I was at VMT today. Finally I heard good news. 611 may run in the next couple years with NS's new steam program, according to the staff.
Oh my dear God, is this gospel, or just wishful thinking on the VMT staffs part? I sure hope it's true!
.....The word that 611 might live again.....!!! Is that possible...
Seems all the stories I've read these past few years were very much negative.
How wonderful it would be to see it in operation again. It's been in to Muncie here several times back in the 1980's, and I was privileged to see, hear, & photograph it. And upon leaving, and heading west on the Frankfort line....I was on an overpass several miles out of Muncie, and it already had speed up and photographed it coming straight at me for several miles. What an experience...!
So, we too, put our best wishes in for it to "live" again.....
And just a note: Seeing a video of it on Saluda Grade....and stalling out by slipping....and then with great care & skill {surely}, by the engineer....watch it START forward on that Hill....showed me it had more power than could be put to the rails. Beautiful engine.
Quentin
Call me a romantic, but I've always felt that, just like General Robert E. Lee, 611 sleeps in the mountains of Virginia until the South needs her again. Maybe Norfolk SOUTHERN needs her now!
I feel the same as the origanal poster of this thread.
They are the most beautiful locomotives ever built.
The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.
Hopefully this is true! I had the pleasure of chasing an NS freight from Old Fort up to Andrews Geyser, and catching it again in Black Mountain. I had gone up to the Geyser before heading into Old Fort and finding the train. I was thinking how lovely it would be to ride behind 630, 4501, or 611 over the loops from Old Fort to Asheville. Here's hoping!
Nick! :)
So when will this restoration take place for 611 and where??? I too am finally looking forward to seeing 611 come back into steam for the 3rd time.
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