Norfolk & Western's J class 611 will be at Strasburg on these dates;
Tickets are a bit steep however, $200.00. I need to read more in order to learn the details.
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You can ride behind 611 for 9 miles for under 20 bucks in open window coaches. The 611 does though have limited options for longer excursions unless they go to a longer excursion friendly railroad that will accept the risks of the general public on their property. Reading and Northern would be one.
Is the "at the throttle" of N&W steam event the $200 ticket?
None of you can give the web link?
www.strasburgrailroad.com
Events are selling out quick, snooze you lose and all that. By the time some of you finish "reading the details", everything will be sold out.
Lerro photo charter: done
611 cab time: done
Whistle blows are sold out as well, I was lucky to get two for Sunday Sept 29. How about the 611 rides in coach and open air, are they selling quickly? I bought four tickets for us for one ride in open air.
I am not interested in riding behind the engine, I am interested in quality photo opportunities and cab time.
I wanted a cab ride but all the jump seats were sold out and I’m not interested in being a fireman and for the engineer seat you must have a valid drivers license, I don’t drive, I have a PA non driver state ID. I’m guessing the 765 will be running in Ohio the same weekend 611 is running in late September. I wanted to go to the WMSR this July for 1309, but now I chose 611 at Strasburg not sure if my mom would be willing to travel that far to Cumberland with her breathing issues, she has a portable machine but battery only lasts so long, we charge it in the car when going out.
Ordered out tickets yesterday for coach seats. I was a bit to late to get presidential tickets.
Maybe 611 should stay longer?
I got up early yesterday and was able to get the Presidents Car for the Saturday at 12:30. But I did it at 6:30am. It was sold out by 10. I booked a room earlier this week as I knew they would fill up as well. It will be a fun weekend..
bought an engineer slot with 475.
will also go to see the 611
Booked a ride for 11 a.m. on Sunday the 13th. The 611 will be running trips this weekend while 475 is in her whistle blow session, correct?
Robert K posted:I’m guessing the 765 will be running in Ohio the same weekend 611 is running in late September.
This would be a fun weekend if it is true. I booked a hostling tour, a whistle blow, and a open air train ride ticket for the 28th. I will be there with my 9 year old son and we have always wanted to see the 611. This is a great opportunity! It will be a ZOO there though!
I did the hostling tour last year with the 475, and if you have never done it before it is a very cool experience.
Now if the 765 will be in Ohio that weekend it would be perfect. Strasburg on the 27th and 28th, the 765 on our way home on Sunday the 29th!
I did decide against the photography experience. As much as I wanted to do it, the cost is just too high for me and my son to experience it together.
I only live 2 hrs away but can't afford the event but think it is very cool. Will be good for the east to have this for the fans. I will buy the video. Have fun.
jim pastorius posted:I only live 2 hrs away but can't afford the event but think it is very cool. Will be good for the east to have this for the fans. I will buy the video. Have fun.
What is nice about Strasburg is you can walk around the whole place and explore without purchasing a ticket. The train rides are very affordable. Worth the 2 hour drive!
Who's to say that we can't find a spot along the tracks and take pictures ? From the website description, it seems like unless we fork out $200.00, we will not be able to take a picture. I'm only a bit over an hour away, so it will be worth the ride, just to see if I can find a spot somewhere along or near the right of way.
My grandmother had many sayings. One of them, "Money comes to money", comes to mind in cases like this. In my next life, I am going to be born rich, instead go good looking.....LOL
Dan Padova posted:Who's to say that we can't find a spot along the tracks and take pictures ? From the website description, it seems like unless we fork out $200.00, we will not be able to take a picture. I'm only a bit over an hour away, so it will be worth the ride, just to see if I can find a spot somewhere along or near the right of way.
Plenty of places to take photos. The $200 will be for the Lerro ran photo charter. These are very well done and I have attended a few in the past.
Drive into Strasburge. Park along one of the crossings and wait for the trains to pass. The 611 will only be pulling 3 trips that day, they will be running their normal trains also. Usually in the morning you can see a train come by every 15-20 minutes.
See my past photos here: https://www.3rdcoast.photograp...s/Strasburg-Railroad
If you come down the 27th or 28th let me know. I can show you some great spots.
I have been to Strasburg a couple of times. Love the place and planned to go this summer. Saw the 611 at Spencer, NC two years ago, not in steam but cool. Talked to the engineer while his kids got dirty playing in the engine. Rode in the cab of the steamer at the WM many years ago. Have a video of that. So glad that NS is supporting it and making it happen. What I am hoping is they bring the 611 up the lurgan branch to the mainline.
So for the days that happen to follow York (10/19-20), when they are doing all those sold out Engineer's/Fireman's/ Jump Seat experiences, is the engine sitting still at the station, and is there any chance of getting a half decent view of it if you are not one of the participants in those experiences?
