611 Receives A Huge Welcome in Roanoke

Wow!  That is awesome.  Thank you for sharing the video.  Great to see so many people out there welcoming her home.  Such a beautiful locomotive.

I can't really add much to what has already been said here. What a joy that was - people cheering, waving, whistle blowing. Sends a chill up your spine. 5 years ago, if you mentioned anything about Norfolk Southern steam and the 611 running again, you'd likely be laughed at. Who would've ever imagined....

What a welcome. Thanks for posting.

Very fitting welcome from the community and all those responsible for this under two year restoration should be very proud of their efforts and the joy they have brought and will continue to bring to many more folks.

 

Thanks for posting the video.

Fantastic!!!!

Just missing the Ticker Tape 

 

Fantastic!

 

Peter

Simply....Outstanding !   

In late March 1957 was being transferred out of Ft. Eustis VA. Rode overnight to Cincinnatti behind a J.Had my own compartment. What a TRAIN! Buck Private but lived like king for afew hours.

Thank you for showing the video!

Thanks so much for sharing this video!!!  What a wonderful welcome, with so many people, for the 611.  I'm going to check her out next Sunday in Manassas VA.

Yes what a great home coming for her.  She looks great...and she's home.

Man, if that don't bring tears to your eyes. What a beautiful sound and sight. Welcome home.

 

...keep the rails polished...

Videographer could use a tripod and a wind baffle.  Great to see the old gal running under her own power!  Wish I could have been there in person.

Beautiful, thanks for sharing.....

When we old timers wonder about losing our railroad heritage, take a moment to remember the tremendous welcome given the 611 as it entered Roanoke. Thousands of people - many in their twenties and thirties, along with an untold number of kids - turned out to see an icon of that city and it's railroad heritage.

 

So - to the hundreds of people and organizations that made the funds available, to the members of the Fire Up 611 Commitee, to the Norfolk Southern and especially to the many craftsmen and women who readied 611 for her return to operation, thanks so much.

 

And yes, NCT, it did bring a tear to my eye.

 

 

Thanks to all who made this possible. Welcome home 611!

If anyone ever thinks that steam power will die just take a look at this video.  The 611 is a true American icon.  I wish I had been there.

Great video.

Great Video of the 611 - Thaks for posting

Great video, nice to see a steam engine without a diesel backup pulling a train on it's own.

Thanks for sharing.

Great historic moment, thanks to all that donated to the restoration and those that turned out to welcome her home.

 

Now they need donations to keep her fix to steam!

 

Please be advised that on many excursions operated under the Amtrak insurance umbrella, where a diesel is REQUIRED by Amtrak for Head End Power, the steam locomotive still does all the work. Check out the excursions that 4449 or 261 operate. Visually, the diesel certainly distracts from the "scene", but the great steam sounds are still there.

I was there and it was amazing to see in person. I definitely got choked up. Glad to see and hear her alive again! 

Thanks for posting the video!

A great locomotive brought back to operation. Thank you also to the folks at the North Carolina Transportation Museum Spencer Shops for all they did to make this day possible. The crew on the train had a great day celebrating the return over the entire 220 mile trip/ From all the video posted during the day, it seems that wherever there was a group of fans trackside, the crew obliged with a smoke show and whistling salute. The test run during the week to and from Greensboro as well as the return trip were on the line that carries the AMtrak Carolinian and Crescent trains and the State of North Carolina regional service.Great job Norfolk Southern and the crew running the train.

Thanks for posting!

That was really cool

Nice to know people still like trains 

I was there and it was just terrific to see and watch her finally under steam again. Many thanks to all that help accomplish the great feat.

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing.

Great way to start the day, thanks for posting.

 

Jack

The video above shows some of the vestibules are open with people waving?  Breaking the rules?  I can't imagine the insurance company would approve of any exceptions?

As to the open vestibules, this was not a "public" trip. They will be closed on all public trips.

So the "rules" are different for NS employes and invited special guests? 

It certainly appears that way.  

 WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks for sharing that. It always is good to see a steamer brought back to life.  

Wow. Excellent video, thanks for sharing. To quote Will Smith..."I have got to get me one of these!"

I guess they are less concerned about their own employees acting stupid than the general public. You should have seen the folks at the VMT on Sunday. They were walking on egg shells when it came to people getting close to the locomotive especially on the cab tour. They were visibly worried someone was going to hurt themselves and sue the museum. I have never heard so many warnings about safety in my life. Sad state of affairs... the litigious society we live in...