When I was about 8 or 9 years old I lived in Springfield, Ohio. That was around 1959. My dad would take me to the Ohio Railway Museum when they ran 578. On one trip I got ride in the cab and blew the whistle. I will never forget that day as long as I live. I can even remember how the whistle cord looked and felt. That was the day my love affair with steam began and still exist to this day. I bought a record of the sounds of ORM with local newscaster Chuck Newsom narrating. Still have it.
I remember it running until the Summer of 1977. After that it never ran again. I rode it a few times that year, they use to push and pull all 5 Pullmans with it. I have footage from it on 8mm that year and a year prior.
Here is a link to the video on Flickr flickr.com/photos/marada/2913150556/ and flickr.com/photos/marada/2913084698/in/photostream/ I remember when it was down in the early 70s, they had the front off of it. Then I guess they wanted to have it fixed in time for the bicentennial for 1976. If I am not mistaken it was fixed way before this and ran in the early to mid 70s. That is when we shot this 8mm film.
It ran with all five Pullmans for the next couple of years. In 1977 something else went wrong and that was it. There is some talk about the whistle. It was a mid to low whistle sound with three tones. I wish I could find some cassette audio of it. I know there is some packed away around here some where, I believe I taped it in stereo at a crossing by Worthington Foods too. I will post it when I find the tape.
N&W 578 does deserve to run again. I have a N&W steamer just like 578 but its 577 in ho scale. I have a quesion Why did Norfolkandwestern578 close her account?
What went wrong with 578 to put her our of service? We are planning to put her on a 10 year rebuild plan and we just want to know what all is wrong with her.
As explained near the end of the video, it was a broken spring hanger. I forget which side but you should be able to find it. As I refall, the boiler was riding low enough that the driver would sometimes dig into the boiler jacket. It was cutting a groove in the jacket and I suspect it is still there. It was dangerous to operate it that way, and repairing it was too big a job to accomplish at ORM, then or now. Talk to the Ohio Central people, get their opinion about rebuild feasibility .
I was also wondering what whistle was on 578. We have narrowed it down to two whistles. The hancock 3 chime and the nathan 3 chime. I can send you a video link that has both on it if you would be willing to help us get the right sounding whistle for her.
It's nice to hear the story of the ol' girl from someone who's actually worked with her.
I'm helping out with the restoration of 578 by trying to locate a new whistle for her (her original was stolen) - it's an N&W 3-chime, similar to the type used on the J 4-8-4's.
Well i am a new member at ORM and we are going to start a fund to restore the 578 to operating condition. This way she can run at the museum and the Newark Scenic can use her to run trips throughout Ohio.
It occurred to me this morning its a bit ironic I should post my first ORM vid on 7-20-09. I was ticket agent that Sunday morning in '69. As we stood around a portable TV watching the great moment, Jimmie Greene, one of our revered old timers, said "Well, I saw boats working the Ohio-Erie Canal at Newark, dog fights over the Western Front, ran (interurban cars) through the Black Hand Gorge, and now I'm watching a man walk on the moon. Guess I've seen about everything." And I guess he had!
Not unless some operation like the Ohio Central or the Strasburg takes an interest in her. IMHO she's just too big of a project now for the ORM or similar to deal with.
I'm an L&N guy by heart and I love our L&N Pacific we got running in Kentucky, but this loco proves the fact that the N&W wasnt all about big steam at one point in time, if only that loco could run again.
about how much would it be to replace or repair the broken spring hangar? as that is a really nice steamer.
modeltrainman12345 4 months ago
Rest in Peace ~ Rod Mackan
ps7968 5 months ago
When I was about 8 or 9 years old I lived in Springfield, Ohio. That was around 1959. My dad would take me to the Ohio Railway Museum when they ran 578. On one trip I got ride in the cab and blew the whistle. I will never forget that day as long as I live. I can even remember how the whistle cord looked and felt. That was the day my love affair with steam began and still exist to this day. I bought a record of the sounds of ORM with local newscaster Chuck Newsom narrating. Still have it.
TheCCCSTL 1 year ago
I remember it running until the Summer of 1977. After that it never ran again. I rode it a few times that year, they use to push and pull all 5 Pullmans with it. I have footage from it on 8mm that year and a year prior.
marada31 1 year ago
@marada31 Thanks for the comment. I wasn't sure when the last year was. Do you plan to post your movies?
gothpapa 1 year ago
Here is a link to the video on Flickr flickr.com/photos/marada/2913150556/ and flickr.com/photos/marada/2913084698/in/photostream/ I remember when it was down in the early 70s, they had the front off of it. Then I guess they wanted to have it fixed in time for the bicentennial for 1976. If I am not mistaken it was fixed way before this and ran in the early to mid 70s. That is when we shot this 8mm film.
