As we all know that 611 is back steaming agin she went home on May 30th. And I thank that it's a good thang for the railfan community also. And people who has never seen or heard of her. do any of you plan to take a excursion pulled by her? I went to spencer to see her leave and i have to say it was a good site to see,well what I could see of her. Unfortunately I was blocked by intermodal train P88 not really happy about that. But I am going to see her as she comes back to NCTM for there rail days.
I would rather spend my money on a road trip looking for uncommon diesels and electrics in daily service than on a trip to see an excursion locomotive.
611 is a beautiful locomotive... I'm glad she's back under steam. I rode behind her back in 1993, from Buffalo, NY to Ashtabula, OH. IMHO, its one thing to see a steam locomotive in a photo or as a cold and dark display in a museum and quite another to see one in action. Even for those who have no particular interest in steam, I'd urge you to make time for this locomotive..
I never saw steam in regular service, and never had an big interest in them in museums. (Seen several, but, no real "wow factor" for me there.) Then I went to see a couple tank engines in steam a while ago. That made me want to go see 765 around horseshoe curve, and now, if I could afford it, I would go see 611.
So, to answer the question of, how do I feel about 611 being back under steam?
I love it!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Completely bored.
Unless it comes steaming by me, in which case I'll be there with a camera a day early.
I run vintage Diesels on a regular basis - some older than I am. It's fun (manual transition anyone?). Being a relatively small operation, I'm more familiar with how they work than I could be.
Steam is fascinating - especially when you consider how everything works together. I'll go see a working steam locomotive any time I have the opportunity.
I've been in the cab of Susquehanna 142 under steam - even shovelled some coal into the firebox - it's really cool, and it's not hard to understand the fascination.
I've seen 611 "cold." I'd love to see it underway.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I rode behind 611 nine different times from 1984 to 1993. David Goode's decision to stop the steam program was wrong the day it was made and I still feel that way today. I would pay to ride behind it again. If I can swing it, I would like to go track side where ever it's running to watch it and photograph it.
Rode behind 611 in routine scheduled service between Cincinnati and Portsmouth OH, in the 50's, then on two Independence Limited trips from Va to Detroit and Chicago operated by the Roanoke Chapter NRHS. Both fantastic. She is one beautiful throughbred. I am thrilled she is back in steam and hope that NS will choose to send her toward Chicago in the near future.
Tree, long ago a hogger told me "how and why" the side rods sound like being hit with a hammer. Can you refresh my old memory?
Cannonball
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
switch7frg Tree, long ago a hogger told me "how and why" the side rods sound like being hit with a hammer. Can you refresh my old memory? Cannonball
I'm afraid my practical and theoretical knowledge of steam engines doesn't reach that far.
I would opine, however, that the test would indicate hidden flaws in the siderods. A failed siderod at speed could have disastrous consequences, both for the crew and for the train as a whole.
overall I rode behind 611 nine different times from 1984 to 1993. David Goode's decision to stop the steam program was wrong the day it was made and I still feel that way today. I would pay to ride behind it again. If I can swing it, I would like to go track side where ever it's running to watch it and photograph it.
According to David Goode the decision wasn't made lightly. NS traffic was WAY up in 1994, the excursions which were running almost every weekend were getting in the way of the freights, and as such the NS's operating department wanted the program gone, immediately if not sooner.
However NS, to me at least, used a "sledgehammer to crack a walnut" approach. Instead of keeping the program on a limited basis, (come on, running steam on the "Racetrack" from Petersburg to Norfolk a few times a year, or on other multiple track sections for that matter, wouldn't have disrupted operations all THAT much!) NS dropped the whole thing. All that did, in my opinion, was throw the public good will baby out with the bathwater. NS steam fans, myself included, were left with a smouldering resentment that's lasted 20 years.
Rest assured, public good will is important and does exist, even if you can't put a price tag on it.
Anyway, thanks to Wick Moorman, all the folks who worked so hard to awaken 611, and maybe the Lord himself, we've got her back!
An addendum: Check out Robert B. Hoover's blog on this website called "Chasing 611..." Mr. Hoover mentions running into an NS employee in Petersburg who called the steam program "...a pain in the neck in the '80s, and it's a pain in the neck now!" So some of that old operation department animosity is still alive and well.
Accordingly, if you go to see the old gal, be mindfull of common-sense safety rules. A careless spectator getting himself squashed could bring the whole thing down. Again.
tree68 switch7frg Tree, long ago a hogger told me "how and why" the side rods sound like being hit with a hammer. Can you refresh my old memory? Cannonball I would opine ... that the test would indicate hidden flaws in the siderods. A failed siderod at speed could have disastrous consequences, both for the crew and for the train as a whole.
I would opine ... that the test would indicate hidden flaws in the siderods. A failed siderod at speed could have disastrous consequences, both for the crew and for the train as a whole.