I'm making the assumption that at half hour spacing, the engine is not going anywhere in between sittings, and also since they seem to be selling 3 seats per time slot, there would be no place for the people actually qualified to run the train to do so! 
Sorry for stupid questions, as I don't generally railfan, but Strasburg is pretty close to on my way home from York with a very slight detour, so if there is a chance of getting any sort of view, It might be worth stopping by just to see this classic in person.
(Even if from afar, obviously I would expect that close up viewing/photos is likely only realistic for those participating in the offered experiences)
-Dave
Kelly Anderson posted:Not much point in buying an engineer seat ticket if you can't run the engine, that is the whole point!
From the web-site, "Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to sit in the engineer’s seat and pull open the throttle and feel the power of a steam locomotive at your fingertips? This 30-minute experience puts you in control on the rails of America’s oldest operating railroad. You’ll receive an orientation to the controls and then you’ll be off, taking direction from a certified steam locomotive engineer."
Fair enough. I guess I was (probably falsely) basing that on the normal Strasburg runs I observe on the Wednesday of York week while visiting the TCA museum.
Those tend to take about 40 minutes (roughly, IIRC) to go out and come back before they repeat, and that would not fit into the 30 minutes between seatings shown on the website.
I'd guess it goes far enough to pass by the area nearby in front of the TCA Museum and Red Caboose Motel?
-Dave
Jdevleerjr posted:jim pastorius posted:I only live 2 hrs away but can't afford the event but think it is very cool. Will be good for the east to have this for the fans. I will buy the video. Have fun.
What is nice about Strasburg is you can walk around the whole place and explore without purchasing a ticket. The train rides are very affordable. Worth the 2 hour drive!
You can say that again! I'm going Columbus Day weekend and I'm coming from almost 6 hours away just to see the Queen!
jim pastorius posted:I only live 2 hrs away but can't afford the event but think it is very cool. Will be good for the east to have this for the fans. I will buy the video. Have fun.
This stuns me, a coach ticket and a 611 whistle would have been less than $25?
If I knew you personally I would have given you the money myself.
The video will be at least that much.
I am truly sorry for you.
Dan Padova posted:Who's to say that we can't find a spot along the tracks and take pictures ? From the website description, it seems like unless we fork out $200.00, we will not be able to take a picture. I'm only a bit over an hour away, so it will be worth the ride, just to see if I can find a spot somewhere along or near the right of way.
My grandmother had many sayings. One of them, "Money comes to money", comes to mind in cases like this. In my next life, I am going to be born rich, instead go good looking.....LOL
Fine, take the cheap way, but realize that Strasburg has but 4 public RR crossings along its length. At each one there will be hordes of people, not only will parking be scarce, but elbow room for just aiming a camera will be tight. Then you'll have the nuts who will try to drive to every crossing ahead of the train and do NASCAR moves on a country road.
After 4 weekends of potential mayhem in Amish country, "Lebanon Levi" may return to put the trespassing "English" in their place.
I learned my lesson in Virginia 3 years ago chasing 611, these types of arranged opportunities are priceless. I guess you missed the part where the $200 covers 2 trains, 2 engines, and 6 hours worth of prearranged photo ops.
Thanks Borden but I don't need help. When you live on SS you look for the best bang for the buck. I have been to Strasburg several times, took multiple rides and toured the shops each time. When I go I want to see the TCA and Pa. museum. It would cost more than $25 factoring in travel & meals plus I have a $900 fuel oil bill that needs paid. I have a 45 min video I took riding in the cab of the Allegheny Central on the Wild Mary some time ago. It looks like a greatweek in Strasburg.
Borden Tunnel posted:Dan Padova posted:Who's to say that we can't find a spot along the tracks and take pictures ? From the website description, it seems like unless we fork out $200.00, we will not be able to take a picture. I'm only a bit over an hour away, so it will be worth the ride, just to see if I can find a spot somewhere along or near the right of way.
My grandmother had many sayings. One of them, "Money comes to money", comes to mind in cases like this. In my next life, I am going to be born rich, instead go good looking.....LOL
Fine, take the cheap way, but realize that Strasburg has but 4 public RR crossings along its length. At each one there will be hordes of people, not only will parking be scarce, but elbow room for just aiming a camera will be tight.
I learned my lesson in Virginia 3 years ago chasing 611, these types of arranged opportunities are priceless. I guess you missed the part where the $200 covers 2 trains, 2 engines, and 6 hours worth of prearranged photo ops.
I dread this, but me and my son plan to get to the crossing very early, park, and walk in. I have a place in mind where we will go where we will not be trespassing and we will be far enough from the crossing to keep away from the hords of people. We will camp out for a few hours and watch the normal trains, along with one run of the 611. Not ideal but we will take what we can get.
