NKP 759 Excursion

[daveklepper]

Possibly the tail-track was longer then.

[Overmod]

As an update: Ross Rowland says he does not recall how the train was turned, but for the OP to PM him any time; K.L.Miller has a copy of the trip handout, which says the train (not just the engine) would be wyed at Shenandoah.

[staybolt]

Thanks Overmod....

I didn't know about RyPN 'til you suggested it. I've just submitted a registration request so I can post my question.

[Overmod]

staybolt

Did someone else on this forum ride that trip who might remember these details?

No, but if you ask this question on RyPN, Ross Rowland himself will likely remember ... or know who to ask.

The excursion was November 2 and 3, routed via Virso.  It was documented in Railroading (#27, April 1969 pp.20-24) and some details might be there; I have not read it, but the folks who did the 'special history study' on 759 at Steamtown did.  It's possible that some of the accounts on the Web would contain the information; now that you know the date it may be easier to search.)

[staybolt]

I rode a round-trip excursion with this engine in '68 between Roanoke, VA and (I think) Shenandoah, VA. I say 'I think' because I'm pretty sure 'Shenandoah' was in the destination name and I think I remember the round-trip distance was ~220 mi. That would square with the approximate 110 mi. distance between the two places. The only other place on N&W's Roanoke-to-Hagerstown line with 'Shenandoah' in the name, as far as I know, is Shenandoah Junction, WV, but if that had been the destination the trip would have been about twice as long.

What I also don't remember is whether the whole train was turned around, or just the engine, for the return trip. A current Google satellite view shows a wye at Shenandoah, VA, but the tail of it doesn't appear to be long enough to accommodate the train, which I remember as having several cars. The tail is long enough for the engine, though, so maybe the train was left just north of the wye, the engine turned on the wye, then coupled to the end of the train and pullled that way back to Roanoke.

Did someone else on this forum ride that trip who might remember these details? By the way, that experience was what got me hooked on steam from then on! Last I knew, 759 was on static display at Scranton, PA.