Re: 1990 CRRM run weekend Part 2

FYI,
I was here in Atlanta in high school (1968-1973) and college. I was very fortunate to be a member of the Atlanta Chapter NRHS. We owned S&A 750 - one of the four original steamers Southern used on fan trips.
We had 750 running out of Atlanta (I think) for four days in the spring, four days in the fall and two days in the middle of summer. Ten mainline steam trips per year!
I recall many happy times in the open car traveling at 60+MPH behind the old girl. I do think that a time or two we hit 70 (51 second mile).
I've got some footage somewhere of some of the last passenger moves on the Gainesville Midland RR. The GM ran its last passenger train in 1959. However, unlike most passengers who went into town, I stayed with the train. Southern used the GM wye and I helped service her even though I was a paying passenger. Riding through Gainesville GA on freight only-trackage.
This was why when I rode Eureka in the 1997 and we were at Big Horn, I walked up to tape the wooding up Eureka of and then walked forward and actually help in the "bucket brigade" handing wood across to Eureka's tender from the box car. I think this was the green wood that Earl said was supposedly seasoned by the wood seller.
Anyway, It was a sad day when NS dropped the excursion fires. Now there are no active steamers in Georgia (except when TVRM runs their trips into northwest GA).
Doug