I don’t know if anyone saw this, but for Oct 12-14, these new 15-minute round trip “611 Shuttle Trains” showed up during the normal trains and when 475 is in her whistle blowing session. Expected the 611 to pull the regular trains, but at least I got tix for the shuttle.
Kelly Anderson posted:Dan Padova posted:Who's to say that we can't find a spot along the tracks and take pictures ? From the website description, it seems like unless we fork out $200.00, we will not be able to take a picture. I'm only a bit over an hour away, so it will be worth the ride, just to see if I can find a spot somewhere along or near the right of way.
Can't you even afford a coach ticket for $15.50? Railfans who arrive to take photos, then leave without spending $0.05 are what make railfan events generally unappealing to steam railroads.
I'm not familiar with the workings of events of this type. So the prices I was reading for photo ops, cab rides, whistle blowing, etc., seemed high. Not out of reach for me, but more than I would spend for a railman trip. Yes, of course I can afford $15.50.
Is VMT sending any rolling stock with 611? If 475 and 611 are both pulling freight for the photo runbys (granted 475's is a mixed train), then it seems like the consists would be relatively short considering the cars on-hand at Strasburg. It would also be great to see a N&W caboose tacked onto the end of 611s train.
Regardless, very excited for this rare opportunity. Well done Strasburg and VMT!
Robert K posted:Whistle blows are sold out as well, I was lucky to get two for Sunday Sept 29. How about the 611 rides in coach and open air, are they selling quickly? I bought four tickets for us for one ride in open air.
Where are the tickets for car rides behind 611?
I will be there on the weekend off 10/19, and I saw the special event tickets, but I didn’t see the tickets for coach rides behind. When I looked to book tickets for general rides on that weekend, it make not mention as to what trains will be pulled by 611.
Thoughts?
Thanks.
Weekend of Oct 19-20 In-Cab Experiences sold out. No mention of any rides pulled by 611.
Kelly Anderson posted:611 Steam Train - General Accommodations
#611 and #475 will not be pulling passengers the weekend of the 19th.
Mr. Anderson,
Thanks for the reply. I had an email in to the railroad, but I haven’t received a reply yet, so your info is welcome.
If I may then ask, will both engines, 475 and 611, be readily available for photos from the sidelines? Will one of the other engines, maybe #80, be available for the scheduled rides? I just want to make sure that since that was the only weekend I will be able to make it up to PA from VA, it wont be in vein.
Thanks again.
Kelly Anderson posted:General Accommodations - Regular Train
Yes, the regular train will be running every hour on the hour from 11 through 6PM on Saturday, and 11 to 3PM on Sunday.
Cool. Will 611 be there for at least spectator photos?
Kelly Anderson posted:Carl Peduzzi posted:Cool. Will 611 be there for at least spectator photos?#611 and #475 will both be down the line for their "Hand on the Throttle" operations. The regular train will be meeting them at some point during each trip.
Such great info. This needs posted to the Strasburg site (if it isn’t already and I didn’t see it) so that people get an idea of what can and can’t see that day.
I am assuming the “Hand on the Throttle” is closed ticket and spectators wont be able to view without one.
Thank you for answering my questions.
Kelly Anderson posted:611 Steam Train - General Accommodations
#611 and #475 will not be pulling passengers the weekend of the 19th, Sept. 28th and 29th only.
Will 475 be pulling the normal trains on the 28th and 29th?
I understand for those who wish to park in their lot but don't have tickets, it will be $20. If you have tickets, or order parking on line, it is $5. Basically these are all gated events, and charges apply just to enter the property. I am glad 611 is heading north this year, it has played itself out pretty much in NC and VA over the last few years.
Will there be any side-by-side photo opportunities for 611 and 475 besides the Lerro charter? Specifically the 12-14th.
Dates added:
I really wish that Strasburg would just say that there will be viewing opportunities that you Don’t need to pay for.
I understand that this is a big deal and a great opportunity for many. But I, as I am sure many, would just like to see the locomotives and take pictures without paying for some special event.
Carl Peduzzi posted:I really wish that Strasburg would just say that there will be viewing opportunities that you Don’t need to pay for.
I understand that this is a big deal and a great opportunity for many. But I, as I am sure many, would just like to see the locomotives and take pictures without paying for some special event.
I thought you could still watch the locomotive from trackside...
TrainMan1225 posted:Carl Peduzzi posted:I really wish that Strasburg would just say that there will be viewing opportunities that you Don’t need to pay for.
I understand that this is a big deal and a great opportunity for many. But I, as I am sure many, would just like to see the locomotives and take pictures without paying for some special event.
I thought you could still watch the locomotive from trackside...
I would assume so. And maybe I am asking for something that will already exist.
It seems that there is so much focus on the activities, it would be nice to hear that everyday spectators will have some safe opportunities to view and photograph the engines at some point between all the festivities.
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