I was a volunteer on the Engine Mechanical Crew for the Norfolk Southern steam excursions from Atlanta, GA to Chattanooga, TN and Toccoa, GA in 1988 and 1989. On one excursion to Chattanooga, we found 2 puppies next to the tool car when we stopped for the photo run-by near Dalton.

One was a solid white male with the end of one front foot missing. The other was a solid black female in apparent good health. Both appeared to be 6-7 weeks old, and both looked like short-haired Retriever mixes of some sort.

On the return trip to Atlanta, another crew member and I walked the puppies through the train, looking for homes for the 2 dogs. We barely got halfway through the train when we had found people willing to take both the puppies. I remember pointing out to the gentleman who took the white male puppy that his foot would probably need attention.

I would love to hear from anyone who was on the NS steam excursions and came home (or knew someone who came home) with a dog.

I even have photos of the puppies the day we found them.

Thanks!

-- Mark Fillingim (lightsnstuff@excite.com), January 13, 2005