goes up to 12,000 feet or so. It is landlocked, so all repairs have to be completed onsite.
Have watched many of your videos covering line operations, as well as some of the accidents and recovery operations after the fact, but had for whatever reason never 'pressed' that button - well rectified that little thing. Nice video covering the Hartwell RR.
Wow! I worked for the Hartwell, and Hart county Scenic, from 1987-1991. Was trainman on freight operations, and Fireman on the Ex Arkansas Reader #11 in 1987-88 before it was sold to Kentucky Central. Of course then we interchanged with NS in Bowersville. Btw, the coach(s), we had two, are ex Erie Lackawanna 😊
How many customers were on the line. Now a days you can make out a spur to a business in Hartwell but that’s about it. Was there anything between Bowersville and Hartwell?
We had about 5 customers, Monroe Auto parts ( Later Tenneco but shut down a few years ago) Georgia farm bureau, had grain silos behind depot, Goldkist fertilizer across street from depot, those last two were seasonal. Also trans loaded specialty aggregate for shockboton concrete in airline, and trans loaded silica sand out of royston, that was done by the trestle. Most weeks we ran 5 days, about 2-5 cars a day
@ Thank you for the reply. Now that you mentioned those grain silos behind the depot, I do remember those. When I was college, I used to ride and check out all the old railroad around stuff and I venture up around that part of the world a decent amount. By that time in the mid to late 2000s, the line on the original Hartwell was mostly used for storage cars by then. Saw them running a good bit on Toccoa to Elberton line though.
Yes..those Erie Lackawana cars were actually motorized. They ran on the Gladstone Branch from NYC through Newark NJ and and on up. If I remember correctly about the time you were active you also had two GE 44tonners,one of which was from the New York Ontario and Western.
Yes, we did have two GE 44 tonners. Checkout Georgecarter838 post on this video, he has the history on them. They were donated to a museum shortly after I came off Hart Scenic and hired on the HRT, so I had very little time at the throttle in them. A little factoid about them, they were believed to be the only pair of ge 44 tonners, still operating, with MU capability, and we did occasionally use them MU. They were replaced by an EMD SW1 that we purchased from Amtrak.
little fun fact about the rio grand The Rio Grand bought UP back in the day and they just switch the name from Rio Grand to Union Pacific so the Rio Grand is still existing just under a diffrend name
I have railfanned this line many times on trips to Toccoa, Ga., usually on Fridays. Hardly ever any traffic on Fridays though. It does conncet to NS at Toccoa so would be neat to catch that action. The SD 7 did operate on this line at one time though. That 125 t GE is a rare find. Good wook. Blessings Andy
I am fascinated by these little railroads that serve local businesses. I love the old engines, especially the RF&P engine. I grew up a few blocks from Broad Street Station in Richmond, VA. That station was the southern terminus for the RF&P. As others have said, I like this operation, but they could use some investment in their roadbed. I know that is expensive work, but accidents are expensive too.
It was very kool to see so many vintage locomotives. Most of them were locomotive types that I ran in my early days on the Texas & Pacific Railway out of New Orleans, now part of the UP via the Missouri Pacific merger.
I'm surprised the FRA still allows the tracks to be active..... That swaying as the trains trundle along make me nervous. The right of way looks like it needs some serious upkeep.
Really great video, as always. Thanks for taking us with you to these kinds of places. Great to see the old power still in service, and helping keep the short lines rolling. I noticed a lot of old MoW equipment along the way, too. Pretty cool. Thanks again.
My grandpa and oldest brother both worked for the E&JE at the Kirk Yard in Gary In. I don't know if my grandpa retired there but, my brother did in 2012. My grandpa was a switchman there. I still carry his key. My brother started as a switchman and ended as a engineer. My brother probably ran the 654 and my grandpa was probably riding on it a few times.
There's a very good chance my grandfather operated the green and gold engine back when it was at it's home railroad. There's another EJ&E that CN owns and uses in the yard near my house. Another great railroad in Upper Michigan uses really old engines like that, they even have an F7 still in service. I think that's the Escanaba and Northern.
That was great seeing the EJ&E 654! I lived near the J tracks for a few years as a kid and became a train lover because of that railroad. I would see 654 quite alot back in the late 80's.
