N&W611

That's a beast of an engine to run! Congratulations on the opportunity!

Was anything different than you expected? I remember my first time running an excavator from the 1920s. I expected it to be difficult in general. Turned out I was good at not crashing things into their end stops but any precise movements were just impossible. I couldn't believe the amount of finesse you had to have with the clutches to make any fine movement. I was terrible! The foreman would have fired me that day, no doubt about it. It was such a great experience though! I suspect running a full scale steamer would be similar situation; my expectations would not match how it really goes.

Heading there this Friday and staying the weekend. I can’t wait, looks like all in cab seats are sold out. It will be nice weather also.

That's something that's on my bucket list. The FWRHS has had "hands at the throttle" with NKP 765 a few times in the past.

I need to get in the seat if they offer it again in the future.

To BillYo414 the biggest surprise was the throttle.  It takes a lot of oomph to move it and for the novice, you can't finesse it at all.  Must be common as even the 'real' engineer was doing the same thing I had to do to position it. The reverser took a bit a strength too, but it was either all the way forward or back, nothing in between.  Plus, the lanyard on the whistle, you have to take up a lot of slack before it will blow.

Cool stuff @CALNNC. I would have expected the whistle lanyard to be pretty tight to be honest.

@CALNNC posted:

I did experiment with my cell phone and noticed that when I put it in the top pocket of my overalls, set to record video, and with the cover reversed to hide the screen, it would make a pretty decent recording, but my wife made me hand it over telling me I was not going to get kicked off the train. 

Forget getting kicked off. If an FRA inspector caught you, you could have been on the hook for about a $10,000 fine. That's a personal fine, BTW.

@smd4 posted:

Forget getting kicked off. If an FRA inspector caught you, you could have been on the hook for about a $10,000 fine. That's a personal fine, BTW.

Glad my wife was smarter than me in this case , but for 44 years she usually has been.

Glad you got to operate 611. In 2019 I was able to get a whistle blow as all the other options for 611 were just about sold out. Back in 2021, I got a cab tour. We were able to record and shoot photos while things were being explained as the engine was at a stand still not going anywhere. I wouldn't think I would be any good doing anything other than whistle blowing in the cab, which definitely needs work. I think I will stick to getting photos outside, or as a passenger.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Glad you got to operate 611. In 2019 I was able to get a whistle blow as all the other options for 611 were just about sold out. Back in 2021, I got a cab tour. We were able to record and shoot photos while things were being explained as the engine was at a stand still not going anywhere. I wouldn't think I would be any good doing anything other than whistle blowing in the cab, which definitely needs work. I think I will stick to getting photos outside, or as a passenger.

First time I saw the 611 under steam was in the 80's.  It had gone to Jax, FLA.  I got a shot of it west of the Crawford diamond, my oldest son is in the pic but is on the lower right sort of hidden.  I just took a pic of the pics in a frame, that is why they are so poor.  1218 went to Jax too, and that pic show my 2 sons on the pilot while it i was laying over for the night.   My older son on the right, is 43 now. I got a shot 1218 it at the same spot as the 611.  She was at speed here moving quite fast.

When the engine was on display in Roanoke, before restoration, one of the guys who helped the restoration, and had special museum privileges, allowed me to climb into the firebox. Cavernous! Was like being swallowed by a whale.

I'll have to see about popping some photos and videos I took back in 2019 at Strasburg as well as maybe some 2021 videos and pictures. Might take me a bit as I have some other posts I have to tend to later today.

Here is a video from October 2019 during York Week.

Two more from October 2019 York Week.

Here is from 2021.

Last one from 2021.

Is  611 just a big engine? It looks a lot bigger than I expected in these videos. I hope I can see it in person one day.

@BillYo414 posted:

Is  611 just a big engine? It looks a lot bigger than I expected in these videos. I hope I can see it in person one day.

Yes it is a big engine. Like UP's 844 it is huge Northern type steam locomotive. I posted the video of the drivers because that shows you how big. I can pop a few other videos if you like with people next to it tonight if you like?

I didn't realize they were that big. I guess most steamers I have seen are on static display or they're just switchers.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

I can pop a few other videos if you like with people next to it tonight if you like?

