Norfolk and Western 611

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Norfolk & Western 611
A posed side view of a large 4-8-4 streamlined steam locomotive with two tenders. The overhead power lines and a building are in the background.
Norfolk and Western Class J No. 611 conducting in-cab experiences at Leaman Place Junction in Leaman Place, Pennsylvania on June 4, 2021
Type and origin
References:[1][2][3][4]
Power typeSteam
BuilderN&W's Roanoke Shops (East End Shops)
Serial number388
Build dateMay 29, 1950
Rebuild dateOctober 1981–July 1982
June 2014–March 2015
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-8-4
 • UIC2′D2′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.36 in (914 mm)
Driver dia.70 in (1,778 mm)
Trailing dia.42 in (1,067 mm)
Length109 ft 2 in (33.27 m)
Width11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Height16 ft 0 in (4.88 m)
Axle load72,000 lb (32.7 tonnes) for drivers
Adhesive weight288,000 lb (130.6 tonnes)
Loco weight494,000 lb (224.1 tonnes)
Tender weight378,600 lb (171.7 tonnes)
Total weight872,600 lb (395.8 tonnes)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity35 t (34 long tons; 39 short tons)
Water cap.20,000 US gal (76,000 l; 17,000 imp gal)
25,000 US gal (95,000 l; 21,000 imp gal) in auxiliary tender
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		107.7 sq ft (10.01 m2)
Boiler102 in (2,591 mm)
Boiler pressure300 psi (2.07 MPa)
Heating surface5,271 sq ft (489.7 m2)
 • Tubes2.25 in (57 mm)
 • Flues3.5 in (89 mm)
 • Tubes and flues4,693 sq ft (436.0 m2)
 • Firebox578 sq ft (53.7 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area2,177 sq ft (202.2 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size27 in × 32 in (686 mm × 813 mm)
Valve gearBaker
Valve type14-inch (356 mm) Piston valves, 8.5-inch (216 mm) travel
Performance figures
Maximum speed110 mph (177 km/h)
Power output5,100 hp (3,800 kW) @ tender drawbar
Tractive effort80,000 lbf (355.86 kN)
Factor of adh.3.6
Career
OperatorsNorfolk and Western Railway→Norfolk Southern Railway
Virginia Museum of Transportation (Fire Up 611! Committee)
ClassJ
Number in class12 of 14
Numbers
  • 611
Nicknames
  • "The Spirit of Roanoke"
  • "The Queen of Steam"
RetiredOctober 27, 1959 (revenue service)
December 7, 1994 (1st excursion service)
RestoredJuly 5, 1982 (1st restoration)
March 31, 2015 (2nd restoration)
Current ownerVirginia Museum of Transportation
DispositionUndergoing FRA inspection, based in Strasburg, Pennsylvania

Coordinates: 37°16′23″N 79°56′50″W / 37.272943°N 79.947231°W / 37.272943; -79.947231 Norfolk and Western 611, also known as the "Spirit of Roanoke" and the "Queen of Steam", is a Norfolk and Western (N&W) class "J" 4-8-4 "Northern" streamlined steam locomotive built in May 1950 by the N&W's East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia. It was one of the last steam passenger locomotives built in the United States and represents the pinnacle of steam locomotive technology.

No. 611 was assigned to haul the N&W's premier passenger trains between Norfolk, Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio as well as ferrying the Southern Railway's passenger trains between Lynchburg, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee. It was retired from revenue service in 1959 and donated to the Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT) to be put on display in 1962, making it the sole survivor of the fourteen class J locomotives.

In 1982, Norfolk Southern (NS) restored the locomotive to operating condition for use in excursion service as it became the star of their steam program, pulling excursions throughout the eastern United States. In 1984, No. 611 was dedicated as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and was often served as the symbol to Roanoke and its railroading history. In late 1994, No. 611 was retired again and moved back to the VMT when NS discontinued the steam program due to liability insurance.

In February 2013, the VMT launched the Fire Up 611! committee to raise enough money to restore the locomotive to operating condition once again for excursion service in May 2015. In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly officially designated the 611 as the official state steam locomotive in Virginia.

In 2019 and 2021, No. 611 visited the Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg, Pennsylvania twice and ran several excursion trips alongside another ex-N&W steam locomotive, 4-8-0 No. 475.