The pullman car was a Erie Lackawanna wicker liner that ran in New Jersey on Erie Lackawanna and NJTransits Hoboken division Gladstone branch morris and essex branch and by my fathers house from 1931 to 1981
Check out my earlier posts. I identified them and mentioned the Gladstone Line but forgot the Morris and Essex. I think I rode that one just for the ride in 1968 or 1969
I was more surprised to see a CNW high nose Diesel as I thought they had turned them into Low noses. Guess some escaped that fate. Really cool seeing high nose engines still in use decades later. Edit: An SD7 i just realized is honestly realy rare and kind if sad to see scavenged for parts. Most railroads didnt opt for the 6 axle 1500 HP diesels early on and they were limited to mainly Midwest railroads. Definitely something i wish could be preserved but it might be too far gone at this point and im sure they still jeed it for valuable parts. Still amazing to see it still existing all these years later.
I love about 5 miles away from this line. I sure wish they could afford to paint these into their original colors. They used to have a high-hood Chessie GP9.
Hey! Thank you for showing the "J" in its glorious bright ORANGE! Ever since we moved from Villa Park, IL to far NE corner of Aurora IL on 9/9/1999, we enjoyed seeing the "J" out the back of our brand new house. Of course, on 1/1/2008 the "J" was sold to CN. One summer day in 1976, when I was 12, I bicycled from Lombard IL via the IL Prairie Path (the former CA&E) Elgin branch to NE of Wayne. Just as I as I was about to hand carry my old 3-speed over the EJ&E rails, I encountered an approaching ORANGE "J" loco. I'll never forget that. Every time I ride my bicycle past that spot, I always recall the first time I saw the bright ORANGE "the J" loco. In the late 1990's I got the opportunity to sell the EJ&E a UPS system to protect their control room so I enjoyed visiting that old facility and meeting some of their people. Thank you for showing this!
Just an FYI that St Lawrence And Atlantic RR still exists and is owned by the Gennesee & Wyoming RR now. I literally saw a SLR loco pushing a propane train this morning at their yard in Poland, ME.
Ahh yes the Hartwell Railroad. They still operate old power well into later years. Most of those engines are in operational condition. However some are still in horrible condition.
I just LOVE the way #654 sways from side to side while running down the track. 👉 06:20. 😂 I'm gonna try to get my heavy Overland Models HO brass engines to act the same way on a layout. It looks so cool! 👍😎
I grew up around Covington, Ga, when the Great Walton used to lease the track between Porterdale, Ga and Machen, Ga near Shady Dale. They had interchanges with CSX in Covington, and with NS in Machen. They had several ex Southern and ex Chessie units still painted in their original schemes, but at one point repainted one of them in a scheme very similar to the original Southern green and white paint scheme, but lettered it The Great Walton Railroad. It was a beautiful paintjob! Sadly, the Porterdale to Newborn line lost all but one customer due to various factors including the economy, truck vs rail logistics costs, and just lack of industrial customers requiring rail service. The lease was terminated, and Norfolk Southern abandoned the track in the mid 2000s. In the 2010s, the City of Covington and Newton County purchased the abandoned right of way (after NS removed all track and equipment) and turned it into a rails to trails walking path. The GWR locomotives were unceremoniously moved via the CSX interchange to Social Circle, and were put on the remaining Great Walton track between Social Circle and Monroe, Ga. I believe theres a locomotive and equipment rebuild shop in Monroe where the locomotives may still be stored. The company also owned the Athens Line which interchanged with NS i think, and served the University of GA Steam Plant delivering a few carloads a month of coal.
they need to do some SERIOUS roadbed work!!! but if you want old stock there's a short line (i forget the name right off!!) up around Columbus in Ohio that did or still runs steam on some of their freight hauls!!!
Awesome subject and great coverage!~! Being born in 1954 in Marietta, GA and roots between Athens (Royston) and the Statesboro area . . . I TRULY APPRECIATE THIS VIDEO, great job of covering the 'ghosts' of the days gone by!~! 😀
I really want to railfan that railroad, I used to watch the Ej&e as a kid before CN took it over. I’m glad that 654 looks almost the same as I remembered.
The HRT is possibly one of best railroads out there. Their company is practically a museum!
i live in central VA lol
@CentralVARails I grew up in Richmond. VA
A working museum at that.
