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611 Undergoes first test fire

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  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: Roanoke, VA
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611 Undergoes first test fire
Posted by BigJim on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 9:41 PM
This from the Fire Up 611 folks.
 
Norfolk & Western Class J 611™ undergoes first test fire!
 
Photo by Preston Claytor.
Photo by Scott Lindsay.



On a beautiful spring day, under magnificent blue skies, the Norfolk & Western Class J 611™ underwent its first test fire today! Today marks the first time the Class J 611 has experienced steam since December 1994.

This moment was made possible by the over 3,000 donors from around the world who have contributed to the Fire Up 611! Campaign. Thank you to everyone who made it possible to reach this milestone day!

There is still much to do before the Class J 611 can steam home to Roanoke. The mechanical crew, led by Scott Lindsay of Steam Operations Corporation, is working seven days per week to complete the restoration. Stay tuned for more information! 
 

.

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Posted by zugmann on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 10:10 PM

I'll be the unpopular one.  Judging from photos (incl. the ones in this thread) - I think the J classes looked better without the streamlining.

 

It's funny, I was just down at NCTM a few days ago.  Missed it by that much....

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by BigJim on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 10:15 PM
I can't disagree. The unstreamlined version was a very handsome locomotive!

.

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 6:20 AM

She's certainly smiling about it! (See photo on the left)

Glad to hear they're making such progress in a short time!

 

-S. Connor

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Posted by mcdtrain on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 11:29 AM

I would have to agree on that.

 

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Posted by K4sPRR on Thursday, April 2, 2015 7:11 AM

Congrats on the progress!!  i agree about the unstreamlined look majestic and intimidating.

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Posted by Dr D on Thursday, April 2, 2015 8:05 AM

N&W J 611 is the only operational American streamline steam locomotive.  The only other that exists the C&O poppet valve Chessie 4-6-4.  The Southern Pacific 4-8-4 is to my knowledge "semi-streamlined."  Thats it out of all the others that were built in quantity by NYC and Pennsylvania.  

Streamline steam seems a kind of "Art Deco" concept of the 1930's and N&W 611 is arguably the best looking of them all except maybe the 20th Century Limited.  

I think of all steam locomotives the streamline N&W 611 connects with youth today.  My two sons, business men in Chicago, seems to really relate to it - the J has a timeless and eternal youth! 

Doc

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  • From: Henrico, VA
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Posted by Firelock76 on Thursday, April 2, 2015 4:51 PM

If you gents haven't done so, check out the steam test video under the "News" column.  Glorious!  Simply glorious!

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Posted by selector on Thursday, April 2, 2015 6:04 PM

I could agree, and be content with, the loco unshrouded, but....it is rather fetching if the fairings must be attached.  At least you can still see the drivetrain in motion, unlike the early Duplex T1 as delivered.

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Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Thursday, April 2, 2015 6:12 PM

Excellent

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  • From: comanche, texas
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Posted by fluff on Thursday, April 2, 2015 7:29 PM

it looks great with or without

it would be neat to see it run without it though

  

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  • From: Henrico, VA
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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, April 4, 2015 9:47 AM

Before they cover her up I hope they do some serious rust removal on the boiler shell, smokebox, et al.

What I'm seeing may not mean much but it's a bit disquieting to look at.

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  • From: Delmarva Peninsula
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Posted by SealBook27 on Saturday, April 4, 2015 11:13 AM

   I'm curious as to how it got that way.  I realize it had to be moved out from under the shed, but even parked out in the elements wouldn't do that any time soon.

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Posted by Dr D on Saturday, April 4, 2015 7:01 PM

Boiler gets really hot and is covered with insulation - formerly asbestos - then covered with a sheet metal jacket and painted.  The whole idea is to insulate it and not trap any moisture.  I am sure they are no longer using asbestos as insulation so how and in what way new insulation material is secured may have to do with the surface finish of the steel pressure boiler shell.

Doc

  • Member since
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  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted by selector on Sunday, April 5, 2015 12:56 PM

They use mineral wool now.  Some humidity may contribute to diverse metals contact issues.

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