N&W Class J 611 is ON THE MOVE!

Hi Rich. You're obviously much more knowledgeable than I am regarding steam programs. So how does the 765 program stay afloat if it doesn't make money? 

Well, if I may respond, before Rich does; The 765 program does NOT "make money". Just like the SP4449, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society is a NOT for profit organization, operated by volunteers. Thus, every single dollar that 765 "earns" goes right back into the organization that protects, maintains, and operates her.

 

Speaking as a crew member on SP4449, since 1975, every single operation of the locomotive has been by a NON-PAID crew. We all spend our own money to "do what we do", in order to keep her running. Bottom line, there is NO WAY that a large main line steam locomotive, in todays economical environment, MAKES MONEY. It is all accomplished by a large TOTALLY DEDICATED crew, who all work for NOTHING.

 

Now it's your turn, Rich!

Thanks HW! I guess what I meant to say is that the 611 program would be designed to support itself.

 

HEY BECKY, TOM, & GABE:

 

When I first saw a picture of 611, I knew instantly that it was a Northern by the 4-8-4 wheel arrangement.

 

In California, we have the historic Southern Pacific Daylight, another famous Northern-type passenger loco.

 

I was born in Wheeling, W.Va., one of the most Railroad-oriented cities in the USA.

 

To graduate from Elementary School to High School, boys had to memorize the Whyte Classificaion Sysem of Steam Locomotive Wheel Arrangements.

 

If you lived in a Steam Town, you'd better be able to recognize the Engines!

 

(My Dad was a Fireman on Steamers during WW2.) 

 

Cheers,

BAD ORDER HAL

If you're referring to SP GS-4 #4449, that's actually home-based in Portland, Oregon at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, not here in California.

 

But if you're referring to they Daylight being historic in the California railroading sense you'd definitely be correct, along with the cab-forwards (the last of which, #4294, actually is in California at the CSRM in Sacramento).

Yep soon.....soon.  She is a thorough bred.

 

 

Chris,

 

Someone needs to tell the preservation group to keep a sharp lookout for Lee Willis so that he doesn't sneak in and try to repaint it in UP harbor mist gray & Armour Yellow like he did on his Lionel model. 

Here's a great picture of the 611 running with her stablemate; the 1218 Class A. FWIW, these engines have been a source of pride for generations of N&W families. They were designed, built, and operated by and for the N&W. These engines had innovations and improvements seen on few other engines, anywhere.

 

IMHO, they represent the absolute pinnacle of the steam era. 

 

 

On January 23, 1956, No. 611 derailed along the Tug River near Cedar, West Virginia while pulling the The Pocahontas. It was rebuilt. Had it not been in such pristine condition in 1960, it might have been scrapped too.

 

 

Gilly

You are talking apples and oranges! I said that Norfolk Southern doesn't make any money on the program. The Fort Wayne RR Historical Society, owner/operator of the 765, makes enough money to fund the operation and keep the locomotive maintained. The 765 crew is also an all-volunteer operation.

 

Many years ago I learned how to make a small fortune operating a steam locomotive. Start with a big one...

Wow...could you imagine?...some things just aren't right....    That was a gutsy thing he did...now as a N&W lover I must admit I did have heart palpitations.    And Lee Roanoke phoned and demanded an apology....

 

Maybe we better tell Doyle and the gang to keep watch as well....there's a madman on the loose with a spray gun...

Well said Gilly and I couldn't agree more.  Home built by Roanoke's finest...with a love and pride that couldn't be beat.  I love the N&W, and it's A's,Y's,J's. You just gotta love a 70" drivered Northern that could hit the century mark with ease, consistently averaged 15,000 miles a month and day in and day out would put their 80,000lbs of tractive effort to work on the Blue Ridge. 

 

 I do agree the Tug River incident played a part in her being saved, as did the objections to her scrapping by Mr. O Winston Link. 

 

Well, hopefully they took a page out of Montgomery Scott's engineering handbook and doubled their estimate so that they can be called "miracle workers" if it's done in December.  

This is exciting, I will have a Steamer in the hood (Fredericksburg VA.) Well close enough to drive too on a nice day. Lets see, the 611, the 8444 daylight, the 4014,the 765, the Reading 4-6-2, I hope someday I will get to see the K-4 prancing someday. If anyone knows how to put together a K4 could you please go up to Steam town and show them how to do it.

John

 

The K4s #1361, hasn't been at Steamtown for more than a year.

What's an "...8444 daylight...?"

 

UP has a 4-8-4 numbered 844, and the Southern Pacific Daylight is numbered 4449.

