Hello everyone.
I have gotten increasingly interested in the events that took place during the 1987 NRHS Convention from July 29th to August 2nd. I purchased Mark I Video’s DVD covering the event, and also bought Jim Wrinn’s “Steam’s Camelot” book. What are your memories of the convention? I’d love to hear your stories.
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Since it was 33 1/2 years ago, please refresh our memories, i.e. where was it?
Jack; according to Google, looks like the ‘87 NRHS convention took place in Roanoke and featured N&W 611 and 1218.
Curt
The first NRHS convention I attended was St. Louis in 1990 (?) with the four locomotives, which was great fun. I missed 1987, but seem to recall criticisms of it, which I didn't understand at the time. Looking forward to replies here.
This convention was host to "Super Saturday". The premier event of the Norfolk Southern Steam Program. 611 and 1218 ran side-by-side from Roanoke to Radford, VA, evoking much elation from crowds and crew alike.
In August 1987 I was at Steamtown riding behind the Mikado painted in Lackawanna from Scranton to Pocono Summit. I sadly missed out on so many mainline and rare mileage excursions in the 80’s that will probably never happen again due to liability and stricter rules and PTC, PSR, etc. Now the class 1’s and even some regionals and short lines are basically off limits to public excursions in any form, steam or diesel. And Amtrak’s charter restrictions are still in effect. That alone makes most mainline excursions now impossible. Reading and Northern, TVRM, Steamtown, etc. are your best bets for longer train rides. The key for excursion operators today is to own the track you run on. Or find a friendly commuter railroad willing to host you.
On RFDTV “Trains and Locomotives”, they had an episode that covered this convention and the video was great.
Larry
There are videos on YouTube showing the 1218 & 611 running side by side.
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