NS Announces Steam Program 2012

It would be amazing if it came for a trip up the Lehigh River line (don't know the real name) on the Harrisburg Division, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

It is definetly going to be a great summer...can't wait.

This might explain Rich's coy NKP 765 reference to the Horseshoe Curve from a week or two ago.    Looks to be a grand time for many rail fans that either ride or just take pictures along the route.

This might explain Rich's coy NKP 765 reference to the Horseshoe Curve from a week or two ago.    Looks to be a grand time for many rail fans that either ride or just take pictures along the route.

Just to clarify...these trips are for Norfolk Southern employees and their families. These are not public trips and no tickets will be available to the public.

Yes, the 765 will be on Horseshoe Curve later this summer. NS is assisting us in the installation of cab signals so the 765 can lead the train. The NS main line from Cleveland through Pittsburgh, Altoona and on to Harrisburg is all cab signal territory. Without cab signals, the 765 would have to be towed behind a diesel equipped with cab signals.

And here's another little detail...NS 8100 (the NKP Heritage Unit) will be tucked in behind the 765's A-Tank on all these moves.

Norfolk Southern is obviously very proud of their heritage and the fact that this is their 30th birthday. These trips are a very tangible way of showing that. We (the 765 crew) are very pleased to be a part of this exciting program.

Looks like a trip to Altoona is in order this summer....haven't been up there for a few years and this is a **** good reason to go! While I assume this isn't public knowledge but  is it possible that a rough time estimate would be given when the train will be looping the curve? I would LOVE to take a photo or two and just enjoy the sight of the 765 running the curve. I'm no NS expert and don't know the system and trackage except Horseshoe Curve...any chance steam will be getting closer than Altoona to Washington DC area? 

So where does that leave the public for NS rides this summer?

No where!  The NS is doing all this for their employees, shippers, and community/political personnel. Just like the Union Pacific. You have to be an "invited guest" to ride the train.

Besides, it is against the law for class one railroads to sell tickets on passenger trains, ever since congress started Amtrak. The railroad may lease their train to private organizations who can then sell tickets to the "public".

When you open something to the public, you open a can of worms insurance and legal wise!

It dosn't bother me that I can't ride. If they did offer tickets then yes I would ride. But the fact they are running these excursions in the first place is A no.1 in that we get to see these fine machines in action on high iron.

Now that the schedule is out, does anyone know what districts within these divisions they will run? I hope the Ga. div. is the Atlanta North dist. between Atlanta and Chattanooga.

CofG

"The Right Way"

Well Rich, I said that if the 765 came to Harrisburg I would try to come out of retirement. I just made a phone call to see what I need to do other than pass a Physical and Book of Rules to get set back up running. Of course if and that is a big if I go back out on the road I will have to re-qualify the territory I plan to run. Passing the physical will be the biggest hurdle. After that I asked about getting tickets to ride the train on one of the legs, Pittsburgh or Harrisburg. Hope to know something soon. My supervisor is going to look into everything for me. Maybe I'll see you in August.

P.S.  Anyone at liberty to share which engine will be on the Pokey runs?  Could be either, but I can't help but notice that it's in the middle of the 765 schedule.

was wondering the same thing myself.  I was lucky enough to get to see the 8100 in Portsmouth yard this morning and it truly made my day.  The thought of it and the 765 together is almost more than i can handle.   I have several crappy iphone pics im gonna have to start taking my camera with me when i go in the yard

Here are the steam locomotive assignments by division:

VERY cool.  Be nice to see 765 this close to the southeast again.  This should be pretty gratifying for the FWRHS, especially after that big overhaul knowing the steam scene at the time (or lack thereof).  Time to make Lima and NS proud.

I'm one of those people that could never afford a ride on such a trip even if it was open to the public.  BUT, I sure will try to be out there getting some pictures of the event!

The trips last fall were cheap.  I think the Chattanoga trips were $30 (including the $20 admission to TVRM's Railfest), and the long trip was about $65 or so.  Considering NS ended up providing a free boxed lunch AND dinner (the latter of which was NOT planned for and arranged at the last minute when we ended up running very, very, very late for a variety of reasons) as well as unlimited drinks and snacks on the train, and--of course, the chartered bus return, it was incredibly good value for money.

Rich...now come on... I've heard a lot about the NKP service in Ohio in the 1940's and 1950's from a friend of mine. Unless the 765 is tearing around Horseshoe Curve at 80 mph it's not "High Speed Service!!"

Track speed on Horseshoe Curve is no where near 80 mph.  

I can vouch for that as I rode around it today on the Pennsylvanian. Go with half that speed and you're spot on.

There should be a photo in there somewhere.  It would be interesting to know the routes.

Is Altoona Harrisburg Division or Pittsburgh Division?  

Steam through West Park again on the North Side?  I sure hope so!  We already had these beauties through.