I was just thinking to myself "Cool. A train museum that earns revenue by performing a commercially useful function, instead of just hauling passengers on weekends." Although they have enough vintage rolling stock they could probably do that too.
Very nice documentary of the Hartwell. I was an engineer on the original railway from 1989 to 1991 when it had the two 44 tonners (no. 2 the original bought 1950, and no. 5 the original New York Ontario and Western number 104 bough second hand in the late 50's) and the SW-1 no. 7 ex New York Central no. 730 purchased from Amtrak in 1988 I believe.
We had 6 active customers at the time I was there, at Air Line was inbound aggregate for a builder supply(which the B&LE SD-7 now sits on the unloading conveyor, inbound lumber at Ford Lumber, outbound sand loaded from an off line Mica mine at the site by the Lake Hartwell trestle, Monroe Shock Absorber which brought in lube oil and shipped scrap aluminum, Mearret Brothers Feed that brought in corn, milo, and shipped out winter wheat, and Hartwell Fertilizer that brought inbound fertilizer for local farmers.
Too bad you couldn't have experienced the original freight and steam excursions back then.Was a neat time to have been a part before Bennie Ray bought it and changed things.
My two videos I have from the original operating day of June 18, 1983 my friend videotaped and the Rail Fan Day on the Hartwell are my most prized possession from those times because now the original line resembles more of a junk yard than what I remember it being.
Very Interesting, George. Why were you only there from "1989 to 1981"?? Did you move on to "greener pastures" as an engineer? Have you noticed, as I have.... that increasingly over the past 5 years +/- , that people (even those who "claim" to be railroaders)... are using the term "Train DRIVERS".... instead of Engineers??
I've commented numerous times that you Can't and Don't "drive" a train... you operate it, or back even further... engineer's were sometimes referred to as train "Handlers".... especially if they were really good as engineer's. One doesn't get to "drive" (steer) a locomotive around curves, etc, etc. What are your thoughts on that? I know that in Europe.... Engineer's have been referred to as "Drivers" for a very long time... to me, that's just "wrong". : )
@@georgecarter838 hello, you know who this is? ...lol, a former coworker
@ Of course I do! We had a time switching on Georgia's version of The Hooterville before things changed hands. I still have the pic you took of me running the SW-1which is framed. Only took 34 years to meet up by chance here. Who knew!
@ I would have never left, but things didn't work out when it changed hands and I went to another railroad for better pay. I'm retired now so it's all good. I do miss it though, but that was a different time and things today are different in the railroad world. Today's crowd don't know the correct identification of a train anymore, but that's mostly due to it slowly fading from interest with this generation.
@@georgecarter838 Same here, As far as not working out. After I went to the Great Walton I left in about 6 months. B R Sr had said he was going to bring me back to Hartwell, but it never happened. I have fond memories of our time on Hartwell, Along with Dal C., Paul. F, Craig, your wife in the office, I even missed Lee C. ....(Actually had a lot of respect for Lee, just didn't always want show it, LOL). In those times Hartwell was a unique railroad with a unique crew, and we all loved railroading. I ended up going to work for Sperry Rail Service in early 91' and traveled with them a couple of years. Spent my last year with them on the Southern Pacific in Colorado and Utah. I left them to take a supervisory job in Atlanta in a plastics extrusion plant, that was the end my railroading as a career. I've been a local truck driver for XPO Logistics (Formerly Conway) for the last 15 years +. Still love railroads. My wife and I take excursions occasionally. Your right, its a different era now. My Wife and I are cleaning out our basement preparing to finish the inside, and while going through old pictures I still have that one of you in #7 as well, just not framed though...lol
Thanks for posting. This brought back a lot of memories. I grew up in Lavonia in the 1960's and watched this train almost daily as a boy. At that time it was owned and operated by Southern Railway. They operated out of Toccoa, GA in the late afternoon into the night going as far as Elberton, GA. The train always stopped in Lavonia and the crew ate dinner at a local restaurant on the square. It was not unusual to see them pulling 45 or 50 cars daily.
A few years ago, my wife and I would take the long drive from Jacksonville to Toccoa by way of state road 17. My fascination with trains was piqued when we drove by Elberton north to Toccoa. You ahve filled in many gaps for us. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Those locomotives are really awesome!
Come on JT, hell this guy get to 100k
It is awesome to see old Iron still running the rails and atill being productive and not just being left to rot.
