Really, when you get down to it, it was inevitable that NS would abandon its steam heritage project. Not that it wasn't making NS any money, but the federal government was requiring more and more regulation on the boilers and certifications were harder to come by. That, added with the SUE happy world that was coming, it was only a matter of time till someone sued the railroad for an injury or some other reason.
I'm so sad I was born two years to late to see the 611. With 611, 1218, the Reading T-1s and Pennsy K4s all out of service, the eastern half of the U.S. has no mainline steam! There are a couple of old 2-8-0s and such on little excursion railroads, but they can run only twenty mph, and are rather small. May 611 soon return to steam!
Too bad the current business model is "If it doesn't make money for the NS stockholders, we're not doing it!" The 611 running is great publicity, IMHO.
Wow I would've loved to have seen that. I railfan this stretch of track frequently. Hopefully the NS will bring back the steam power someday, like the UP has.
@TachyonDriver Yes the J's all had the same hancock whistle. Even the Unstreamlined J-1s of 1943 (605-610), were delievered without streamlining which wasn't added until 1945/1946, but I believe they still had the Hancock steamboat whistles as well.
David Goode (the NS CEO at the time) who decided to end the steam program is a bastard. If the freaking Union Pacific can still run steam and the BNSF lets the 4449 run over it's rails. There's no reason NS can't run steam. Bottom line is lawyers suck and ruin anything and everything that is good in this world.
@NWPowhatanArrow611 Wish I could give you a million thumbs up on this. People like that suck the joy and awe of steam from millions just so they can make a few bucks. Bring back the 611!!
@NWPowhatanArrow611 well look up ns 21st century steam chattanooga will soon hear the sounds of true locomotives again and what im hoping will be the resurecting of 611 and 1218 i think youll be happy
Couldn't NS partner with TVRM to restore and maintain steam? The #4501 is going to be restored at TVRM. They would have to drag #611 down to East Chattanooga, TN to restore it.
r you all retarted yea it would be amazing to see the 611 and the 1218 come back i miss the old girls. but the clayter brothers r dead those were the only guys holdin the program together but maybe just maybe they will.
It's defenatly demoralising. These machines weren't built by multi-billion tax breaks or huge stimulous packages, but by the companies that built them.
The challenges they care more about know is meeting wall streets demands such as raising there stock value per a share a penny more.
I thought they were both still coal burners. They UP was able to convert 3985 because they stole the remaining oil burner equip off the other remaining Challenger.
I'm with you Halo, if I ever win the lotto I'll be doing the same. Lots of American steam would be brought back to life (and existing would be setup) if I won.
Actually, when you hit the HQ button, it clears up a lot. Plus, consider this video is from a VHS recorded back in 1994. He did a great job recording this engine and 4501! Awesome stuff!!
I don't know where you got that information, but from what I understand, NS didn't want steam on their line anymore and shut them down. They also tore apart the steam factory to make sure it never got restored again. That was pretty fucked up on NS's part.
This can't be the final excursion! The 611 and 1218 wore black flags near their classification lights on their final journeys home. The 611 has white flags displayed in this vid!
The vid description says it was made in 1994. The engines made their final run in 95 when NS canceled their steam program. This clip isn't of the final run
Well, I remember no. 611's last run out of Birmingham was in '94 (I lived in Birmingham at the time). The publicity at that time said it was going to be NS's last excursion.
For CSXMAN199 go to the engines eng file using note pad is better for me or you can use microsoft word but lets cut to the chase select a train that has sounds that you like go into the eng file then click on edit and click find.type in (sound) in the box,the words you see next to sound is the sounds of the engine,highlight it,click copy then paste it into the engine's eng file you want to use. do the same procedure for the cab.Hope this helps you out good luck.let me know if you still need help
gosh man im so mad they put the 611 into a museum! I remember when it went over the saluda grade. Man it was great. I have a documentary on it and we got an o-scale version of it. Great video though!
When I was an engineer trainee in 1990 I had the privilage of riding the 611 from Cincinnati to Danville and back. Then some years later, she was parked in Lexington KY for a few weeks and I was able to get one last look at her. What an impressive locomotive.
I faintly remember seeing that particular train when I was younger. For some reason I think it stopped some where up in Roanoke, where I was able to get a look at it, but it's been a long time and my memory is cloudy.
