| The 1973 national convention of the National Railway Historical Society was held in New Orleans, and the main event was this steam excursion over the Louisville & Nashville to Pascagoula, Mississippi and back. The train included 2-8-0 722 with water tender WT 51, 2-8-2 4501 with the WT 50, and 18 cars: sleeper 2422 LAKE PEARL, combine 726, coaches 1087, 1081 and 1086, commissary car CG 405, coaches 3659, 1067, 1068, 1037, 1036 and 1034, commissary car 4061, coaches 1038, 1039, 1046, 1069 MISSIONARY RIDGE and 1056 LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.Here - under dismal skies - was the westbound run (southbound by the L&N timetable) making the second of two photo run-bys on the Bay St. Louis trestle. Only one run-by was planned, but two of the passengers - SCL president Prime Osborne and Southern Railway president Graham Claytor - saw how much fun all of the photographers were having and decided to do this one more time! This bridge was fairly new, having been opened for traffic on 2 August 1967. |