Loved hearing the whistle on this train. I rode the Powahatan Arrow every year form 1949 to 1965. from Cincinnati , Ohio to Tripp , W, Va. Later of course it was the diesel engines but I still remember the sound of that whistle echoing through the Appalachian mountains!Rode it to Williamson when my grandmother died in 1965. It was a beautiful train
Part of the reason that we can't have 611 back now is because of the economy so NS decided 2 smaller consolidation locos were better and since they were smaller means less maintenance an more money to keep. Maybe when the economy turns around we'll get some real results. So give to time and something will come. NS's new CEO Wick Moorman says he'd like 611 better but it's too much money to restore so satisfy the public with a steam program while benefiting the company.
@HaloCE14 Well I personally liked both! 611 looks better, but the power of the 1218 is amazing I loved watching both engines and would love to see either one restored if not both! I just figure that if they had to choice one it would be probably the 611, but then again who knows for now I'm just glad to hear they started up the steam program again! What comes next, we can only guess!
@HaloCE14 Yeah missing key parts isn't a good thing! I'm sure if they bring back one of these it would be the 611 just because it's more popular and the money going in for work and inspection would be a lot less then even starting to figure out the cost of fixing 1218's insides and the key parts that are missing could be very costly to get new ones made!
@HaloCE14 yeah since the 1218 was in the middle of a Boiler Overhaul its probably only been put back together just so it looks like it should on the outside and would probably need a whole lot of work! 611 I know is in pretty good shape would just need to replace parts, also heard it has a crack on the dome part in the front which would need to be replaced or repaired!
@HaloCE14 Yeah, now even going up to the workshop and the little yard in my home town, if I get too close, if someone is around they usually ask you to leave or not to get so close to the tracks. I mean I'm not dumb lol and the main lines are on the opposite side of the yard and nothing really ever sits in the yard so you can clearly see everything in both directions! It's just they don't want you doing stupid stuff which I know a lot of people would do!
@HaloCE14 Oh really that sucks, I use to love going up to the train yard and watching them come into town or watch them leave! I have pictures of me standing on the front of the 611 as well as being in the cab as a kid! Sadly today if they were still running I probably won't be able to climb up in the cab like I did back then! I've also seen the Sou 4501 once running and the Challenger the one time it came through Cincinnati a long time ago!
@HaloCE14 yeah 630 lol I knew it was 600 and something, yeah seeing 1218 would be awesome too, I mean I saw 611 not long before it stop running and even got to go on an excursion, but sadly didn't get to go on an excursion behind 1218 and didn't even get to see it that last year they were running. I think that was because the 1218 was undergoing maintenance when they canceled the program!
@HaloCE14 It is possible that one day it will be restored again. I mean N&S just reopened their Steam Program, now they are using smaller engines like Sou 4501 & 610, as well as another engine I think # 602? (It's a Tennessee Valley Railroad Engine) So who knows they could restore a bigger engine such as the 611 again!!! I would love to see it running again as well as ride behind it again!
And God bless Bill Purdie for restoring her when he did if it was not for him so many steam locomotives I would have only known about from books or movies.
Thanks so much for posting these. Somewhere locked away above my father's house we have a copy of this video. It's likely been 20 years since I've watched it and I still get the same chills I got when I was younger.
611 is a true gem of engineering and railroading. As unlikely as it is that we'll see her move under her own power we all can dream of the hopeful day in the future when a string of cars will be pacing her while she steams down the rails once more.
Loved hearing the whistle on this train. I rode the Powahatan Arrow every year form 1949 to 1965. from Cincinnati , Ohio to Tripp , W, Va. Later of course it was the diesel engines but I still remember the sound of that whistle echoing through the Appalachian mountains!Rode it to Williamson when my grandmother died in 1965. It was a beautiful train
MzMarcyC 1 month ago
Part of the reason that we can't have 611 back now is because of the economy so NS decided 2 smaller consolidation locos were better and since they were smaller means less maintenance an more money to keep. Maybe when the economy turns around we'll get some real results. So give to time and something will come. NS's new CEO Wick Moorman says he'd like 611 better but it's too much money to restore so satisfy the public with a steam program while benefiting the company.
IKAPPYI1 5 months ago
A rare but great looking Roanoke 4-8-4. A great video of an old memory :-)
MrCraig1930 8 months ago
No Fair NS......Bring 'em back.
