Clearing skies! A low morning overcast is finally breaking over Knoxville, TN as Southern Railway Locomotive 154 makes its way across the spectacular Holston River Bridge with some loads destined for industrial complexes east of the city.
This 2011 freight charter organized by Historic Transport Preservation (HTP) featured Southern Railway 154, an 1890-vintage, 2-8-0, which had recently been restored by Gulf & Ohio Railways, for use on its "Three Rivers Rambler" tourist operation in Knoxville. As we quickly found out, the bridge you see here is the clear centerpiece of this line. The light is good here early in the AM, and again later in the afternoon. In addition, the environment around this bridge features some nice structures and properties that offer a wide variety of compositions. A charter could literally spend half a day just working this location.