That was a sad day in the railroading world in the 1990s. I was ethier 3 or 4 years old when NS pulled the plug. Heck 611 ran right through my hometown on July 30, 1994. Didnt see her though but i heard her from 3/4s of a mile away
I guess in 94 I woulda been around 8. The first time I actually remember it was from 1990. By the way, I lived in Bon Air (a Richmond suburb) and the train track ran right behind our yard.
I remember both these locomotives. One or the other would through Richmond, VA every other year on the way to Roanoke. This occured on October 1 & 2. Thanks for the memories! :D By the way, the whistle on this locomotive used to give me nightmares. Being 6 or so, it sounded like a ghost.
well i took a look at it and i have concluded that she looks good externally and she's being kept out of the weather to keep her from rusting away. So i'll look into restoring the 576 as well
You and every other NS Steam Program Fan, actually, Pennsy #1261 is under restoration by NS, you know what that could mean for #611, #1218, and #4501.
MACK N JACK
brainerdrebel 8 months ago
i will never fully forgive ns for killing the old program ... but im happy 4501 will run again..
southern4501isawesom 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
That engine is awsome.
ctack123 11 months ago
That enjine is awsome.
ctack123 11 months ago
In the UK they run two or three main line steam excursions every weekend. It surely isn't impossible to do the same over here in the US?
5thegranary 1 year ago
It's too bad that Norfolk Southern acts like douche bags when they have THE crem da le crem of steam engines, the TRUE thoroughbred 611.
Now she just sits at the museum...sad...
Awesome video! 5*****!
DJGENEX71 2 years ago 3
Nice. Great whistle(s)
cardhang 2 years ago
Really, when you get down to it, it was inevitable that NS would abandon its steam heritage project. Not that it wasn't making NS any money, but the federal government was requiring more and more regulation on the boilers and certifications were harder to come by. That, added with the SUE happy world that was coming, it was only a matter of time till someone sued the railroad for an injury or some other reason.
darkyoda 2 years ago 2
I'm so sad I was born two years to late to see the 611. With 611, 1218, the Reading T-1s and Pennsy K4s all out of service, the eastern half of the U.S. has no mainline steam! There are a couple of old 2-8-0s and such on little excursion railroads, but they can run only twenty mph, and are rather small. May 611 soon return to steam!
tropicalfishswim 2 years ago
Great video of a great Loco...
Too bad the current business model is "If it doesn't make money for the NS stockholders, we're not doing it!" The 611 running is great publicity, IMHO.
Loco4Locomotives 2 years ago
Wow I would've loved to have seen that. I railfan this stretch of track frequently. Hopefully the NS will bring back the steam power someday, like the UP has.
BamaRailfan 2 years ago
611 has the most haunting locomotive whistle(s) IMHO - did all the J's sound like that?
TachyonDriver 2 years ago
@TachyonDriver Yes the J's all had the same hancock whistle. Even the Unstreamlined J-1s of 1943 (605-610), were delievered without streamlining which wasn't added until 1945/1946, but I believe they still had the Hancock steamboat whistles as well.
NWPowhatanArrow611 1 year ago
David Goode (the NS CEO at the time) who decided to end the steam program is a bastard. If the freaking Union Pacific can still run steam and the BNSF lets the 4449 run over it's rails. There's no reason NS can't run steam. Bottom line is lawyers suck and ruin anything and everything that is good in this world.
NWPowhatanArrow611 2 years ago 18
@NWPowhatanArrow611 Wish I could give you a million thumbs up on this. People like that suck the joy and awe of steam from millions just so they can make a few bucks. Bring back the 611!!
deloreanman14 1 year ago
@NWPowhatanArrow611 well look up ns 21st century steam chattanooga will soon hear the sounds of true locomotives again and what im hoping will be the resurecting of 611 and 1218 i think youll be happy
TheFreedomtrain4449 10 months ago
Couldn't NS partner with TVRM to restore and maintain steam? The #4501 is going to be restored at TVRM. They would have to drag #611 down to East Chattanooga, TN to restore it.
rwk360 2 years ago
and a huge waste of a great sounding horn and locomotive! cant beat the chuff of a steam locomotive!
rockguitarist946 2 years ago
r you all retarted yea it would be amazing to see the 611 and the 1218 come back i miss the old girls. but the clayter brothers r dead those were the only guys holdin the program together but maybe just maybe they will.
nkp765ful 2 years ago
NS BRING THESE BACK!!
mplayer98 2 years ago
It's defenatly demoralising. These machines weren't built by multi-billion tax breaks or huge stimulous packages, but by the companies that built them.