The rocking is insane 6:20
More shortlines and smaller railroads like this need attention. They are what keep a ton of our small businesses up and running when the class ones got too big to care.
One of them tipped over in my city spreading big chunks of concrete onto the busy road next to it where people walk all the time, could have easily killed someone
Benny Ray loved his railroad. I think he actually died in one of his locomotives. I rode with him on the Athens Line using a locomotive to cut flangeways through asphalt the company I worked for had just laid. I asked him what he wanted me to do about the flangeways. He said “let me go get an engine and we’ll make them”. Dude was a hoot.
Sounds like a guy who just got things done and love what he did !
Agreed. I knew him for ages. Did a lot of work for his operations. Always a gentleman. I also heard he died in one of his locomotives in Social Circle.
Loved his railroad. Was like his 1:1 scale layout.
This is absolutely incredible. That weathered and worn but still original look is absolutely fantastic.
Don't get me wrong, freshly painted and bright and shiny is great, but nothing beats the look of something that looks used. That real 'still in service' look.
So long is the innards work well, the outside doesn't have to look pretty!
Great to see the old locomotives running. BTW...that was actually a pretty rare Porsche, looks like a 996 GT3. A light weight 911. They were made in the early 2000's. Great video.
I'm a track worker from the UK, That is so strange to see a railway line so buckled and the fact theress no fences seperating you from the track crazy how close you can get to it
The UK used to have many industrial lines in various conditions. Shame most of them vanished with the decline of industry in the nation.
@spaceage1060 wasn't the decline of industry mate 1960s was the downfall the government hired Dr Richard Beeching to "Fix" British railways it's an interesting read when you get into it
@RSG003 Thank you, I don't really keep track of the history over there.
I could tell you so many stories of Hartwell Railroad. I got to ride on it for approximately 3 years. I actually helped change a turbo screen on #138. was in Lavonia when 1973 was delivered from Norfolk southern
Man, as soon as the video started the Hartwell RR was the 1st thing to come to my mind, lol. Enjoyed the video as always !
Super cool to see all this history still at work.
As a man that lives along an ex EJE line, I like that we have a survivor in Prestigious condition
Thanks for another great video. Always love seeing these old locomotives
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for documenting this train on the Hartwell Railroad. I enjoyed seeing all the locomotives from Fallen Flags in this video. The Hartwell Railroad also looks like it needs some track rehabilitation. I was amazed at the way the locomotives were bouncing and swaying as they approached. I thought that the train needed to slow down, or it would rock off the track. (Posted on 27 January 2025 at 1431 CST.)
Thanks for watching!
I love railroads that run old equipment and original paint (cleaned) and weathered paint too. Love the vid ❤
Great job, Tommy. Your videos are superb. My family hails from Joliet, IL, and the J is close to my heart. Funny to see it running in GA!
love the old iron butt i believe they need some track maintence now
brokenassrailroadsrus.
all that money they save on painting the locos is going to the trackwork. probably?
Awesome relics, I love the rocking of the SD38 as it neared your camera!!! #654 is beautiful! I am from the SLR territory in MAINE! Those tracks are in need of some upgrades!
Thanks for sharing!
I think the #654 is the first SD 38 I’ve ever seen! Pan Am had leased some of the Sisters to the #3000 in the earlier 2010+ years!
That rocking back & forth is called in railroad language harmonic rock.we ha a rule on the Union Pacific that u were not to continue on a speed of between of 15mph to 22mph on certain portions of track because that was when it was at its worse & could cause the car to flip off the track.
Ancient alignment that could absolutely use being redone but the GRWR which operates the old HRT line in doesn't see enough traffic for it to pay for itself. It's only 10 miles of track on a Class III railroad.
Those old engines just like an ol loyal friend ready to go and get er sun. Still ready to do some work and sound off! Awesome video!!! Does my heart good to see them still needed.
That EJ& E used to run by my house all the time in Griffith Indiana. Sad to see it is down south now.
Serious lack of track maintenance. At speed, the loco looks like it will tip over.
So many things to like about this video.....old locomotives, outstanding drone shots, worker throwing the switch stand at 2:17, and wavy rails. Well done my friend.
Thanks!
