Big news. - 611 steam

[ES44AH]

The Virginia Museum of Transportation will be announcing something big tomorrow. Ill keep posted if the news is great or not so great. Cross fingers.

[railohio]

I wonder what it could be...

[ES44AH]

I posted to Roanoke shops Facebook page. They replied to me that 611 will return to steam. Thats awesome! I might see my favorite steam engine run (Only because I know 2156 (Y6B) will never run again).

[TrainWatcher]

Everything is pointing to 611. Glad to see the old girl back on the mainline once again.

[SD80MAC]

Here it is http://www.fireup611.org

Now before you freak out too much kiddies, this is just a study to see if its feasible to get the engine running again. It does NOT mean 611 will run again, yet.

[railohio]

Free News Wire story:

Committee to study restoration of Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611
Published: February 22, 2013

ROANOKE, Va. – Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 No. 611, the homemade streamliner that became famous as one of the greatest steam passenger locomotives ever built, may return to the main line again.

That’s the objective of the “Fire up 611!” committee that the Virginia Museum of Transportation announced Friday. The seven-member panel will study and research what it will take to restore, maintain, and operate the iconic locomotive that pulled N&W varnish and pulled Norfolk Southern excursions. Findings are due within 90 days.

http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20New ... 20611.aspx

[MDH]

Wonder how much one of these costs...

https://www.federalregister.gov/article ... ocomotives

5. 1472 Service Day Inspection
Finally, the 1978 standards required
that a steam locomotive boiler be
inspected, at a minimum, once each 5
calendar years (boiler interior to be
inspected after 48 calendar months,
within 5 consecutive years; and the
boiler exterior to be inspected every 5
years, or, if the locomotive is out of
service for at least one full month
during that time, after 60 calendar
months within 6 consecutive years).
This inspection was a major one,
requiring the removal of the jacket and
lagging to conduct the exterior
inspection, and the removal of all flues
in the locomotive boiler to conduct a
‘‘minute’’ inspection of the interior of
the boiler. FRA is amending this
provision by requiring that these
inspections be conducted when the
locomotive has accrued 1472 service
days or when a period not to exceed 15
years has elapsed since the last 1472
service day inspection was performed.
These revisions are being made in order
to take into account the amount of
actual usage a steam locomotive
receives. The 15 year maximum, beyond
which time a 1472 service day
inspection must be conducted, is based
on the task force’s recommendations.
FRA is requiring the completion,
verification and updating of the
locomotive’s FRA Form No. 4, the
‘‘specification card’’ required by
§ 230.54 of the 1978 standards, as part
of the 1472 service day inspection. The
updated FRA Form No. 4 must be filed
within 1 month after the completion of
the 1472 service day inspection. The
agency is making clear that the
verification and updating of this form as
necessary to reflect the current
condition of the boiler is required as
part of every 1472 service day
inspection. This recordkeeping
requirement is not actually new, it
merely clarifies and makes express what
the 1978 standards required. Although
the 1978 standards did not expressly
require periodic surveying to verify the
accuracy of the current form or the
updating of any changes thereto, the
need to do so was implicit in the
requirement of a signed testimonial that
all information provided on the form
was true and accurate. In addition , the
1978 standards actually required that
the FRA Form No. 4 be updated to
reflect boiler repairs or changes that
might affect the FRA Form No. 4 data.
However, because some locomotive
owners and/or operators may not
understand that the 1978 standards
required that the FRA Form No. 4 be
kept up-to-date and accurate, this
change in language may be perceived by
some as imposing new recordkeeping
requirements.
FRA has also determined that safety
concerns dictate that there be a
competency requirement for the person
or persons conducting a 1472 service
day inspection and for the person or
persons surveying the boiler for the
purpose of recalculating a FRA Form
No. 4. Accordingly, this rule specifically
provides that only competent
individuals may perform 1472 service
day inspections and/or surveys of
locomotive boilers in order to evaluate
the accuracy of information on the
locomotives’ current FRA Form No. 4s.

[ES44AH]

If all goes right, 611 will ride the rails again. Now they need to get 1218 and 2156 (Y6B) running too. 2156 however might not be feasible, but i hope.

[railohio]

If all goes right...

You mean: If all the foamers give enough money...

[TrainWatcher]

If all goes right...

You mean: If all the foamers give enough money...

If SRI can generate the amount of money they got (albeit the amount seemed to increase often), I think VMT should have NO problems generating a few hundred thousand to atleast begin their studies, and begin as needed restoration. Even though as others have pointed out that when the program was closed in the 90's that all the records on 611 were there. If we were talking about restoring 1218, I'd be more concerned that trying to find replacement parts is going to be a challenge.

NS was moving her about on a semi-regular basis to keep all the rods greased and operable, and they took care of her before she went back into VMT and when she was "stored". I would be shocked that she'll need a complete top down overhaul within the next few years. Also a few other tidbits to think about. The Aux water tank is operable (used with 765), she can handle the rigors of high speed (top speed was 110 mph) with a long train of cars (and was built to handle the load better than 765 and 1225 which were designed as freight locomotives).

[Y@]

I hope everyone realizes that the 611 won't come anywhere near 110 mph on any (if it happens) of her trips...

[MagnumForce]

But foamers hate reality, Y@

[Y@]

I hate everything.

[ES44AH]

I hope everyone realizes that the 611 won't come anywhere near 110 mph on any (if it happens) of her trips...

I know she wont. Am I the only one enthusiastic that 611 might be coming back? Besides the Y-class, the J-class is one of my favorites engines. I would love to see her run.

[Y@]

Never said I wasn't enthusiastic... I'd love to see it come back. My great-great grandfather was an N&W engineer and he ran the 611 many times during his final few years on the railroad. Family ties.

[ES44AH]

That's cool. I wasnt even born when 611 and 1218 ran excursions

[MagnumForce]

Has it been 20 years already?
Surely doesn't seem it.

[TraintrackGal]

Hope it happens! Back in the early 90's I was parked at the end of a runway at Detroit's Metro Airport. I was and still am an aviation nut. I saw that there were three times the people that were normally parked there, all with cameras (nope, didn't bring mine that day ). Behind us was the old Wabash line, then run by Norfolk & Southern(or Western?). Anyway, while I always loved trains, especially steam, I had no idea what I was about to see on those rails behind us. It was the magnificent 611 pulling some beautiful private cars and she gave us a whistle concert. Oh, I wish I would've known so I could've photographed her!!!!. So maybe I will have a chance again! I'll be following this!