The challenges they care more about know is meeting wall streets demands such as raising there stock value per a share a penny more.
tarmac2001 2 years ago
Say it ain't so 611.
doulasc 2 years ago
There was a Big Boy that was attempted to be fueled by oil and it couldn't produce the pressure. I don't think the 1218 could do it.
Hiei2k7 2 years ago
I would love to see 611 & 1218 run again! (even though i've never seen them runbefore)
Jamersonde 2 years ago
I thought they were both still coal burners. They UP was able to convert 3985 because they stole the remaining oil burner equip off the other remaining Challenger.
rayman4449 2 years ago
I'm with you Halo, if I ever win the lotto I'll be doing the same. Lots of American steam would be brought back to life (and existing would be setup) if I won.
rayman4449 2 years ago
NICE video even though its pixalated
nitrofidok 2 years ago 3
Actually, when you hit the HQ button, it clears up a lot. Plus, consider this video is from a VHS recorded back in 1994. He did a great job recording this engine and 4501! Awesome stuff!!
FreeFallin1976 2 years ago
Someday they will be back. Good things come to theose who wait. If we have to wait then so be it. Good luck winning $220 million for the engines.
SeniorMinch229018 2 years ago
I think they did. It isn't an easy job to convert them.
SeniorMinch229018 3 years ago
Love the sound of baritone whistle
DAN103173 3 years ago 3
One has to wonder - with the price of gas ever rising, and coal abundant here, isn't running a steam locomotive, cheaper than a diesal???
qlancer 3 years ago
it is. but steam locomotives are very high maintenance and less efficent. but I think the pros outweigh the cons here.
Speedbeetle07 3 years ago
My fav N&W steamer.
BarryManilowFan4eva 3 years ago 6
Don't worry folks. She'll be back someday.
SeniorMinch229018 3 years ago 2
I don't know where you got that information, but from what I understand, NS didn't want steam on their line anymore and shut them down. They also tore apart the steam factory to make sure it never got restored again. That was pretty fucked up on NS's part.
adfgfds 3 years ago
They couldn't afford the insurance costs for the engines and investors were complaining that the engines wern't making any money for NS.
SeniorMinch229018 3 years ago
That would be good double header.
mrbassfisherman 3 years ago 2
Nice catch! It's a shame they don't run my favorite steam locomotive anymore... :(
lotusbandicoot 3 years ago
How come they don't run 611 anymore?
mrbassfisherman 3 years ago
This can't be the final excursion! The 611 and 1218 wore black flags near their classification lights on their final journeys home. The 611 has white flags displayed in this vid!
SeniorMinch229018 3 years ago
Well, maybe they wore the black flags on their way out of Birmingham back to Virginia.
A1l2l2e2n4 3 years ago
The vid description says it was made in 1994. The engines made their final run in 95 when NS canceled their steam program. This clip isn't of the final run
SeniorMinch229018 3 years ago
Well, I remember no. 611's last run out of Birmingham was in '94 (I lived in Birmingham at the time). The publicity at that time said it was going to be NS's last excursion.
A1l2l2e2n4 3 years ago
She made her final run on December 6, 1994.
trainboy94 3 years ago
For CSXMAN199 go to the engines eng file using note pad is better for me or you can use microsoft word but lets cut to the chase select a train that has sounds that you like go into the eng file then click on edit and click find.type in (sound) in the box,the words you see next to sound is the sounds of the engine,highlight it,click copy then paste it into the engine's eng file you want to use. do the same procedure for the cab.Hope this helps you out good luck.let me know if you still need help
Amtrak98 4 years ago
gosh man im so mad they put the 611 into a museum! I remember when it went over the saluda grade. Man it was great. I have a documentary on it and we got an o-scale version of it. Great video though!