 

As for the 4014...

It's all of those FOURS that is confusing them.
Maybe we are missing out on sometime because we have no FOURS in our locomotive's number?
Magically Locomotive Dust?  <no..that's ash and cinders>
I will suggest that it was Rich's idea renumber the 765 to 744? HAHAHAHAHA!!!

.....MR 261 and PM 1225.

 

 

611 running again in one year? Who would have ever guessed we'd have so many operational steam locomotives in 2015?

Its nice that there are still enough knowledgable/interested  folks left in this "digital age" to preserve our railroad history.

That is a beautiful shot.

Joe

 

Not to mention the #4501 which should be ready soon, plus a number of other big, main line steam engines being worked on.  Now, how cool would it be to get about 8 or 10 of these beasts all steamed up and brought together in one really big steam "fest"?  Be the steam even of the era!

 

Paul Fischer

Slight thread jack: a city which no longer has any usable trackage within city limits. We're about 20 miles out of the city and find ourselves there every week or two.

Let's not forget this beauty..

Joe

 

I ived in Wheeling from 1936 to 1944, and have been a California resident ever since. 

 

When I lived there, it was RailTown USA!

 

 BAD ORDER

Ladies & Gentlemen,

   This is real good news, wish I lived closer I would definitely be there, also Rich is absolutley correct, if you do not maintain the tracks it does not matter who holds the throttle, the train always ends up in the same place.

PCRR/Dave

 

And soon enough, you newcomers will learn what 5100 DBHP feels like !   Really, folks, this is about as good as it gets...until we get 2156 out to play !   Now all we need is a pair of restored Red Birds for the return trip !   Huzzah !

You got that right, it really is something to experience/feel when the "J" goes to work.  It's amazing really when you think about it.  She had her inaugural run (Roanoke to Norfolk) on Labor Day weekend back in 82' and a wonderful career until 94' and now she has sat for what will be just over 20 years when she comes out of rebuild.  It's a great thing!  And soon we'll all hear that Hancock longbell 3 chime once more....

 

As for a pair of Red Birds.....oh yeah...bring them to the party to please.

sorry to say it hasn't been Railtown USA for many many years.

And to think the PRR could have had J's!  (N&W type 4-8-4's!)

No they wouldn't have, because of the "not invented here" syndrome on the PRR!

My last trip behind the 611 J was Oct. 31, 1993 from Charlotte, NC to Asheville, NC and return. Chased her through "the loops' above Old Fort, NC on another occasion, and last saw her steam through Salisbury, NC on her final trip back to Roanoke.

 

I sure hope the NS will allow this beauty to run WITHOUT a diesel in the consist - she deserves better! 

 

She can do 80+ mph with a twenty-car consist easy!

"Bad Order Hal":

 

Dude, this is a TRAIN forum. 

you never know...611 was never going to be hot again....and NS was never going to allow mainline steam agai.

yes that Wheeling Bridge is a marvel, I see it often. 

All I can say is enjoy it while it's there, be appreciative, and take nothing for granted.  We're never more than a CEO change away from everything changing, for better or worse.  (Which is why I'll never say never about CSX...  we were all sure No Steam was forever, too.)  I also try not to take UP steam for granted, that could go away too.  There's no indication it will, but nothing is forever.

I would love to see her w/o the dismals as well....we'll just have to see.  But at the end of the day I am just glad we will be seeing her out again.

 

 

 

DEAR TINPLATE ART,

 

Yes, you're right.

 

This is a TRAIN forum, and nothing else should be discussed here, regardless of historical importance.

 

I apologize for mentioning something that departs from the current topic under discussion, locomotive 611.

 

Bad Order Hal, your 77-year-old "Dude"

US Army, 1960-62

 

 

 

HEY CHRIS,

 

Yes, the 611 is a beautiful Essay in Steel, but I hope that California's Santa Fe #3751 is also worthy of inclusion in the current topic, even though it isn't sporting 611's handsome Tuxedo!

 

BAD ORDER

Santa Fe 3751, actually Santa Fe's very first 4-8-4 originally, is surely an EXCELLENT performer. The real problem is, the area she is from is so busy with inter model freight and passenger service, she doesn't get a chance to operate very often.

 

But in the end I am N&W to the bone sir....  I also have a soft spot for these as well......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2816.....sigh. The thought of a double-header with 2860 is but a dream

Al

 

Blasphemous!!!!!   We'll have to agree to disagree there, but as the saying goes...beauty is in the eye of the beholder......well actually it's in Roanoke but that's another story.