I will never turn down pictures of trains

@BillYo414 posted:

Is  611 just a big engine? It looks a lot bigger than I expected in these videos.

My buddy who helps fire 611 calls NKP 765 a "small engine."

@BillYo414 posted:

I didn't realize they were that big. I guess most steamers I have seen are on static display or they're just switchers.

I will never turn down pictures of trains

I have a couple of videos where they are coupling up to the Strasburg. I think I also have one of 89 doing it as well. 89 is a way smaller engine in terms of length, but even that still looks big to people. I'll have to see the one where 89 passes the cars on the split, see if that can give an idea of size. I have 611 doing the same thing when it was switching to the front of the train from the back.

I think I just haven't seen enough later steam running to really have a sense of size. I saw 89 run and I have seen other steam switchers run so to me they're "normal" sized. We have a narrow gauge steamer that runs locally and it looks tiny haha

How can I get info on the 611 return trip to Virginia? I’m hoping it will be coming through Hagerstown Md.

@romiller49 posted:

How can I get info on the 611 return trip to Virginia? I’m hoping it will be coming through Hagerstown Md.

Not sure about how the route goes. I know in the past the route was talked about. There doesn't seem to be news on when or if 611 will be back up at Strasburg for a while.

Here is a piston perspective of 611 and 89.

Video drive by of 611 and 89.

@CALNNC posted:

...Due to FRA regulations based on train wrecks where engineers were using cellphones and other electronic devices, no electronics are permitted in the cab.  That includes even a video camera like a Go-Pro on a mag mount stuck somewhere...

It's too bad they don't know the rule because this is an incorrect interpretation of it.

The rule about "No Electronics" in a locomotive cab applies only to the operating crew. It says nothing about a guest or some other non-crew member using a camera or phone. How do you think I produced my last 765 run video in 2016? There was a guest in the cab with no operating responsibilities. He shot all the in-cab video and it was perfectly legal.

@Rich Melvin posted:

It's too bad they don't know the rule because this is an incorrect interpretation of it.

The rule about "No Electronics" in a locomotive cab applies only to the operating crew. It says nothing about a guest or some other non-crew member using a camera or phone. How do you think I produced my last 765 run video in 2016? There was a guest in the cab with no operating responsibilities. He shot all the in-cab video and it was perfectly legal.

I suspect rather than dealing with people fumbling with cameras and such, it's easier to just tell them all are banned regardless of what the actual regulation is. 

@Rich Melvin posted:

It's too bad they don't know the rule because this is an incorrect interpretation of it.

The rule about "No Electronics" in a locomotive cab applies only to the operating crew. It says nothing about a guest or some other non-crew member using a camera or phone. How do you think I produced my last 765 run video in 2016? There was a guest in the cab with no operating responsibilities. He shot all the in-cab video and it was perfectly legal.

Always remember to ask Rich because he knows everything. Thank you Rich for clearing that up.

@Rich Melvin

Rich, do you know what route 611 will take back to Virginia? It was asked above if they would go through Hagerstown Maryland. I remember that when 611 came north, there was a lengthy discussion as well as corrections to where she would actually be going due to size and track rules and regulations.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

@Rich Melvin

Rich, do you know what route 611 will take back to Virginia? It was asked above if they would go through Hagerstown Maryland. I remember that when 611 came north, there was a lengthy discussion as well as corrections to where she would actually be going due to size and track rules and regulations.

For what it's Worth NS management goes to great lengths to NOT release any routing or schedule information about such "special moves", especially involving a steam locomotive. They tend to be paranoid about "trackside visitors".

I don't have any inside knowledge of the route 611 will take back to Roanoke.

And I sure don't know everything. Just ask my wife, The Lovely and Gracious Linda. 

@Hot Water @Rich Melvin

Thank you both. I know the last time both of you gave insight on where the route would be, as far as where 611 would fit through.

👍👍😁😁

@BillYo414 posted:

Is  611 just a big engine? It looks a lot bigger than I expected in these videos. I hope I can see it in person one day.

It's big.  A big, beautiful steam locomotive.

