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Atlanta and West Point No. 290 is a class P-74 4-6-2 steam locomotive. Her design is based on that of a USRA Heavy Pacific, and is the only surviving member of that type.
History[]
Atlanta and West Point 4-6-2 No. 290 was built in 1926 by the Lima Locomotive Works for the Atlanta and West Point Railroad. The engine is a 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific type steam locomotive, remarkably similar to Southern Railway's Ps-4s class. With sister locomotive No. 190 built for the Western Railway of Alabama, 290 pulled the Crescent passenger service from Atlanta, GA, to Montgomery, Alabama, until her retirement from revenue service in 1954. The locomotive was donated to the City of Atlanta and placed on display at Lakewood Park. The City, at the urging of Parks Director and former mayor William Hartsfield, decided to remove 290 from the park in the late 1960's. William Graham Claytor, President of the Southern Railway moved the engine to the railroad's Inman Yard for storage, with the intent of ultimately painting it to resemble one of their famous Ps4 class. Unfortunately, this was something the A&WP would never have any part of it, threatening to sue the Southern from using the engine, cancelling those developing plans. As part of the court settlement, the ownership of the engine was transferred to the Atlanta Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. It was eventually moved to the Chapter's Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth. The State of Georgia leased 290 in early 1986 for use on the State-owned New Georgia Railroad. The engine returned to active service in 1989 and made its first excursion run with a trip to Macon, GA. 290 ran for three more years until it was retired once again in 1992. Today, the 290 is undergoing a cosmetic restoration at the Southeastern Railway Museum.
Trivia[]
- Atlanta and West Point No. 290 appeared in the 1991 film "Fried Green Tomatoes". In order to reach one of the filming locations, the town of Senoia, GA, 290 made her first run over the Atlanta & West Point main in over 40 years, before diverging onto the ex-Central of Georgia C-line at Newnan.
- The locomotive was the subject of Pentrex's New Georgia Steam Excursions: A&WP #290, a film appealing to railfans covering a ceremonial run between Atlanta and Montgomery over 290's home rails.
- During it's stay at Lakewood park it's whistle would be removed and used on Gainesville Midland 203. This was done to celebrate the final run of steam on the Gainesville Midland. After the run the whistle would be returned to the locomotive and remains with it to this day.