I was watching some YouTube videos today, and stumbled on one taken during the "FireUp Photo Charter" in Spencer. Next thing you know, here comes 611 with a DOGHOUSE on the tender! While I have seen some 1950's videos of the 611 with a doghouse, I never knew her to have one since then. Does anyone have any more info on this? Do you suppose it's the original one that was on there in her "in service" days, or one they "dug up" and stuck on there for this event? (It was pulling freight cars in this case) I also wonder if it was actually mounted, or just sitting there? I think it would look good if they left it on! After all, it would represent the way she looked in her last days on the line, pulling freight with a canteen, AND pulling an occasional passenger train. It really blew my mind, seeing this....!
Mike C.
I think it is her doghouse.
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I did a quick search. Not a single pic came up with the dog house. Mind you it was a quick search. A longer search might yeild different results
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
NVSRRI did a quick search. Not a single pic came up with the dog house. Mind you it was a quick search. A longer search might yeild different results
oldline1I don't recall seeing any J with a canteen in freight service.I think that's an excursion era necessity. They did use the doghouses in freight service. oldline1
I DO know that when the J's were getting bumped off passenger service, they began to be fitted with doghouses AND the hook-up for a water tender. I have some DVDs showing the 611 (among others) with a doghouse pulling freight AND passenger trains. I know of at least one instance showing a J pulling freight with doghouse and canteen. In one of my "Pocahontas Glory" videos, they show a freight train pulled by an A in front, coupled to a J, second, and a Y6 pushing from the rear. The "BIG THREE" in ONE train...!
I think the doghouse should be put back on the 611. It's part of her "history". Anybody agree?
Absolutely, I don't model N&W, but I admire the (KATY) railroad. I love how Hallmark released a few MKT 2-8-2 Mikado's back in the late 1970's. They were oil burners with the bright red MKT shield on both sides of the tender and the tender had a doghouse! And the roof of the steam locomotive was painted light red!
I'll keep looking for it.
wobblinwheel I think the doghouse should be put back on the 611. It's part of her "history". Anybody agree?
I'm very much with Big Jim here. While a J made a perfectly capable freight engine, just as a Porsche flat six equipped car makes a good reliable tow vehicle, The meaningful and memorable parts of its history are all associated with passenger work or image. The doghouse badly affects many 'views' of the locomotive. Modern rules and likely insurance concerns would dictate that it be plated off (see the remote-control caboose thread for some reasons) and it's an impediment to servicing or doing any maintenance on the tender.
Its proper home is inside VMT, screwed down firmly, with a plaque explaining how head-end brakemen used them and what a pain they could be in many weather conditions...
BigJim wobblinwheel I think the doghouse should be put back on the 611. It's part of her "history". Anybody agree? No, I don't agree.
No, I don't agree.
Nor do I. Intended for passenger service, the 611 tender should have the same clean lines as those on other varnish tenders across the industry. The Pennsy had many tenders with doghouses, but none on their T1 Duplex, as one example.
I guess I wanted it on there because if they ever let me ride it again, that's probably where they'd put me... actually I'd probably like that. I'm used to it...