She's got a new charm, definite class and a way of getting her message across. She's had a facelift and has just finished the busiest season yet.
Southern's well-traveled Exhibit Car draws attention wherever she goes. This showcase on wheels, built in 1969, recounts to the public the birth and growth of railroads, with an emphasis on Southern), and the continuing story of SR's service, development and leadership. A variety of techniques tell this story of modern railroading: models illustrating hot-box detection and the transmission of LDX (long distance xerography) copies, a microwave telephone connection with Southern's car locator center, a map of run-through train routes that light up at the push of a button, audiovisual shows, rail-laying and piggyback dioramas, model cars and photographs galore.
Visitors to the Exhibit Car see many displays illustrating the growth and development of railroading, from the earliest days to the present. |
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Requests for the Exhibit Car are on the rise for its operating season of March through October. Usually coupled with the appearance of Southern's very popular "Best Friend of Charleston," the Exhibit Car participates in centennial celebrations, civic events, transportation days and similar events. The Best Friend is a replica of the engine that began passenger steam locomotive service in this country in 1830. The original engine ran on the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company, now part of the Southern Railway System.
Special Best Friend press runs and rides and tours for school children are always encouraged.
Best Friend engineer John Smith helps a "timy tot" adjust, her engineer's cap before the special run of the little train during the Memphis Cotton Carnival. |
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A good example is the recent Cotton Carnival in Memphis when the red carpet was rolled out for 150 physically and mentally handicapped children and young adults from three local schools. They had a two-minute run on the Best Friend and viewed the Exhibit Car. The visitors all sported engineer caps, Southern Railway's Exhibit Car had its busiest season on record. Junior Railroader buttons and carried away special literature for young people. Since 1971, the Exhibit Car has visited nearly 100 cities and been viewed by nearly a quarter-million people. Between 1970 and 1977, the Best Friend was seen by an estimated 4 million people, while nearly 186,000 rode the famous replica.
Children and young adults from three Memphis schools had a first-hand look at the Exhibit Car. |
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Exhibit car appearances have included a list of functions connected with the 1970 South Carolina Tricentennial and the 1976 US Bicentennial celeration The Best Friend was in the Presidential Inaugural parade in 1977.