N&W 611 test run successful

This is amazing news and great progress by an obviously dedicated AND skilled group of individuals.  So much accomplished in less than 12 months. 

 

After more than 13 years of waiting and watching a project being fumbled along, I sorely wish those involved in the restoration of PRR K4 #1361 would take serious note of the work on N&W J 611.

Pingman,

 

Please remember that this is the Real Trains Forum, and we try our best to use correct and proper terminology here.

 

 

Otherwise we descend into the chaos world of cowcatchers, coal cars and lash-ups.

 

Rusty

Here's looking at you, kid!

Questions.  Why did the Virginia museum of transportation do this?  Do other steam engine museum do this?  Did the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical society register the 765 with the US Patent & Trademark Office?

 The Virginia Museum of Transportation, Inc., announces initial filing with US Patent & Trademark Office to register the Norfolk & Western Class J 611 Steam Passenger Locomotive.

 

just curious.

That is a good question,  I personally am not sure.   The 611 is the only one of her kind still in existence but beyond that I don't know.   I am curious as well.

Great to hear that an important part of railroading history is being brought back to life.

Makes you wonder how many people don't believe 611 was put under steam due to what day this is, thinking it's one of the countless tired old, "April Fools" posts...

She was actually steam tested on March 31st and NOT April 1st.

Hey Rich, I've deleted my replies in this thread so as not to detract from my main points which are simply this:  hope you get to be the engineer on 611; and, more importantly, I hope to ride behind her out of Atlanta as I did in 1993--perhaps we can do both at the same time. 

Yeah, I know that, but for the people seeing posts on that for the first time today, I'm sure someone must have thought (or wonder if) it was an elaborate prank.

The time for new insulation (lagging) is here. 

 

 

Yes, I understand that the contractor is there now installing the insulation. Jacketing and paint to come next.

I know this might be to early to ask this, but by chance do they know what routes they will have the 611 go on?

Chris, thank you for your timely updates on 611's restoration--looking forward to riding behind her soon.

Yes, the NS management team certainly does. When they elect to announce/publish that information, is a completely different story.

I think the reason they are registering it is to keep people from using the trains image in advertising. That dilutes its value and the museum should have the right to make money using the 611's image in marketing

Your welcome everyone.   As Hot water stated NS will announce that when they are ready.

Lagging, Hell. Looks to me like they're way out in the lead. 

 

What an awesome crew.

 

Godspeed 611.

I look forward to being able to relive this thrill again!

 

Nick, those pacing shots are excellent. Class J. great thread. I was pleased to see

611 is getting cab signal equipment, might get to see her on Horseshoe!

 

Ed

Thanks Hot Water for the information. It will be interesting what NS announces.

Does anyone know if new sheet metal will need to be formed for 611's jacket or can they reuse the old steel jacket?

 

Ed Rappe

I'm pretty sure that her jacketing was VERY carefully removed, catalogued, and set aside for reuse. There should be no need for much, if any, new sheet metal for her jacketing. The same process was done with SP 4449's jacketing, in preparation for reinstallation when the FRA mandated 15 year boiler work is completed. Remember that both N&W 611 and SP 4449 have always been kept indoors, or at least protected from the weather in the case of 611.

I hope that someone gets all of the dings out of the five bright pieces that go on the front of the casing around the feedwater heater.

 

Here is a picture of my father (hammer in hand) forming that same piece.

 

Big Jim, I knew you were an N&W man, but I didn't realize your roots went so deep! How special is must be to know that your Father worked on 611 in the past.

 

 

Awesome Big Jim. Be nice if YOU got a chance to run 611.

 

Ed

I agree, they are pretty beat up.  That is a great bit of family history there..how amazing.

You can see what I mean about being dinged up.

 

I was able to pilot and run the 611 back in June '94 when she made a trip from Roanoke to Glasgow, Va. and return. It meant a lot to me to be able to run something that my father had a hand in building. She is quite a locomotive!

Chris or Big Jim, how do they do a front smoke box wash, on the J 611?

 

Do they have to remove the front end lagging/ nose piece every time?

 

Probably a dumb question to ask, but I was just wondering!..................Brandy!

Big Jim - I sure hope so too! As far as I know, those pieces were replated along with many other items. Wonderful picture of your Dad working. I have a very good friend who's father worked in the passenger car shops during that era.

What do you mean by a "front smoke box wash", and why would something like that even be done?

Brandy I am not sure what you mean by smoke box wash either.   If you are asking how they gain access to the smoke box, they remove the nose, and behind that is the smoke box door.

Big Jim, I thought those dings were just "Beauty Marks"

 

Every time I see the "J" I think of that photo of your dad, good stuff!

The lagging is complete.  Another photo here.

I remember as a kid when loafing around some of the roundhouse operations in Old Louisville. The locomotives would have the fire dropped, and inspecting the grate area, then the smoke box doors would be either off, or swung open to clean the cinders and screens. I just wondering about how they did that on the J 611?

I remember seeing one Penn decapod that ran between Louisville and Indianapolis, every time I was at their roundhouse, they would always be doing this wash job I referred to.

I remember seeing the K&I guys running a long pole with a big brush on the end, back and forth, every time they pulled it out, there seemed to be a shovel full of cinders and dust that was dragged out. These were switchers.

 

The nose piece on front of the J611 just doesn't look to be an easy removal, if they even did this procedure on this locomotive!

 

Sorry for not better explaining my question............................Brandy!

 

Brandy,

 

I see know that you are referring to "brushing/blowing out the tubes" and probably cleaning/brushing/blowing the cinder netting inside the smoke box. That process was not uncommon on locomotives assigned to switching and or local service, which tended to "soot-up" the netting and flues/tubes, and thus had to be cleaned out when a locomotive was reported to be a "difficult/hard steamer", i.e. difficult to maintain working boiler pressure.

 

Main line road locomotives, such as 611, rarely experienced such problems, and thus only required minor attention for the front end during the required monthly boiler washes.

Thanks "Hot Water" for the answer. I understand what you referred to as a hard steamer! I remember my step dad using the terminology, at times. 

 

I just thought, that if that was a common occurance, from the pictures of the nose piece, that would be a "PITA" job to have to do, even on a monthly inspection. But when you're as good as all those old craftsman were back in the day, it was just another job for another day...........Thanks again........................Brandy!

After the jacket and shrouding is reinstalled and painted what work remains to be done before 611's first move under steam?

 

ED Rappe