This a good story and video from Fire Up 611 Facebook Page.
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Having chased 611 4449, 844, 759, 765, 1218, 1522, 819, 210, 2102 etc, etc, etc, and ridden behind 614 at 79mph*, I refuse to pigeon hole them or say that one is better than the rest.
The best steam locomotive is the one that happens to be in front of me at any given time.
My sincere thanks to everyone who gives their blood, sweat, tears and $$$ to keep these glorious machines alive and well for all of us to enjoy.
"Nothin' no where no how can outdo the 611"
If only Lionel had put that line in the crewtalk on the legacy version.
I met Charles at VMT on Thursday when I stopped there on the way home from Spencer. He was entertaining and knows a great deal about Norfolk & Western and Norfolk Southern. Seeing the video the next day was a nice surprise.
David
I like this kinda talk.......Keep it up !
A most delightful and charming video, well done.
Originally Posted by Nick Chillianis:
Having chased 611 4449, 844, 759, 765, 1218, 1522, 819, 210, 2102 etc, etc, etc, and ridden behind 614 at 79mph*, I refuse to pigeon hole them or say that one is better than the rest.
I agree. It's always silly when someone is foolish enough to say that any given locomotive is, "the finest..." whatever that was ever built. Yet, you see it all the time anyway.
And as for speed, the Brits have been running mainline steam at speeds that would never even be contemplated on this side of the pond.
Originally Posted by p51:
And as for speed, the Brits have been running mainline steam at speeds that would never even be contemplated on this side of the pond.
The special instructions in the UP Employee Timetable for UP 844 limited her to 84MPH in cab signal territory, allowing for higher track speed limits. Prior to 2011, I can vouch for the fact that 844 has operated many a mile at 84 MPH, and with no tape in the speed recorder, a fair bit higher than that!
The first time that I ever photographed #8444, she was on a ferry move into Denver, and I photographed her at a place called Desoto. She was running at was obviously high speed, such that the gearing of the CB&Q diesels trailing her in the consist was screaming. We chased her into Denver, and arrived after she was already cut off the Amtrak train. A rider claimed that he timed the run with a stop watch and she exceeded 100 mph. This was in the 1972-73 time frame, when I believe speed limits were more lax. I have no doubt that she could, and probably did, run faster.
Great story video, and thanks for sharing!
Thanks for posting!
THAT, my friends, is what it's all about!
Ed
