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Well the tear down of the 611 has begun.  Here is a link to the Fire Up 611 FB page and a couple photos taken by Preston Claytor of the progress thus far...they are moving right along.

Removal of the super heater units.
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Above photo taken by Preston Claytor.

Super heater units removed.
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Above photo by Preston Claytor.

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Last edited by N&W Class J
Original Post

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Originally Posted by Dominic Mazoch:

When the 611 was built, the major stockholder in N&W was PRR!  Hence, it is partly a PRR engine.

Not even close! ALL of the N&W steam locomotives were designed and built "in house" with ABSOLUTELY NO HELP in any way from PRR. In facet, when the PRR finally tested an N&W J, they simply would NOT believe how it ACTUALLY performed. Besides, since the N&W J wasn't invented by the PRR, they would have no part of acquiring any 4-8-4s.

Originally Posted by Tinplate Art:

Wonder if TVRM will do the drive wheels? 

Do WHAT to them? All N&W 611 actually REQUIRES is the FRA mandated 15 year boiler inspection. There is NOTHING needed on the running gear. The only "additional work" needed is, drop the engine truck for wheel work on the two axle sets in the engine truck. Now, TVRM might turn those wheels, or they may just be replaced with new wheels.

Originally Posted by Tinplate Art:

Wonder if TVRM will do the drive wheels? 

 

NOTE: TVRM has a Niles wheel lathe and quartering machine.

The following is from the fireup611 group which lists what work will be done.

 

Restoration requirements include:

 

• Repair of engine truck

•preparation, and accompanying boiler work

• Preparation and stocking of tool car and auxiliary tender

• Removal of jacket and lagging • Removal/inspection of flexible staybolt caps & staybolts

• Appliance repair

• Tender inspection & repair

• Running gear inspection & repair

• Airbrake inspection and repair

• Application of new safety appliances (event recorders/cab signals etc.)

• Installation of new tubes and flues

• Superheater testing/repair

• Reassembly, hydro, fire testing and test runs

• Painting

Last edited by N&W Class J

PRR could have taken a few notes from N&W's J, and in some respects they did.  If we're going to get into history here, let's keep in mind that PRR knew a good design when it saw it.  PRR management (J. M. Symes in particular), and the people involved with the tests of N&W 610, all had high praise for its design, accessibility and performance while on PRR.  Most thought that the machinery speed was too high for PRR's requirements and that a large 4-6-4 would be a better fit for PRR's service.  However, Symes was the better visionary, and wanted diesels immediately in early 1945.  However, the T1 production order was too far along, and the  die was cast.  If you want the full story, get back issues of the Keystone, Vol 41, #4, pgs 9-21, and Vol.42, #2, pgs 67-70.  There's plenty of primary source info to back up these observations.

As tested, the N&W 610 would not fit physically in some PRR applications.  With a booster engine, she would have made a terrific freighter/ dual service machine for the Penn.....but with Clement and Symes at the wheel, they'd be moving in a different direction after 1945. FWIW, you can't "MU" a steamer with a Diesel...mebby with DCS, perhaps, but not in real life!

Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by CWEX:

The jacketing has been removed, flues and tubes are out as well.  And now boiler inspections have begun in Spencer.  The 611 is in spectacular condition.

 

Photo posted on the Fireup611 FB page.

No photos of the flues & tubes yet????

They didn't want to embarrass the 844 crew...

 

Regarding PRR steam design and them not having any 4-8-4's because they didn't invent the arrangement... really? PRR didn't invent anything until they came up with the T, Q and S classes, and those were not stellar engines. So, really it's a good thing that the PRR built tried and true designs like the K, E, and the M's. Probably the best engine the PRR built was the copies of the C&O Texas J class.

Originally Posted by steam fan:
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by CWEX:

The jacketing has been removed, flues and tubes are out as well.  And now boiler inspections have begun in Spencer.  The 611 is in spectacular condition.

 

Photo posted on the Fireup611 FB page.

No photos of the flues & tubes yet????

They didn't want to embarrass the 844 crew...

 

Regarding PRR steam design and them not having any 4-8-4's because they didn't invent the arrangement... really? PRR didn't invent anything until they came up with the T, Q and S classes, and those were not stellar engines. So, really it's a good thing that the PRR built tried and true designs like the K, E, and the M's. Probably the best engine the PRR built was the copies of the C&O Texas J class.

A PRR J (2-10-4) boiler on a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement might have been interesting R class.............!

Last edited by Dominic Mazoch

Sorry guys, but putting a Diesel control in a steamer is not "MU" operation between steam and Diesel.  Remote operation, yes, but MU.......NO WAY !    B&O considered doing this back in the '50s, but Clinchfield was the first, with a 4-6-0, IIRC. Old idea, makes sense, works pretty well when done properly.....but not MU !  And it won't be until all the Diesel's functions are automatically tied by remote to those going on in the steamers's cab.   

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