NW J class 611

[Ypsi]

I know that it has not ran in some time now, but I was wondering if anyone had any information of even a guess if the famous J class will ever run on a mainline again

In 1995, 611 was put back in the museum, now known as the Virginia Museum of Transportation, under a new train shed. In 2003, a major renovation of the railyard brought a bigger train shed (The Robert B. Claytor and W. Graham Claytor Jr. Pavilion), and 611 was joined by twice former stable mate, 1218. Both locomotives sit at the museum today, along with many other regional railroad equipment. 611 remains in excellent condition, but shows some signs of weathering, including a small crack in its bullet nose. If the locomotive is to run again, 611 will need new flues and upgrades to the new FRA Form 4.

from wikipedia

[SD80MAC]

There's been foamer gossip going on about NS restoring 611 (they do still own it) ever since they started their new steam program last year. What people don't seem to realize is the way NS is running this new steam program, with locomotives from other museums and tourist railroads, works much better for them, as they don't have to restore or maintain a locomotive themselves. They only have to provide the passenger cars, a pilot crew and the track to run on.

[TrainWatcher]

Also... not to mention NS doesn't want her doing what she is famous for and derailing with a whole train full of people like it did on one of its last runs. How many did she have wasn't it like 2 or 3 derailments? Now on the other hand SOU 4501 will be great to see restored back to mainline status.

[sd70accsxt700]

Also... not to mention NS doesn't want her doing what she is famous for and derailing with a whole train full of people like it did on one of its last runs. How many did she have wasn't it like 2 or 3 derailments? Now on the other hand SOU 4501 will be great to see restored back to mainline status.

WTF are you talking about, blowing smoke agian James? Only derailment she is famous for is the one in the Great Dismal Swamp, over 25 years ago (leading to the reason for the perminate 40 MPH on all excersons with steam). I would be willing to guess that 1218 had just as many. If anything these "famous" derailments you talk about were just simple yard derailments, if even that big. If you are reffering to the dammage to the passenger cars a few months before the last run, it was a yard job, coupling on to the passenger cars in a yard, and they coupled on to them to fast. 611 was no where around for that incident, it was in a freight yard, durring a ferry move for the cars.

As far as 611, 1218j, NS has stated that if someone else wants to restor her or 1218 they will run it, but NS its self has no need or desire to rebuild a loco and run it.

[hobojim]

I took part in the fantrip from Allen Park to Ft. Wayne In. the last year they operated the steam program. A couple of weeks later they announced the end. So sad.

[j32885]

The new NS 21st Century Steam Program is all about steam locomotive for hire concept. NS will provide the rails, equipment, insurance, and tickets. So far the current steam locomotives are as follows:

154, Southern, 2-8-0, Gulf & Ohio Railroad
610, US Army, 2-8-0, Tennessee Valley Railroad
630, Southern, 2-8-0, Tennessee Valley Railroad
4501, Southern, 2-8-2, Tennessee Valley Railroad

As for Norfolk & Western 611, many railfans want her back in service. It's up to the City Of Roanoke and the Virginia Museum of Transport to find the right group of volunteers with the right resources and talent. The group will then have to take her apart to be inspected by the FRA and to put her back to together. There is also the matter to where the locomotive will be moved to be restored and to be the right place for the project to begin. NRHS Roanoke has worked with VMT on other projects before. There also several groups on Facebook willing to get the locomotive running again.

I rode the following behind the following steamers as part pf the NRHS Bluewater trips back in the day:

587, Nickel Plate Road, 2-8-2, Indiana Transportation Museum (1993 Milan <-> Melvindale, Wabash
Toledo <-> Bellevue, AA-WLE)

611, Norfolk & Western, 4-8-4, Virginia Transportation Museum (1992 & 1994 Ft. Wayne <-> Melvindale, Wabash)

1218, Norfolk & Western, 2-8-8-4, Virginia Transportation Museum (1991 Ft. Wayne <-> Melvindale, Wabash)

Local rumors relating to the new NS steam program is that Nickel Plate Road 765 will likely pull an excursion out of the Detroit area.

