Southern 6900 75th Anniversary

Southern Railway E-8 6900, constructed by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, will celebrate its 75th birthday in 2026. The Southern purchased seven E-8 locomotives, numbered 2923 – 2929, each generating 2,250 horsepower during September and October 1951. These locomotives were delivered under two orders – numbers 2039 and 2049. Southern’s E-8’s were used in passenger service, alongside previously purchased E-6 and E-7 locomotives.

These locomotives would be found pulling Southern’s main trains, including the Crescent, Southerner, and Birmingham Special. As originally delivered, 2923 had a lower headlight on the nose door, which was removed when renumbered to 6900. This was standard for all Southern E-8s, even the two operated by the Central of Georgia.

E-8 2923 was serviced at Spencer, NC, Atlanta, GA and Birmingham, AL throughout the 1950s and 1960s. On April 12, 1957, the 2923 received extensive rebuilding at Spencer, having dynamic brakes added, air tanks moved to the roof and water capacity for the steam generator increased to 1,600 gallons. Similar work was performed on the other six original units to make them compatible with later E-8 units 6906 – 6915.

Originally delivered in the 1950s green and imitation aluminum paint scheme, the 2923 changed to black by the early 1960s, which lasted until 1972. During that year, Southern consolidated all their E-8’s for use on the new Southern Crescent passenger train, repainting them green and changing the numbers of 2923 – 2928 to 6900 – 6905 and the 2929 to 6916. Newly renumbered 6900 continued to help pull the Southern Crescent until 1979, when the train was turned over to AMTRAK. Several of the E-8’s were sold by 1980 to Precision National or New Jersey DOT to continue operating commuter trains in the north. The 6900 was one of three donated by the Southern to museums for preservation.

During the Bicentennial in 1976, the Southern chose the E-8s to honor signers of the Declaration of Independence from southeastern states. These locomotives had a small red banner behind the cab doors on each side. The 6900 was named after Benjamin C. Harrison of Virginia. The original 1976 design was updated in 2026 for the 250th Anniversary of America and will be displayed throughout the year.

This locomotive was donated to the North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation in January 1980 and is currently on display in the Back Shop.