Tom

Tom is a former Southern Railway A-7 class 0-6-0 that now lives on the Knoxville & Asheville Railroad.   Tom  
 * Full Name: Tompson B. Switcher
 * Builder: American Locomotive Company (Pittsburgh Works), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA.
 * Build date: May 1914
 * Serial Number: 49803
 * Locomotive Class: Southern Railway A-7 class 0-6-0
 * Configuration: 0-6-0 Switcher
 * Tractive Effort: 32,710 lbs.
 * Arrived on the K&A: 1949
 * Previous Owner(s) and Number(s): Southern Railway #1752
 * Track Gauge: Standard, 4' 8 1/2" inches
 * Retired: August 1962
 * Recommissioned: 1992
 * Status: Operational
 * Traffic: Mixed
 * Age: 105

Biography
Tom was built by ALCo's Pittsburgh Works in May 1914 alongside his brothers Dick and Harry and was one of the last A-7 class 0-6-0s built for the Southern Railway. They were assigned to work as station pilots for the Chattanooga Station Company, which was a subsidiary owned by the Southern Railway, and to work at Chattanooga Terminal Station. Once they arrived, they met an old 0-4-4T by the name of Maud, who took them under her wing.

Whilst working in Chattanooga, the triplets also made friends with the station company switcher, Khloe. Later in 1949, the triplets were retired from service and were sold to the Knoxville & Asheville Railroad to serve as the station pilots at Palmer Terminal.

The brothers were retired when the line dieselized in 1962 and were later sold to a private owner who was also a member of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. In 1970, the triplets were loaned out to the station company to witness the last train to leave Chattanooga Terminal Station.

In 1972, Tom, Dick, and Harry were sold to a wild west themed amusement park called "Boomtown Junction" where they were dolled up as 19th century locomotives. Life seemed to go smoothly for the Chattanooga Triplets, until 1992 when a forest fire destoryed the park. Unfortunately the park wasn't insured and it closed down. The future seemed dim for the triplets...

...until Lucas bought them back on the cheap. Now they continue to work at Palmer Terminal as part of the K&A's Steam Program.

Trivia

 * Tom is based on a Southern Railway A-7 class 0-6-0. Today, #1642, is the only preversed example. Currently operating at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugar Creek, Ohio.