BigUnitBeef 1 year ago
@HaloCE14 Well I personally liked both! 611 looks better, but the power of the 1218 is amazing I loved watching both engines and would love to see either one restored if not both! I just figure that if they had to choice one it would be probably the 611, but then again who knows for now I'm just glad to hear they started up the steam program again! What comes next, we can only guess!
WorldOfNothin 1 year ago
@HaloCE14 Yeah missing key parts isn't a good thing! I'm sure if they bring back one of these it would be the 611 just because it's more popular and the money going in for work and inspection would be a lot less then even starting to figure out the cost of fixing 1218's insides and the key parts that are missing could be very costly to get new ones made!
WorldOfNothin 1 year ago
@HaloCE14 yeah since the 1218 was in the middle of a Boiler Overhaul its probably only been put back together just so it looks like it should on the outside and would probably need a whole lot of work! 611 I know is in pretty good shape would just need to replace parts, also heard it has a crack on the dome part in the front which would need to be replaced or repaired!
WorldOfNothin 1 year ago
@HaloCE14 Yeah, now even going up to the workshop and the little yard in my home town, if I get too close, if someone is around they usually ask you to leave or not to get so close to the tracks. I mean I'm not dumb lol and the main lines are on the opposite side of the yard and nothing really ever sits in the yard so you can clearly see everything in both directions! It's just they don't want you doing stupid stuff which I know a lot of people would do!
WorldOfNothin 1 year ago
A sin it would be, if N&W #611 would never run again
tarmac2001 1 year ago
@HaloCE14 Oh really that sucks, I use to love going up to the train yard and watching them come into town or watch them leave! I have pictures of me standing on the front of the 611 as well as being in the cab as a kid! Sadly today if they were still running I probably won't be able to climb up in the cab like I did back then! I've also seen the Sou 4501 once running and the Challenger the one time it came through Cincinnati a long time ago!
WorldOfNothin 1 year ago
@HaloCE14 yeah 630 lol I knew it was 600 and something, yeah seeing 1218 would be awesome too, I mean I saw 611 not long before it stop running and even got to go on an excursion, but sadly didn't get to go on an excursion behind 1218 and didn't even get to see it that last year they were running. I think that was because the 1218 was undergoing maintenance when they canceled the program!
WorldOfNothin 1 year ago
@HaloCE14 It is possible that one day it will be restored again. I mean N&S just reopened their Steam Program, now they are using smaller engines like Sou 4501 & 610, as well as another engine I think # 602? (It's a Tennessee Valley Railroad Engine) So who knows they could restore a bigger engine such as the 611 again!!! I would love to see it running again as well as ride behind it again!
WorldOfNothin 1 year ago
And God bless Bill Purdie for restoring her when he did if it was not for him so many steam locomotives I would have only known about from books or movies.
jkelly40 1 year ago
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rtchugg 1 year ago
are the steam shops still in there
ble643 2 years ago
The N&W Steam Engine's action sequence at 4:50-4:56 must be seen at the end of Fox Family's "Shining Time Station" during the credits at the end.
finnishminnow 2 years ago
I remember it but it wasn't 611 it was Union Pacifics 844
ryeguyisme 2 years ago
Right you are!
finnishminnow 2 years ago
I used to watch Shining time alot as a youth :)
ryeguyisme 2 years ago
Me too! And therefore, I still like to watch it.
finnishminnow 2 years ago
No but search on here for 'N&W Class- A # 1218 Steam Train'
arrowguy173 2 years ago
Do you have the program for 1218????
trainboy94 2 years ago
Thanks for adding this!
Rckstar113 2 years ago
Beautiful locomotive
auburn2008db 2 years ago 6
august 21st 1982?
cbolanz 2 years ago
Thanks so much for posting these. Somewhere locked away above my father's house we have a copy of this video. It's likely been 20 years since I've watched it and I still get the same chills I got when I was younger.
611 is a true gem of engineering and railroading. As unlikely as it is that we'll see her move under her own power we all can dream of the hopeful day in the future when a string of cars will be pacing her while she steams down the rails once more.
Thanks for the memories!
hoolg 2 years ago
Comment removed
DanielVolker 2 years ago
We sure do.
arrowguy173 2 years ago
Yeah that loco is awesome!!! Makes as much power as a UP Big Boy!!!
SouthernRR4501 2 years ago
Comment removed
DanielVolker 2 years ago
sorry I meant it almost had the same power
SouthernRR4501 2 years ago
The "J" is one of my favorite locomotives!
Weiberts 2 years ago 2