In 1934, the Pioneer & Avalon had looked into 5 different 4-8-4 designs. The Southern Pacific's GS2, GS4, and GS5 Classes, Western Maryland J1 Potomacs, Norfolk and Western J Class, Reading T1's, and the Milwaukee Road S2 Class.
In 1935, they ordered 15 N&W J Class Northerns from the N&W's own Roanoke Shops and the about 50 Reading T1's to be modified for heavy fast freight over the 1.7% on the P&A's line between Pioneer, IL, and Avalon, GA. The speed limit was 75 which meant trains could get a running start before hitting the grade.
By the end of 1935, the first P&A D1a (T1) and the first D1b (J) had arrived in Pioneer for a break in run. In 1939, all of the D1 class northerns had been delivered to the railroad and had been serving the P&A well.
On April 28th, 1940, 2 early D1a's had been rebuilt and were being tested with 3 P&A coaches and about 180 empty coal hoppers, equivalent to 70 loaded cars, down a part of the line between Hendersonville, TN, and Bloomington, IN. The D1a's also had new AUX cars due to there not being a waterstop for them on this leg of the test. A railfan catches the train waiting for a P&A Express service, lead by P&A D1b #503,
"The Pioneer's Axe" as it speeds by at 40 MPH (tight curves at the start of the downhill in Hendersonville).
Doubleheader waiting...
#503 passing...
"The Pioneer's Axe" passing...
The Doubleheader receiving the green...
End of the train...
BONUS:
Here are the 3 cars put behind the 2 engines
P&A Pullman 10-1-2 Sleeper
"The Axe"
P&A Pullman 14BR Sleeper
"Limitless"
P&A Divided Coach
NOTE: This is a work in progress route, I will
NOT and I repeat,
I will NOT, give out the reskins. These are private reskins made my by me. The track is also a reskin by me and will not be given out.