[TrainWatcher]

From what I understand talking with the FWRHS guys is that NKP 765 she is looked at as a piece of NS History just as the J and the 1218 and the 4501 (I know she's a 2-8-2, isn't she a heavy Mike?) and the Southern Consolidations. The company is trying to show off its history such as the Night Shoot with the 4 GP30's at the Link Museum, as well as the newly announced "Heritage" Locomotive Program. So they help her get around to SRI and Cuyahoga (with the new SD9M that may be a bit easier), and promote the NKP. And it would be sick to have 765, the new "Heritage" Gevo, and the SD9's (the other at MR&NKP) all pose for a photo.

[SD80MAC]

#4501 is a USRA light Mikado, at least according to everything I've read.

[j32885]

In the last few years of the old steam program between 1991-1994, Southern 4501 had 2 diesel units behind the water car, and 20-25 passengers cars behind them. This time around, NS will probably be needing only the NS OCS F-Units or a new NS Heritage Southern diesel locomotive.

[Robertrains]

» Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:18 pm

» Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:13 pm
Also... not to mention NS doesn't want her doing what she is famous for and derailing with a whole train full of people like it did on one of its last runs. How many did she have wasn't it like 2 or 3 derailments? Now on the other hand SOU 4501 will be great to see restored back to mainline status.

WTF are you talking about, blowing smoke again James? Only derailment she is famous for is the one in the Great Dismal Swamp, over 25 years ago (leading to the reason for the permanent 40 MPH on all excursions with steam). I would be willing to guess that 1218 had just as many. If anything these "famous" derailments you talk about were just simple yard derailments, if even that big. If you are referring to the damage to the passenger cars a few months before the last run, it was a yard job, coupling on to the passenger cars in a yard, and they coupled on to them too fast. 611 was no where around for that incident, it was in a freight yard, during a ferry move for the cars.

Now, the "Detroit Arrow" train just was going so "Fazt!" Would anyone know the speed they were going? When I saw it at Romulus Saturday evening, 7-12-2014—it sure seemed like it was going between 50-60! Does the "Permanent 40 MPH on all excursions with steam" still apply? The "Power" was awesome making it hard to catch!!!!

» Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:15 am
Local rumors relating to the new NS steam program is that Nickel Plate Road 765 will likely pull an excursion out of the Detroit area.

The new NS 21st Century Steam Program is all about steam locomotive for hire concept. NS will provide the rails, equipment, insurance, and tickets. So far the current steam locomotives are as follows:

154, Southern, 2-8-0, Gulf & Ohio Railroad
610, US Army, 2-8-0, Tennessee Valley Railroad
630, Southern, 2-8-0, Tennessee Valley Railroad
4501, Southern, 2-8-2, Tennessee Valley Railroad

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

» Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:18 pm

»Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:41 pm
I know that it has not ran in some time now, but I was wondering if anyone had any information of even a guess if the famous J class will ever run on a mainline again

In 1995, 611 was put back in the museum, now known as the Virginia Museum of Transportation, under a new train shed. In 2003, a major renovation of the railyard brought a bigger train shed (The Robert B. Claytor and W. Graham Claytor Jr. Pavilion), and 611 was joined by twice former stable mate, 1218. Both locomotives sit at the museum today, along with many other regional railroad equipment. 611 remains in excellent condition, but shows some signs of weathering, including a small crack in its bullet nose. If the locomotive is to run again, 611 will need new flues and upgrades to the new FRA Form 4.

from wikipedia

As far as 611, 1218j, NS has stated that if someone else wants to restore her or 1218 they will run it, but NS its self has no need or desire to rebuild a loco and run it.

A couple years later, that does not seem to be the case!!!! FIRE UP 611: http://fireup611.org/main/index.php

[SD80MAC]

NS is not the one restoring 611. They put up some money and gave it their blessing, but the actual people restoring 611 are from FireUp611 and Spencer.