Need a bit more background. Is this 'sounds like hit with a hammer' referring to a periodic sound coming from the rods, or testing the rods by hitting them with a hammer (presumably similar to how brake reservoirs were tested)?
Roller-bearing rods, like the ones on 611, should never, ever pound -- if they do, it's an indication something is badly wrong with the bearing or its support. It's almost normal for plain-bearing rods to have some knock; some engines, in fact (e.g. those that don't have consistent quarter on all driver wheelsets) actually need enough play to produce some knock in order to run.
I am not familiar with the use of a hammer test on Timken lightweight rods, but it might make at least as much sense as the reservoir hammer test, for similar reasons. Lightweight rods are more-than-usually susceptible to failure following cracking (particularly in lateral bowing) and many of the 'usual' methods of NDT to detect cracking might be difficult to use with the locomotive in service (or even with the rods mounted on the locomotive).
The end of the original Steam Program ( featuring 611 and 1218,610 and 4501 seemed to happen as noted by Firelock76 as a result of "Traffic Voluimes" (operations nioghtmares) as noted by Mr. Goode's quotes...There was also an undercurrent of various, related expenses (insurances and 'other costs') at the time, although none of that was acknowledged "officially'.
The Steam Program was disbanded and it's sateam shop in Birmingham was cleaned out of its specialized maintenance equipment. That, I think was in the early 90's(?). At the time the recipients were some of the Museums (TVRM and Strasburg, to name a couple)
What was amazing at the time was that the Wreck of 611, and it's Excursion Train in 1986 in the Great Dismal Swamp did not immediately get the program cancelled. But it did continue for a little while longer.
Also, The part of this Thread that mentioned "SIDE RODS": At one point there was a story in TRAINS that mentioned a trip made by one of the '600's" that had thrown a side rod near Bristol, Va. and was returned 'light' to Roanoake under it's own power with siderods on only one side; a nod to the strength of those roller-bearing side rods on that Class of Locomotive(?).
The steam program survived the Dismal Swamp wreck for a variety of reasons.
First off, the train passengers were, to my knowledge, all Norfolk-Southern employees, kind of an "Employee Appreciation" special. So, being an "all in the family" affair certainly helped to minimise the fallout.
Secondly, what caused the wreck was a inadequately maintained switch. When half the train had passed said switch one of the wheelsets "picked" the switch causing the derailment. The fact it was a steam run had nothing to do with the wreck, it could have happened to any NS train passing that way.
However, the wreck did lead to NS putting a 40 mile an hour speed limit on future excursions.
As an aside, considering the fact that when NS dropped the steam program in 1994, and dropped it in such a way that it would NEVER come back, I've always wondered if there was something else going on behind the scenes at NS corporate that wasn't talked about at the time and which we'll never know.
I'll probably never see 611 run because of where it will run and where I live, but I have seen MILW 261 at track speed on several occasions. Steam will never come back but it sent shivers through my spine in a way no diesel locomotive ever will to see it. Sort of like seeing a restored B17 take off and realizing there used to be thousands of them.
Wislish,I didn't mean to mislead by my statement (re) sounds like a hammer. If you are fortunate to get the programTrains and Locomotives, when there is a show of steamers one can hear the sound on all the locos at a reasonable speed 10 to 25 mph. I would think it would be hard for the hogger to run along side with his test hammer.The other cool sound is the air compresser. Thank you for your input.
I rode probably a dozen of the NW/SOU/NS steam excursions in the 70's and 80's, but for my part, I was less concerned about what pulled the train than about getting to ride rail lines that I'd never get to see otherwise. I appreciate the hard work that's been put into 611's restroration, but the fascination for steam power just isn't there for me.
As a risk manager, I'm professionally horrified by the idea of several hundred "civilians" charging around my railroad at 50 mph for recreational purposes - it's tough enough dealing with those just crossing the property (i.e., UP and the parade float in Texas a couple of years ago). Personally, I'll be the first one to sign up for any such trip. :)
Firelock76As an aside, considering the fact that when NS dropped the steam program in 1994, and dropped it in such a way that it would NEVER come back, I've always wondered if there was something else going on behind the scenes at NS corporate that wasn't talked about at the time and which we'll never know.
In large corporations, such as NS, there is ALWAYS 'something else' going on! For every support group, there is a hater group.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Rode behind 611 in Sept of 1983 from Erlanger Ky to Danville Ky and I think Robert Claytor was the engineer but I could be wrong. I loved trains before but seeing that thing run changed everything on how I perceived steam locos and it has been my favorite since. Everybody who worked on her I have this to say. I owe you a few cold ones!!!
Now that it is running again, the world is almost right again. When NS pulled the plug it felt like a sucker punch and world was a less happy place.
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