Brought To You By the Letter 'J' - part 1

I had previously thought my August '94 footage from Horseshoe Curve was the oldest tape I had...I was wrong.

It's this tape, the last trip I took behind Norfolk & Western class J 4-8-4 611, dated October 30, 1993, and as it turned out it was also the last trip I took before Norfolk Southern's steam program was cancelled. The trip was put on by the Piedmont Carolinas Chapter of the NRHS and ran from Charlotte, NC to Toccoa, GA. I rode many of the chapter's trips between 1984 and 1993, but unfortunately all of them except this one predated my or my friend's ownership of a video camera. By the time I bought my Handycam in '96 the steam program was long gone, so the clips from this tape are the only surviving personal footage I have of the 611 under steam.

The weather was gloomy but it wasn't about to stop me from filming the 611 as her crew went about the business of preparing her for the return trip from Toccoa. After topping off the coal and water, 611 gingerly pulled the train forward to turn on a wye. For the reverse move through the second leg of the wye, NS employed a Geep to pull the train through tail end first, which is where part 2 picks up.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• N&W
• 4-8-4
• 611
• class
• steam
• engine
• passenger
• train
• railroad
• NRHS
• National
• Railway
• Historical
• Society
• Piedmont
• Carolinas
• Chapter
• Toccoa
• Georgia
• Norfolk
• Southern
• excursion

[NS9710]

Don't run Dave, it won't hurt you LOL!

[FastFlyingVirginian]

@NS9710 Hehe...I didn't want to stick around and let that steam from the cylinder cocks hit me. I was wet enough already from the on-and-off drizzle that day.

[35UGA0511]

As a switchman in Atlanta, I had the privilege to take the 611 from the Inman stock pen track to her train at Brookwood station for a north-bound steam excursion. I will remember it as long as I draw breath. As I dismounted, I took a bow; Sarcastic weak applause from the throngs. Then I gestured an intro to the mighty iron beast and ecstatic pandemonium erupted! I was totally upstaged by that magic steel lady, and you know what ?....I didn't mind a bit.

[FastFlyingVirginian]

@35UGA0511 Maybe you didn't quite stick the landing on your dismount, hence the weak applause. Probably just a tough judging panel that day.

[35UGA0511]

@FastFlyingVirginian ......Actually, I dismounted with melodious precision and athletic snap. And I actually looked good back then ( I've been retired 4 years now ) But, the adoring throng didn't come to see me -- They wanted "The J" !! It was such a pleasure to give the intro for that magical Amazon Queen that purred so wonderfully ! BTW - Y'all be careful up there, what with all the recent seismic activity and such. Really enjoy your video(s).

[FastFlyingVirginian]

@35UGA0511 Okay after the seismic activity, it's the 4-day power outage from Irene I could do without.

Queen...hm...I always thought 'High Priestess Of Roanoke' had a nice ring to it myself. But to each his own term of endearment.

[Larsky1010]

A magnificent machine! And what a sound its whistle made!

[FastFlyingVirginian]

@buint Hey, thanks for the advice. This was in fact taken 17 years ago, on my first ever outing with a video camera, and 916 clips later (and counting), I can safely say I've learned one or two things about using the camera, all without your help. But thanks for the advice anyway, 17 years late to the party as you are.

[jay600katana]

@dreambuilders48808 she would need to comply with the FRA's new standards for steam. I would guess she will need new flues,tubes,superheaters probly some firebox work, running gear work...etc. But as she sits she is in great condition, very little money would be needed (in steam loco terms) to get her out and about.

[cellphonzrock]

@FastFlyingVirginian The J 611's whistle sounds quiet when it is at around 65mph.

[HOLYSMOKES07]

@SFLRailFan NO the N & W #611 is still in Roanoke.. The Southern Railways #611 is in Chattanooga and pulls a daily passenger run. Both are operational and share the same number.

[MrGroovy888]

the 611 is at the transportation museum in roanoke but they show it everywere i live in roanoke and go to the museum and the o winston link museum often the 611 could be the most reconizable unit ever