Photo from October, 2019, Strasburg, PA.

@rthomps

I love the old car.

The folks at Strasburg intimate they have knowledge of the fate of 611, the 3 possible outcomes:  1 - 611  will return to Roanoke to be displayed until it can run again.  2-It is going back to Spencer. 3 - It will be given as permanent loan to Strasburg.

I agree that Strasburg wanted the participants to not fumble with cameras and video, so they banned it all.  But even the jump seat passenger could not have a camera.  I mentioned the fact to the crew while there that the 611 had cameras on it, foot board and down at the drivers, but the response to that was yes they are on it, but not in the cab.  Perhaps they over interpreted the rule, but it would have been nice if they could have provided a video you could pay them for, or even include it in the price of the privilege of running and riding in the cab.

The Saluda Grade here in NC is kaput, it is being sold by NS to a biker/hiker group for a trail, a 31 mile long trail.  We had a millionaire train aficionado here in Hendersonville, that has been trying to buy it for many years since it was rail banked.  He had plans of hooking up with the GSM RR in Bryson City, NC, and with private contractor running the NS branches around here, it could have been possible to have one of the finest tourist railroads in the country.  I would wager that the insurance on allowing passenger trains regular use of Saluda might have been prohibitive though.

I like this photo from the 2016 trip to Asheville.  It gives perspective of the size of the drivers.

Thanks for trying @Mellow Hudson Mike

@rthomps great photo!

I hope 611 can keep running. I guess I assumed the plan was to keep it running besides downtime for maintenance.

I would say the biggest steam engine in my future will be 1309 at Western Maryland Scenic Railroad if I making it back this year. Maybe then I'll get a sense of scale for mainline steamers. I knew they were big but I think I underestimated the size.

@CALNNC posted:

I agree that Strasburg wanted the participants to not fumble with cameras and video, so they banned it all.  But even the jump seat passenger could not have a camera.  I mentioned the fact to the crew while there that the 611 had cameras on it, foot board and down at the drivers, but the response to that was yes they are on it, but not in the cab.  Perhaps they over interpreted the rule, but it would have been nice if they could have provided a video you could pay them for, or even include it in the price of the privilege of running and riding in the cab.

It's very common these days to not allow people in the cab to have cameras. There are many reasons for this, but I would think that a few high-profile accidents on mainlines where crew were on their cells might have had something to do with that.

That said, I am surprised that someone who is not crew and just standing in the cab also can't have a camera. That's a new one.

@BillYo414 posted:

Thanks for trying @Mellow Hudson Mike

@rthomps great photo!

I hope 611 can keep running. I guess I assumed the plan was to keep it running besides downtime for maintenance.

I would say the biggest steam engine in my future will be 1309 at Western Maryland Scenic Railroad if I making it back this year. Maybe then I'll get a sense of scale for mainline steamers. I knew they were big but I think I underestimated the size.

It is understandable to underestimate the size since there is a great mix of engines of varying sizes out there. Some places have medium sized diesels, and small steam engines, others have large diesels, medium sized steam or smaller. Only a few spots have larger locomotives of both kinds.

Steamtown in Scranton PA has a lot there, most don't run because of their state, or the cost as well as other factors that contribute to it being as is. With that being said though, even standing still they are very imposing. I saw the Big Boy they have out there and was in awe of it's size. Granted it was not in the best shape as it had not been painted in some time, so it didn't look so good compared to other steam locomotives on the sight. If you really want to take things in see about going there when they have a good event going, see about taking in everything. Granted the best thing to do would spend at least two days there to try and get everything in. I've been there only twice, once inside Steamtown, the other at the neighboring Trolley Museum.

Trolley Museum you can take a ride out on the rails out through the wilderness. I saw it like that because some spots are slightly overgrown off the tracks. Most of the old rails are hard to see, but you notice where they ran because of the surrounding land and the dips in it. I don't remember how long the ride was, but we had gotten out there just after 12, took the trolley ride, went to the Italian Festival(was during Labor Day Weekend), and came back to look through the Trolley Museum. 5 o'clock came fast, but I think that was because we spent about an hour and change eating.