These 2012 trips are not officially part of the 21st Century Steam Program. That program is the public trips. I'm not sure that there will be any public trips in 2012. The 30th Birthday Celebration will keep all the steam crews and the railroad pretty busy this year.

I am just hoping to get to just see the 765 on the Curve and maybe somewhere closer to home.

Riding is not as important to me, since I find that riding behind steamers in enclosed cars is nowhere near as fun as open air cars (which you won't see on the mainlines) where you can better see the engine, hear the engine working and smell the coal smoke (and get covered in cinders ).  Of course, being in the cab is even better. 

Andy

So, we need to be at Horseshoe Curve sometime Aug 13th to the 17th? I hope it gets narrowed down some.... 

No guarantees that it will be the same, but vestibules were open on the public trips last fall.  They were closed however on the private trip to Alcoa.

Hopefully, they will allow them to remain open on any future public excursions.  Nothing like getting pelted with cinders at 40mph while listening to the whistle and stack talk.

Kevin

Quite possibly. If there is a dome car in the consist, it may be a bit sketchy. I've seen the NS OCS run through the (Amtrak) station downtown with the dome car, as well as on the Mon Line. Amtrak's Capitol Limited makes it in there with Superliners on a daily basis. But anything that won't make the tight clearances between CP BELL and CP WING will go around the city on the Mon Line. It will also depend on traffic on either the Fort Wayne, Pittsburgh, and Mon Lines.

I wish class "A" 1218 was restored and running. It would be the most powerful steam locomotive in the world running.

Originally Posted by Keystone:

This might explain Rich's coy NKP 765 reference to the Horseshoe Curve from a week or two ago.    Looks to be a grand time for many rail fans that either ride or just take pictures along the route.

Just to clarify...these trips are for Norfolk Southern employees and their families. These are not public trips and no tickets will be available to the public.

 

You don't know how many train chasing, picture taking, railfans are now going, Whew,  now I don't have to listen to any complaining about not supporting these programs by not buying tickets.  

Good to hear that big steam is running over some historic routes again even if it's only for employees.  I don't have a problem with that.  You can never see these beauties anyway when you're stuck in a coach behind them.    Much better to watch it go by.  Kudos to NS for keeping up their heritage.

Ray

30 MPH. At 80 mph it would make National News.

back in the conrail days i think the pitts. division started at slope or alto interlocking[alto is located on the west end of whats left of altoona yard].  i heard alto tower was being phased out this year,if not already.-jim

Or if you want to get technical, the Harrisburg and Pittsburgh divisions are also split at Blasdell, NY on the old NKP as well

So what are some of the cities the 765 will run through on the Illinois Division? I'm unsure of the route she may take.

Rick, Is the Lake Division the former NYC that runs between Chicago and Toledo?  I would like to know when you will be running through Elkhart Co in Indiana.  Would love to view it as it passes by. Dick

It will be fun to hear what visiting whistle ends up on 765 for the trip(s) over the curve.

Bob

 Our memo for the Pokey stated a first come first serve basis and a limit of four.So if you know someone,you might get a chance if your family  .

 Suppose to only run from Williamson to Naugatuck WVa.About 14 miles.

per Eastern Rail News, this is the employee excursion schedule as of right now--subject to change.  Most trips will be very short.  A few will have a bit more mileage to them.

SR 630

June 2-3 Inman to Austell, GA (Atlanta, GA area)

Atlanta North District MP 140.8H to 134.7H

June 9-10 Salisbury to Barber Jct, NC

NS Asheville District MP S0.6 to S11.5

June 30-July 1 Roanoke to Walton, VA

NS Christiansburg District MP N261.7 to N297.6

July 14-15 Knoxville to Coster, TN

NS Knoxville Terminal MP A130.7 to A125.0

NS Coster Line MP C0.0 to C2.5

September 15-16 Irondale to Downtown Birmingham, AL (14th St)

NS East End District MP 791.8 to 798.2

NKP 765

July 21-22 Bellevue to Colsan, OH

NS Sandusky District MP S96.4 to S62.9

July 28-29 Homestead to Airline Yard, OH (Toledo, OH area)

NS Toledo Belt Line Connecting Track MP TB5.6 to Tb1.2

NS Chicago Line MP CD286.9 to CD290.8

August 4-5 Williamson to Naugatuck, WV

NS Pocahontas/Williamson District MP N459.7 to N470.3

NS Kenova District MP N470.3 to N484.3

August 11-12 Conway to CP Wood, PA (near Pittsburgh, PA)

NS Fort Wayne Line MP PC22.6 to MP34.8

August 18-19 Enola to CP Capital, PA (Harrisburg, PA area)

NS Port Road Branch MP EB73.0 to EB73.7

NS Pittsburgh Line MP PT110.9 to PT105.1

NS Harrisburg Line MP HP112.9 to HP111.3

September 8-9 Luther to Robertson, MO (St. Louis, MO area)

NS St. Louis District MP S8.3 to S16.9