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[Anonymous]

In 1986 I had the privelege of riding on the coal tender of N&W J 611. My uncle worked at the steam shop in Norris Yards in Birmingham Alabama.I was 13 at the time and I thought they would run these trains for years, especially after the money they spent rebuilding them.I rode in the tool car from Birmingham to Attalla at Attalla I was asked if I wanted to ride in the cab.So from Atalla Al. to Chattanooga Tn. I rode on the coal tender just behind the engineer and the fireman. The 611 had automatic stokers wich fed the firebox. The thing I remember most is the brightness of the fire when the engineer opened the firebox it was as bright as the sun. The engineer also had a small garden hose he used to cool the floorplate under his feet. The water would quickly turn to steam as it hit the hot floor.The livestock who would hardly notice the diesel freights running on the Southern mainline would stampede when the J 611came through. One of the best benifits of riding up front is no cinders, they all go over your head. A short time later Norfolk and Western And Southern RR merged . The steam shop at Birmingham was torn down and the opperation was moved to Norfolk where it was finally terminated in the early 90s. The J611 is now on display outdoors in Norfolk I belive. The Southern 4501 a green and silver Mikoda also restored at Norris Yard is owned by the Tennessee Valley railway and may see service soon after a rebuild. The TVRR is located in Chattanooga TN. .

[Anonymous]

In 1986 I had the privelege of riding on the coal tender of N&W J 611. My uncle worked at the steam shop in Norris Yards in Birmingham Alabama.I was 13 at the time and I thought they would run these trains for years, especially after the money they spent rebuilding them.I rode in the tool car from Birmingham to Attalla at Attalla I was asked if I wanted to ride in the cab.So from Atalla Al. to Chattanooga Tn. I rode on the coal tender just behind the engineer and the fireman. The 611 had automatic stokers wich fed the firebox. The thing I remember most is the brightness of the fire when the engineer opened the firebox it was as bright as the sun. The engineer also had a small garden hose he used to cool the floorplate under his feet. The water would quickly turn to steam as it hit the hot floor.The livestock who would hardly notice the diesel freights running on the Southern mainline would stampede when the J 611came through. One of the best benifits of riding up front is no cinders, they all go over your head. A short time later Norfolk and Western And Southern RR merged . The steam shop at Birmingham was torn down and the opperation was moved to Norfolk where it was finally terminated in the early 90s. The J611 is now on display outdoors in Norfolk I belive. The Southern 4501 a green and silver Mikoda also restored at Norris Yard is owned by the Tennessee Valley railway and may see service soon after a rebuild. The TVRR is located in Chattanooga TN. .