The Cotton Belt 819 - Trackside Video (1988)

John Nelson's Trackside Video released this look at newly restored Cotton Belt 4-8-4 #819 in 1988. St. Louis Southwestern, better known as The Cotton Belt Route, built the 819 at the railroad's own shops in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where she would later be restored. Unfortunately #819's excursion career would be fairly brief, and the merging of Southern Pacific and Union Pacific would leave her with nowhere to go. Also, please excuse the whistle on the 819 in this video. It was a Cotton Belt whistle... but it was a sick puppy. It would later be replaced by a flat-topped Hancock long-bell for future trips.