0:24 Seriously, looks like that Porsche is going to be nailed even though that's not the case ☠️
4:20, this is also an EJ&E locomotive (under the patch on the cab, you can make out The J"), glad one of these is still around
That opening shot was amazing, another great video!!
Thanks!
It’s really nice to see fallen flags left on short lines
Really great video. Well shot, well edited, no annoying music, and just the right narrative.
1:45 the unevenness of those rails are mind boggling, the train and cars about to tip right over
Rock 'n Roll Railroad.
So sweet to see these classics still on the go.
It surprises me to see an old St Lawrence and Atlantic locomotive in Georgia. The St Lawrence and Atlantic is a short line railroad is based in Maine where I live. The railroad only has one route. It runs between Montreal, Quebec in Canada all the way to Portland, ME.
While I no longer live there, the Leadville, Colorado railroad has two old GP9’s that it runs on its 14 miles of track. It starts at 10,200 feet and goes up to 12,000 feet or so. It is landlocked, so all repairs have to be completed onsite.
Have watched many of your videos covering line operations, as well as some of the accidents and recovery operations after the fact, but had for whatever reason never 'pressed' that button - well rectified that little thing. Nice video covering the Hartwell RR.
I love content like this. My model railroad is set in 1970’s. I like to preserve the history of the fallen flags.
Wow! I worked for the Hartwell, and Hart county Scenic, from 1987-1991. Was trainman on freight operations, and Fireman on the Ex Arkansas Reader #11 in 1987-88 before it was sold to Kentucky Central. Of course then we interchanged with NS in Bowersville. Btw, the coach(s), we had two, are ex Erie Lackawanna 😊
How many customers were on the line. Now a days you can make out a spur to a business in Hartwell but that’s about it. Was there anything between Bowersville and Hartwell?
We had about 5 customers, Monroe Auto parts ( Later Tenneco but shut down a few years ago) Georgia farm bureau, had grain silos behind depot, Goldkist fertilizer across street from depot, those last two were seasonal. Also trans loaded specialty aggregate for shockboton concrete in airline, and trans loaded silica sand out of royston, that was done by the trestle. Most weeks we ran 5 days, about 2-5 cars a day
@ Thank you for the reply. Now that you mentioned those grain silos behind the depot, I do remember those. When I was college, I used to ride and check out all the old railroad around stuff and I venture up around that part of the world a decent amount. By that time in the mid to late 2000s, the line on the original Hartwell was mostly used for storage cars by then. Saw them running a good bit on Toccoa to Elberton line though.
Yes..those Erie Lackawana cars were actually motorized. They ran on the Gladstone Branch from NYC through Newark NJ and and on up.
If I remember correctly about the time you were active you also had two GE 44tonners,one of which was from the New York Ontario and Western.
Yes, we did have two GE 44 tonners. Checkout Georgecarter838 post on this video, he has the history on them. They were donated to a museum shortly after I came off Hart Scenic and hired on the HRT, so I had very little time at the throttle in them. A little factoid about them, they were believed to be the only pair of ge 44 tonners, still operating, with MU capability, and we did occasionally use them MU. They were replaced by an EMD SW1 that we purchased from Amtrak.
The Hartwell is my kind of railroading. Thanks for doing this.
Thanks for watching!
I would not only get seasick, but I 'd worry about the engine tipping over! It's always fascinating to take a look back in time.
After a very short period of time the main struggle goes from worry to trying and stay awake. Ten miles an hour can be very soothing.
I love seeing vintage EMD power still being used on daily jobs for short lines. That SD38 is a very nice oddity. Bet she still pulls great.
Nice footage & presentation.
Wow. I can’t believe that thing stays on the rails the way it bobs and weaves.
little fun fact about the rio grand The Rio Grand bought UP back in the day and they just switch the name from Rio Grand to Union Pacific so the Rio Grand is still existing just under a diffrend name
Great video! It’s awesome to see the short lines out there “doing the work”!!
I have railfanned this line many times on trips to Toccoa, Ga., usually on Fridays. Hardly ever any traffic on Fridays though. It does conncet to NS at Toccoa so would be neat to catch that action. The SD 7 did operate on this line at one time though. That 125 t GE is a rare find. Good wook. Blessings Andy
I am fascinated by these little railroads that serve local businesses. I love the old engines, especially the RF&P engine. I grew up a few blocks from Broad Street Station in Richmond, VA. That station was the southern terminus for the RF&P. As others have said, I like this operation, but they could use some investment in their roadbed. I know that is expensive work, but accidents are expensive too.