marada31 1 year ago
It ran with all five Pullmans for the next couple of years. In 1977 something else went wrong and that was it. There is some talk about the whistle. It was a mid to low whistle sound with three tones. I wish I could find some cassette audio of it. I know there is some packed away around here some where, I believe I taped it in stereo at a crossing by Worthington Foods too. I will post it when I find the tape.
marada31 1 year ago
Was the boiler jacketing keep after the rebuild or did ORM scrap it?
traindude666 1 year ago
@traindude666 We replaced the lagging, of course, and then put the jacketing back on as I recall.
gothpapa 1 year ago
Ok why did they quit running her
trainmanjg611 2 years ago
As explained near the end of the video, it was a broken spring hanger. For details see my reply to traindude666's comment below.
gothpapa 2 years ago
Comment removed
cooldudetriplenickel 2 years ago
N&W 578 does deserve to run again. I have a N&W steamer just like 578 but its 577 in ho scale. I have a quesion Why did Norfolkandwestern578 close her account?
trainmanjg611 2 years ago
Not sure what you mean by "close her account." If you mean why did they quit rfunning her, see my replyt to traindude666's comment below.
gothpapa 2 years ago
Why dosne the ORM give up on 578 and sell her to an organization that can handle hr? She dosent deserve the sad fate ORM is giving her!
Kleman09 2 years ago
Comment removed
bnsf261 2 years ago
Comment removed
bnsf261 2 years ago
What went wrong with 578 to put her our of service? We are planning to put her on a 10 year rebuild plan and we just want to know what all is wrong with her.
traindude666 2 years ago
As explained near the end of the video, it was a broken spring hanger. I forget which side but you should be able to find it. As I refall, the boiler was riding low enough that the driver would sometimes dig into the boiler jacket. It was cutting a groove in the jacket and I suspect it is still there. It was dangerous to operate it that way, and repairing it was too big a job to accomplish at ORM, then or now. Talk to the Ohio Central people, get their opinion about rebuild feasibility .
gothpapa 2 years ago
Hey we found the grate shaker bar today in the 5012. Still works.
traindude666 2 years ago
Glad to hear it. Does the 5012 still run?
gothpapa 2 years ago
Not right now. It is for sale currently and if it is sold it may run again. Otherwise the other ORM rolling stock for sale may let us restore it.
traindude666 2 years ago
What other ORM rolling stock is for sale? Just curious.
gothpapa 2 years ago
The RPO, the 5012, the combine, #2, 1772, 154, 163, 4449, and the burro crane. The Detroit car was just sold.
traindude666 2 years ago
#2 has just been pulled off of the for sale list.
I was also wondering what whistle was on 578. We have narrowed it down to two whistles. The hancock 3 chime and the nathan 3 chime. I can send you a video link that has both on it if you would be willing to help us get the right sounding whistle for her.
traindude666 2 years ago
Hey Do you know what happened to the grate shaker bar?
traindude666 2 years ago
No, it was there last time I fired her, but that was about 40 years ago. I wish you the best with your project.
gothpapa 2 years ago
Ok thanks. We looked damn near everywhere and still have not found it. The only place we havent looked is the boxcars in the south yard.
traindude666 2 years ago
i am a volenteer up at ORM and we have benn spending a lot of time on 578 we cleaned the firebox and we r getting ready to cle the tnder
pimp1658 2 years ago
It's nice to hear the story of the ol' girl from someone who's actually worked with her.
I'm helping out with the restoration of 578 by trying to locate a new whistle for her (her original was stolen) - it's an N&W 3-chime, similar to the type used on the J 4-8-4's.
NorfolkAndWestern578 2 years ago
Well i am a new member at ORM and we are going to start a fund to restore the 578 to operating condition. This way she can run at the museum and the Newark Scenic can use her to run trips throughout Ohio.
traindude666 2 years ago
Well, good luck with that. It might just be doable with the resources of the Ohio Central's shops, if you can get it there.
gothpapa 2 years ago
Wow! Great Film footage.8mm???
dreambuilders48808 2 years ago
It occurred to me this morning its a bit ironic I should post my first ORM vid on 7-20-09. I was ticket agent that Sunday morning in '69. As we stood around a portable TV watching the great moment, Jimmie Greene, one of our revered old timers, said "Well, I saw boats working the Ohio-Erie Canal at Newark, dog fights over the Western Front, ran (interurban cars) through the Black Hand Gorge, and now I'm watching a man walk on the moon. Guess I've seen about everything." And I guess he had!
gothpapa 2 years ago
i wonder if she will ever run again.
imagreatbigman 2 years ago
Not unless some operation like the Ohio Central or the Strasburg takes an interest in her. IMHO she's just too big of a project now for the ORM or similar to deal with.
gothpapa 2 years ago
I'm an L&N guy by heart and I love our L&N Pacific we got running in Kentucky, but this loco proves the fact that the N&W wasnt all about big steam at one point in time, if only that loco could run again.
SP4449Warbaby 2 years ago
Awsome!!!!!!!!
m611martin 2 years ago