According to the college, there will be something for guests of all ages and unique ways to learn more about history, archeology and the humanities. Photo by Dave Hodges
The festivities include exhibits by museums, historical societies, academic programs, and nonprofits
The Fifth Annual Tallahassee History Festival takes place at Tallahassee State College on April 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a free program that highlights historical and cultural aspects of Leon and surrounding counties.
According to TSC, there will be something for guests of all ages and unique ways to learn more about history, archeology and the humanities. Several local food trucks will be on hand as well.
A project of TSC, the festival is a community event and will be located at the college’s intramural field and Workforce Development Building. Parking is free and available in any of the student lots on campus. The college is located at 444 Appleyard Drive in Tallahassee.
The festival will have more than 100 exhibits by museums, historical societies, churches, academic and research programs, and nonprofits involved in historic preservation. Among the exhibitors will be the Gulf Wind Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, Inc., with a display of railroad artifacts and memorabilia.
Atlantic Coast Line No. 1504, shown here on display in Jacksonville, FL, is now officially a part of the locomotive collection at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga. No. 1504 was built in 1919 by the Richmond Locomotive Works. Photo courtesy of U.S. Sugar
U.S. Sugar donates historic steam locomotive to Tennessee museum
Venerable steam locomotive No. 1504 of Sugar Express LLC has a new home at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, the company announced March 25.
A light Pacific type steam locomotive, No. 1504 was built in 1919 by the Richmond Locomotive Works for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. It was placed on public display in Jacksonville in 1960 before being acquired by U.S. Sugar, whose Sugar Express enterprise offers steam excursions in south central Florida.
The company made the decision to continue Sugar Express excursions out of Clewiston, FL, using steam locomotive No. 148 and to seek an alternative for the long-term preservation of No. 1504.
“After evaluating our long-term operational needs, we determined that No. 148 is fully capable of meeting the strong and growing demand for our scenic excursion trains, which operate through the heart of Florida’s agricultural communities,” Sugar Express railroad superintendent M. Scott Ogle said in announcing the donation. “In light of this — and in consideration of rising material and labor costs — we have made the decision not to pursue restoration of Atlantic Coast Line locomotive No. 1504.”
Penelope Soule Gault, senior director of marketing, communications and guest experience at TVRM, said the museum is honored to add No. 1504 to its collection.
“While plans for display or potential future operation are still under evaluation, the locomotive and its components will be stabilized and placed into secure storage as we begin a thorough assessment,” Gault said on behalf of the museum. “TVRM will share further updates once that process is complete and next steps are determined.”
