Constructed in February of 1968, TAG #80 is a high hood variant of EMD’s wildly popular GP38 Model and was significant for multiple reasons. Not only was it the first High Hood GP38 constructed, but it was both the only example of its kind on the TAG’s Roster, and the last brand new Diesel purchased by the Railroad. Upon being delivered in March of 68, the #80 was dedicated for “John A. Chambliss” who was the Railroad’s Vice President and the man largely responsible for saving the company from its rough financial state in the 1920s. Unlike the more well known High Hoods of the neighboring Southern Railway, the TAG’s High Hood was configured to operate short hood forward rather then long hood.
It’s service life with the Railroad would only last a mere 3 years until 1971 when the TAG was merged into the SOU who would ultimately reconfigure the #80 to run Long Hood Forward and gave it the 2879. Even under new owners, the Locomotive retained its Chambliss Name along with its spark arrestors which the Southern’s own High Hoods lacked. In the 1990s under Southern successor Norfolk Southern, the 2879 was repainted into the company’s iconic thoroughbred paint job which saw the removal of the Chambliss lettering. The Engine would also gain a new Dynamic Brake System around this time. In 2001 following a 30 year career with the SOU and NS, the 2879 was formally retired off the roster and paced into storage outside of the company’s Altoona, Pennsylvania Shops. A few years later with financial support from both the Chambliss Family and local Chattanooga Residents, the 2879 was sold at auction to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum who had plans to restore the Engine both cosmetically and mechanically to its as built 1968 TAG Appearance. This would finally come about in the mid 2010s when the cosmetic phase of the project occurred between 2015 and 2016, followed by the mechanical phase which saw the Locomotive returning to active duty in March of 2017. Today the 80 proudly serves as a prominent member of the Museum’s active Diesel Fleet. Video of the Locomotive and more: youtu.be/z0zRkYpdu4s
