Need some Info about the 611 and 1218 excursions

Info on the cars and classes of service on the most recent excursions is still on the Fire Up 611 site, at least as of when I'm posting this:

http://fireup611.org/excursion...638141964.1493700899

There are scads of videos on YouTube of the train.

The consist (especially the private cars) varies a bit from year to year, depending on what's available.

EDIT: Just re-read your post - now realize I might have misunderstood what you were asking - perhaps asking about what Rail King-type cars would be appropriate. If so, can't help on that. Sorry.

David

Tim,

     As you are going to be using non scale Railking and Lionmaster engines to pull your excursion train I would not be so fussy matching your consist to the real NS 611 excursion train. What I would do is select a few Norfolk and Western Railking passenger cars as well as a N&W baggage car. I would stay with the 60 ft cars if possible. Then add an appropriate dome and observation car. I don't think Railking has a domed observation car so you would have to use a generic observation car. I cannot recall what other road names other than N&W was on the real excursion train but do a little research on the web and you should be able to match at least the road names used on the actual 611 excursion. Post some pictures or video when your done so we can see how you made out.

Good luck

JohnB

I chased and rode several of the Norfolk Southern excursions in the 90s, and they used any cars they could get their hands on (never saw any Amtrak coaches, though). Many were from the NS's private fleet (which was sold off when they dropped the fires at the end of 1994) but others were private cars and some owned by NRHS chapters.

As for tool cars, I think there were a couple they used, but by the time 1218 was running, that would have been a N&W marked baggage car:

All the heavyweight cars were gone from the program after the May, 1986 derailment in Virginia. Cars without tight-lock couplers tipped over and after that, all the original heavyweight cars from the Southern RR steam program days were gone from their excursions. Any heavyweight ones left were modified with the right equipment underneath (I don't know the technical details of that, I'd bet 'Hot Water' Jack could explain that). The photo above took place after the wreck as I don't think 1218 was in steam at the time of that wreck. Thankfully, nobody was killed in that wreck and everyone was an NS employee, family member or friend of the RR, otherwise that could have killed it right there and 1218 would never have run in the 80s and 90s.

"Scale" cars are going to be 21". The 18" cars actually look very nice behind the RailKing J. My first consist was a MT-1105 J with a set of MTH Premier cars. I was very pleased with it's look.

I am not sure you will find the 1218 pulling passenger cars other than the excursions as I don't think they were ever used in passenger service. There are a lot of videos on You Tube and several DVD's of both during the earlier excursion years.

RJT posted:

I am not sure you will find the 1218 pulling passenger cars other than the excursions as I don't think they were ever used in passenger service.

Not an issue, as the OP was pretty specific on what he wanted to know:

I am trying to replicate the excursion service of today so if there is a chance 1218 feels the heat fire in her grates again It would be cool to have another train for them to pull including the Locos I have that are in operation with excursion services. 

RJT posted:

 ...as I don't think they were ever used in passenger service. There are a lot of videos on You Tube and several DVD's of both during the earlier excursion years.

Yes, the N&W Class A's were dual purpose locos and hauled many a passenger and troop trains back early in their days.

Guys, thanks for the input. I'm not a river counter I'm just trying to get an idea of cars the real one pulled so I can replicate it partially with the NS cars. 

Once again thanks