It was very kool to see so many vintage locomotives. Most of them were locomotive types that I ran in my early days on the Texas & Pacific Railway out of New Orleans, now part of the UP via the Missouri Pacific merger.
I'm surprised the FRA still allows the tracks to be active..... That swaying as the trains trundle along make me nervous. The right of way looks like it needs some serious upkeep.
Really great video, as always. Thanks for taking us with you to these kinds of places. Great to see the old power still in service, and helping keep the short lines rolling. I noticed a lot of old MoW equipment along the way, too. Pretty cool. Thanks again.
good ole Hartwell! the rolling museum! usually the DRG&W geep sits/works the feed mill where the 89ft flat car is used at
Maybe a touch of MOW way needed? That oscillation looks a little troublesome. And yes, that horn does still work.
Sri Lankan railways still uses emd g 12 and mlw Mx 680s
My grandpa and oldest brother both worked for the E&JE at the Kirk Yard in Gary In. I don't know if my grandpa retired there but, my brother did in 2012. My grandpa was a switchman there. I still carry his key. My brother started as a switchman and ended as a engineer. My brother probably ran the 654 and my grandpa was probably riding on it a few times.
EJ&E and B&LE are some of my favorite
The J’s 654 used to rip past my house twice a day. Now the line is owned by CN
You should take a look at the Carolina Coastal Railway! They’re still running Ex-GTW GP9Rs from ‘57 and ‘58 here
There's a very good chance my grandfather operated the green and gold engine back when it was at it's home railroad. There's another EJ&E that CN owns and uses in the yard near my house. Another great railroad in Upper Michigan uses really old engines like that, they even have an F7 still in service. I think that's the Escanaba and Northern.
That was great seeing the EJ&E 654! I lived near the J tracks for a few years as a kid and became a train lover because of that railroad. I would see 654 quite alot back in the late 80's.
That track is very wavey!
Funny that Rio Grande 3044s sister is on the Wheeling and Lake Erie (3045). She had been painted in the W&LE paint tho.
Really well shot. Nice capture.
It would be a blast to ride on the front bar when it's swaying. Another fine story. Thanks !
Thanks!
Just watched a video posted 7 months ago and that Rio Grande definitely runs
The pullman car was a Erie Lackawanna wicker liner that ran in New Jersey on Erie Lackawanna and NJTransits Hoboken division Gladstone branch morris and essex branch and by my fathers house from 1931 to 1981
Thanks! I was wondering about that thing.
Check out my earlier posts. I identified them and mentioned the Gladstone Line but forgot the Morris and Essex. I think I rode that one just for the ride in 1968 or 1969
I was more surprised to see a CNW high nose Diesel as I thought they had turned them into Low noses. Guess some escaped that fate. Really cool seeing high nose engines still in use decades later.
Edit: An SD7 i just realized is honestly realy rare and kind if sad to see scavenged for parts. Most railroads didnt opt for the 6 axle 1500 HP diesels early on and they were limited to mainly Midwest railroads. Definitely something i wish could be preserved but it might be too far gone at this point and im sure they still jeed it for valuable parts. Still amazing to see it still existing all these years later.
Hi V12 productions, I really love your videos. They are all trains and I love trains a lot. Keep it up and good job with your videos!😊
This is the first time I've seen one of his videos. Great, clear narration, and top notch video editing. Bravo. I will subscribe.
That 125-tonner is really, really cool. Can’t be many more of those still around.
I love about 5 miles away from this line. I sure wish they could afford to paint these into their original colors. They used to have a high-hood Chessie GP9.
Absolutely made my day!
Bless us with a Jasper/Tate Ga piece like this
Hey! Thank you for showing the "J" in its glorious bright ORANGE! Ever since we moved from Villa Park, IL to far NE corner of Aurora IL on 9/9/1999, we enjoyed seeing the "J" out the back of our brand new house. Of course, on 1/1/2008 the "J" was sold to CN. One summer day in 1976, when I was 12, I bicycled from Lombard IL via the IL Prairie Path (the former CA&E) Elgin branch to NE of Wayne. Just as I as I was about to hand carry my old 3-speed over the EJ&E rails, I encountered an approaching ORANGE "J" loco. I'll never forget that. Every time I ride my bicycle past that spot, I always recall the first time I saw the bright ORANGE "the J" loco. In the late 1990's I got the opportunity to sell the EJ&E a UPS system to protect their control room so I enjoyed visiting that old facility and meeting some of their people. Thank you for showing this!
