Hello,
I was born right in the middle of PRR territory, and my Dad was a fireman on Pennsy Steamers until we moved to California in 1944.
I grew up as an intimate witness to the final flowering of Steam, during all of the 1940's to the mid 1950's.
During my time in Wheeling, W. Va. it was mostly all PRR, with some B&O in action on the Pittsburg-Wheeling complex.
In California it was UP, ESPEE, and SANTA FE. (Or AT&SF as it was known then).
Had I been born in the Old Dominion, I would have been loyal to Norfolk & Western, of course.
They were all great Roads, and as long as the Locomotives were built by the American shops of Baldwin, Alco, and Lima, there were none better in the world!
I literally grew up with Steam, and not from Fan Trips, Photo Run-Bys, Rail Festivals or Restoration Projects, but from everyday up-close experiences of the trains, from their hauling of long consists of Steel and Coal to War Plants to passenger specials bringing our fighting men home on well-deserved furloughs.
I recall the drivers slipping on the notorious Streets Grade in Wheeling, to that big yellow headlight coming down the tracks as we waited at the crossings at night.
Yes, they were all great Locomotives, be it N&W, Pennsy, NYC, AT&SF, UP ESPEE, and all the other important Railroads of our land.
Good luck with your 611 project...yes, it's a Beautiful Loco!
So I wish you all a Chug-Chug and a Woo-Woo!
BAD ORDER HAL