"GOING HOME" - N&W J #611 (part 2 of 3)

An old tape I have highlighting the rebirth of Norfolk & Western J #611 in the early 80's. Considered among the finest examples of late-era steam, these streamlined, efficient thoroughbreds were built by N&W and pulled passenger trains for nearly a decade. Fortunately #611 was saved from the cutting torch and pulled excursions from 1982-1994. This film documents the work leading up to that era. It has since been displayed at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, alongside another N&W excursion star, Class A 2-6-6-4 #1218. This film really captures the spirit of running one of man's most beloved creations. Both railroaders and railfans alike wait patiently for her return....

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Norfolk & Western
• Class J
• 4-8-4
• steam locomotive
• powhatan arrow
• cavalier pocahontas
• virginia transportation

[arrowguy173]

No but search on here for 'N&W Class- A # 1218 Steam Train'

[auburn2008db]

Beautiful locomotive

[Weiberts]

The "J" is one of my favorite locomotives!

[MzMarcyC]

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

[IKAPPYI1]

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.

[MrCraig1930]

A rare but great looking Roanoke 4-8-4. A great video of an old memory :-)

[BigUnitBeef]

No Fair NS......Bring 'em back.

[WorldOfNothin]

@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]

@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]

@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]

@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!

[tarmac2001]

A sin it would be, if N&W #611 would never run again

[WorldOfNothin]

@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!