Just an FYI that St Lawrence And Atlantic RR still exists and is owned by the Gennesee & Wyoming RR now. I literally saw a SLR loco pushing a propane train this morning at their yard in Poland, ME.
I saw some SLR locomotives in auburn. A MAC and a couple Geeps. And a grey ghost
@@therailfanman2078 I saw one of the locos in the Honoring Our Troops scheme that G&W recently released. It looks pretty sharp!
Great video, Charlie! Your Consistent and Strong 💪 Efforts are Very Worthy of 100k Subscribers. Thanks and Good Luck! 👍🙏
Ahh yes the Hartwell Railroad. They still operate old power well into later years. Most of those engines are in operational condition. However some are still in horrible condition.
GVT and Falls Road in NY exclusively use old Alcos
I'm Glad That There's SD7 In This Video Too Bad It's Rusting Away
There's something about watching old power work, as opposed to all the newer power. Reminds me of simpler, better times.
4556 sounds great doing the switch 👍
Hey am a emd gp9 fan to I love how the locomotive looks and the sound is my fav thing about the gp9
I just LOVE the way #654 sways from side to side while running down the track. 👉 06:20. 😂 I'm gonna try to get my heavy Overland Models HO brass engines to act the same way on a layout. It looks so cool! 👍😎
Wow! That old 4556 sounds smooth as butter. No smoke either. Running like a champ!
love me some true last mile railroading, ESPECIALLY with vintage equipment
awesome vid dude
These trains are rock'n rolling hard, I wonder how the crews feel it on board.
I came to say the same thing. Love these bumpy tracks.
Probably like a lookout in the crow's nest on a stormy night
It feels like being in a boat on rough water. Lol
Hello from the UK, i was never interested in American locos but over the last few years I have watched some great videos, thank you
Lived next to the J as a kid 70/80s. Probably had that unit go by numerous times.
The SRY shortline near my area has old gp9s, sd38s and one sd35 which is pretty cool.
Cool operation! I had no idea it existed until this video.
I grew up around Covington, Ga, when the Great Walton used to lease the track between Porterdale, Ga and Machen, Ga near Shady Dale. They had interchanges with CSX in Covington, and with NS in Machen. They had several ex Southern and ex Chessie units still painted in their original schemes, but at one point repainted one of them in a scheme very similar to the original Southern green and white paint scheme, but lettered it The Great Walton Railroad. It was a beautiful paintjob! Sadly, the Porterdale to Newborn line lost all but one customer due to various factors including the economy, truck vs rail logistics costs, and just lack of industrial customers requiring rail service. The lease was terminated, and Norfolk Southern abandoned the track in the mid 2000s. In the 2010s, the City of Covington and Newton County purchased the abandoned right of way (after NS removed all track and equipment) and turned it into a rails to trails walking path. The GWR locomotives were unceremoniously moved via the CSX interchange to Social Circle, and were put on the remaining Great Walton track between Social Circle and Monroe, Ga. I believe theres a locomotive and equipment rebuild shop in Monroe where the locomotives may still be stored. The company also owned the Athens Line which interchanged with NS i think, and served the University of GA Steam Plant delivering a few carloads a month of coal.
they need to do some SERIOUS roadbed work!!! but if you want old stock there's a short line (i forget the name right off!!) up around Columbus in Ohio that did or still runs steam on some of their freight hauls!!!
Hi V12 Productions & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks V12 Productions & Friends Randy
Awesome subject and great coverage!~! Being born in 1954 in Marietta, GA and roots between Athens (Royston) and the Statesboro area . . . I TRULY APPRECIATE THIS VIDEO, great job of covering the 'ghosts' of the days gone by!~! 😀
if they work, they work.
Oh and I also used to love cars when I was little the Porsche was a surprise
Awesome old classic Locomotives
Great video of the area. My grandmother lived in Toccoa GA. Will have to make a trip back to check this out.
Interesting. That whistle sign on the locomotive caught my attention.