CSXMAN199 4 years ago
Looks more bullet nosed than CNR 6060
TrainmasterCurt 4 years ago 3
Man, that was just AWESOME!
badabeefy 4 years ago
Where is that train now?
Pittoop 4 years ago
It`s now at the Virginia Museum of Transportation along with the 1218.
RodPower78 4 years ago
When I was an engineer trainee in 1990 I had the privilage of riding the 611 from Cincinnati to Danville and back. Then some years later, she was parked in Lexington KY for a few weeks and I was able to get one last look at her. What an impressive locomotive.
bsp1966 4 years ago
I faintly remember seeing that particular train when I was younger. For some reason I think it stopped some where up in Roanoke, where I was able to get a look at it, but it's been a long time and my memory is cloudy.
Bigshow34 4 years ago
i seen that when i was 8 in 1994 although my dad seen it about 5 times on its trips.
tripp1987 4 years ago
wow that is really cool
twiggs24 4 years ago
That was a sad day in the railroading world in the 1990s. I was ethier 3 or 4 years old when NS pulled the plug. Heck 611 ran right through my hometown on July 30, 1994. Didnt see her though but i heard her from 3/4s of a mile away
DASCO2136 5 years ago
I guess in 94 I woulda been around 8. The first time I actually remember it was from 1990. By the way, I lived in Bon Air (a Richmond suburb) and the train track ran right behind our yard.
ReneeBo 5 years ago
I remember both these locomotives. One or the other would through Richmond, VA every other year on the way to Roanoke. This occured on October 1 & 2. Thanks for the memories! :D By the way, the whistle on this locomotive used to give me nightmares. Being 6 or so, it sounded like a ghost.
ReneeBo 5 years ago
man i live in richmond
in 1994 i would have been 2 years old
if i had been born 5 years earlier, just five darn years...i could have seen both of them run
i assume they stopped at Union Station ?(science museum)
o well when im a millionaire i will manage 611 excursions personally
mjkft22 5 years ago 2
Thats funny because me and a friend of mine are also gonna restart the NS steam excursion program
DASCO2136 5 years ago
haha i hope your finacial status is better than mine
mjkft22 5 years ago
My plan is gonna be the same way Robert Claytor did to get 611 & 1218 back to operating on the rails
Go up to the rank of president and restart the steam excurison program
DASCO2136 5 years ago 3
i wish you luck
mjkft22 5 years ago
thank you
me and my friend are gonna need it
DASCO2136 5 years ago
Good Luck! I wish I could help restore 611, but I don't live anywere near her
LNERMallard 4 years ago
well if your willing to wait for 10-20 years you can help me & my buddy out.
DASCO2136 4 years ago
when you get there don't forget about Ny&StL. Engine #576. That engine is a beauty but it really needs to be restored.
amtraklover 4 years ago
just curious but what type is the 576?
DASCO2136 4 years ago
4-8-4 and it's NCStl 576 but i had a typo
amtraklover 4 years ago
i'll take a look at it when i get the steam program up and running. If she is capable of running again then of course i'll restore her.
DASCO2136 4 years ago
type NcStl 576 in a search engine and you can look at it's current state of condition. Best of Luck!
amtraklover 4 years ago
well i took a look at it and i have concluded that she looks good externally and she's being kept out of the weather to keep her from rusting away. So i'll look into restoring the 576 as well
DASCO2136 4 years ago
The Nickel Plate locomotive is actually a 2-8-4....not 4-8-4. It's commonly refered to as a "Berkshire" whell arrangement
DRG1939 4 years ago
yes i know the difference.
DASCO2136 4 years ago
What do you mean by that? If you are talking about #576, it's a 4-8-4 Dixie. #765 is the berkshire.
TVRM610 3 years ago
You and every other NS Steam Program Fan, actually, Pennsy #1261 is under restoration by NS, you know what that could mean for #611, #1218, and #4501.
TVRM610 3 years ago
you mean 1361?
DASCO2136 3 years ago
Such a shame that NS ended the steam program. They had a good thing going with the 611 and 1218.
chatanugadotorg 5 years ago
even worse, they sold all their steam maintenance equipment
so even though 611 and 1218 are still in great condition, they couldn't run them
mjkft22 5 years ago