The Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad bought five 4-8-4 locomotives in 1930, which they called "Dixies" (instead of "Northerns" - a name that would seem inappropriate on a fine southern railroad). These 1930 "Dixies" came from the American Locomotive Company and were designated Class J-2 and assigned road numbers 565 through 569. They had 70" drivers, 25 x 30 cylinders, a boiler pressure of 250 psi, a tractive effort of 57,000 lbs and weighed 381,000 pounds.

In 1942 and 43, another 20 Class J-3 Northerns (road numbers 570 through 589) came from ALCO and were very similar to the Class J-2s except that they weighed 400,500 pounds.

There is one surviving NC&StL "Dixie", number 576, at Centennial Park in Nashville, TN. During the 1970s, when planning for the Bicentennial Train was taking place, NC&StL 576 was considered as power for the eastern tour of the American Freedom Train but it was decided that it was not heavy enough and the Reading 2101 was selected instead.

576 was also considered for the Southern Railway Steam Program sometime around the mid-70s and was examined by "master mechanic" Bill Purdie. There was quite a bit of local opposition from those who did not want the engine to leave Nashville.

576 was also considered for a new steam excursion program by the Seaboard System/Clinchfield Railroad in the 1970s. They had operated excursions for some time powered by their tiny, ancient 4-6-0 #1 (with two "B" unit diesels behind) and wanted to upgrade to a "proper" steam locomotive. Bill Purdie once again may have assisted with the inspections. Nashville again decided that they didn't want their engine to leave the city, so the Clinchfield folks went up to Kentucky and leased the C&O 2716. It was pulled down to Marion, NC to a siding for restoration. They slowly worked on it for about 6 months, when their whole excursion program fell through, and the engine was sent back to Kentucky. Eventually, the Southern did lease it, overhaul it, and operated it for about 2/3s of a season. Meanwhile, the folks in Nashville changed their mind and offered the 576 to the Clinchfield, but it was too late.

In 1998 the smokebox was painted yellow, the headlight shroud was painted red, and the counterweights were painted silver.