Tennessee Valley Railroad 610

Tennessee Valley Railroad 610
TVRM No. 610 at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Serial number 75503 Build date March 1952
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-0  • UIC 1′D h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 56 in (1.422 m) Loco weight 163,000 lb (74,000 kg) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 220 psi (1.52 MPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts
Career Operators United States Army Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Numbers USA 610 TVRM 610 Retired 1972 Restored 1991 Current owner Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Disposition Awaiting 1472-day overhaul/restoration, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Tennessee Valley Railroad No. 610 is a coal-burning 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation for the U.S. Army in March 1952. It is one of the last steam locomotives built for service in the United States, and the last new steam locomotive acquired by the U.S. Army.

History

610 was one of eight steam locomotives for use on the Army railroad and was used to train soldiers in railroad operation in maintenance. It also was used for transport on the 31 mile long Fort Eustis Military Railroad to an interchange with the U.S. railroad at a junction in at Lee Hall, Virginia.

When the Fort Eustis Military Railroad decommissioned steam operations in 1972, the 610 was obtained by the Wiregrass Heritage Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in Dothan, Alabama. In 1978, it was donated to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, and following its 1991 restoration, it served as pulling power on the TVRM's excursions until 2010, and was also featured in country singer Josh Turner's music video for his hit song Long Black Train in 2003.

Following the completion of the restoration of Southern Railway 630 in 2011, No. 610 was moved to the facilities' Soule Shops, where it currently awaits an overhaul. When the overhaul is completed, No. 610 will continue in excursion service along with Southern Railway No. 630 and Southern Railway No. 4501. The 610 is currently down for her 1472-day federally mandated inspection and is currently awaiting an overhaul.

Popular Culture

Over the years #610 has been in several movies.

• Our Country, 2003 starring Marty Stuart, Earl Scruggs, Dolly Parton, etc.
• The Adventures of Ociee Nash 2003 starring Keith Carradine and Mare Winningham.
• Warm Springs 2005 starring Kenneth Branagh, Cynthia Nixon, Kathy Bates, Tim Blake Nelson, Jane Alexander, and David Paymer.
• Leatherheads, 2008 starring George Clooney, Renée Zellweger and John Krasinski. #610 was dolled up as a Chicago and Northwestern Railway locomotive.
• The Lost Valentine, 2011 starring Betty White & Jennifer Love Hewitt.
• Water for Elephants, 2013 starring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Hal Holbrook, and Christoph Waltz. #610 was dolled up as a Southern Pacific Railroad locomotive.