History[]

Design and development (1941-1945)[]

Main article: Norfolk and Western Railway class J (1941) § Design
A drawing design of the N&W class J locomotive

During the outbreak of World War II, the Norfolk and Western's (N&W) roster at the time consisted of aging E class 4-6-2 Pacifics and K class 4-8-2 Mountains that were not capable enough to handle the increased passenger traffic.[5][6] As a result, the N&W railroad needed a more powerful passenger steam locomotive and the streamlined class J 4-8-4 Northern was developed with a total of fourteen of them built by the N&W's East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia between 1941 and 1950 to handle passenger trains over the Blue Ridge Mountains.[1][7]

Designed with 70 in (1,778 mm) driving wheels, 80,000 lb (36.3 tonnes) of tractive effort, and an operating boiler pressure of 300 psi (2.07 MPa), the class Js were the most powerful passenger steam locomotives as they operated upwards of 15,000 miles (24,140 km) per month and several logged over 3,000,000 miles (4,828,030 km).[1][2] Their streamlined appearance was designed by N&W Tool Supervisor, Franklin C. Noel[6] and were painted black with a Tuscan red stripe and golden yellow linings and letterings.[7][8]

From late 1944 to early 1945, one of the Js, No. 610 was on loan to the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR), where it was tested to haul 15 passenger cars at more than 110 mph (177 km/h) over the flat terrain on the Fort Wayne Division between Crestline, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois.[9][10] Because of their power and speed, the class Js were among the most reliable steam locomotives as they run evenly on the mountainous and relatively short route of the N&W.[3] They along with the articulated 2-6-6-4 class A and 2-8-8-2 Y6 freight locomotives were part of N&W's "Big Three" steam locomotives and represented the pinnacle of steam locomotive technology.[1][11]

Revenue service and first retirement (1950–1959, 1962-1981)[]

No. 611's builder's plate

N&W built No. 611 as the twelfth member of the class J and placed it into revenue service on May 29, 1950 at a final cost of US$251,544.[1][3] It was one of the last batches of three class Js for the N&W, making them the last steam passenger locomotives built in the United States.[12] During revenue service, No. 611 and the other class Js were assigned to haul the Norfolk and Western's Pocahontas, Cavalier, and even the luxurious Powhatan Arrow between Norfolk, Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio as well as ferrying the Southern Railway's Birmingham Special, Pelican and Tennessean between Lynchburg, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee.[3][7]

On September 24, 1952, No. 611 and sister locomotive No. 613 were both assigned to haul the special Eisenhower train from Columbus, Ohio to Kenova, West Virginia for the presidential election of former U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower.[13]

Under the management of Stuart T. Saunders in the late 1950s, the N&W began to dieselize by experimenting the first-generation diesel locomotives with fuel and maintenance cost.[1][14] They leased several sets of EMD E6s, E7s, E8s from the Atlantic Coast Line and Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroads to replace their class Js from passenger service.[14][15]

The class Js were relegated to freight service until they were all retired and scrapped between 1958 and 1959, with the exception of one (No. 611).[14] On that latter year, No. 611 was selected to haul two Farewell To Steam round trip excursions; one from Petersburg, Virginia to Norfolk, Virginia on October 18 and the other from Roanoke, Virginia to Williamson, West Virginia on October 24.[14][16]

Three days later, the No. 611 locomotive was retired from revenue service and served as a steam generator at the East End Shops, the same place where it was built, until its boiler flue ticket certificate expired in 1962.[1][17] Because of the locomotive's excellent condition after being repaired from its 1956 accident, attorney and railfan, W. Graham Claytor Jr. convinced the N&W to donate the 611 to the Roanoke Transportation Museum in Roanoke, Virginia, where it sat on display at the Wasena Park.[14][18]

First restoration and excursion career (1981–1994)[]

In October 1981, Graham's brother, Robert Claytor, who was president of Norfolk and Western in its last months, announced that he was making plans to add the No. 611 locomotive to the Southern Railway's steam excursion program,[19][20] which had begun in 1966 by then SOU president Graham Claytor.[21] After being removed from static display, No. 611 was moved to the Southern Railway's Norris Yard Steam Shop in Irondale, Alabama, where it was going to be restored to operating condition.[20] During the restoration, the locomotive's firebox sheets were renewed along with the flues replaced.[22] Many of the 611's mechanical appliances such as the injectors, dynamo, and feedwater heater were rebuilt.[22] Some new parts were fabricated, including the crosshead guide shoes from a pattern mold and the boiler staybolts from die casting.[22] Two of the locomotive's left side rod bearings were refurbished by the Timken Roller Bearing Company.[22]

No. 611 at the Norris Yard Steam Shop in 1993

On July 5, 1982, No. 611 was finally steamed up for the first time in 23 years and overtook another locomotive, Southern No. 2716, which had its excursion career ended due to firebox problems.[22][23] During that time, the Norfolk and Western, and Southern railways merged to form the new Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) and Robert Claytor became the first chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of NS until 1986.[20][24] This doubled the length of trackage available for No. 611 to run on.[1][a]

After completing successful test runs from Irondale, Alabama to Chattanooga, Tennessee on August 15 and 16, 1982, No. 611 made its ferry move back to Roanoke on August 20 with Robert Claytor as the engineer and his son Preston as the fireman in the cab.[22] Upon arrival in Roanoke on August 22, Claytor made a speech to the citizens of Roanoke and signified the No. 611 locomotive as "Roanoke Born, Roanoke Bred, and Roanoke Proud".[22][29] On Labor Day weekend, No. 611 began its first excursion trip, pulling the Roanoke Chapter National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) Centennial Limited train from Roanoke to Norfolk, Virginia.[23] As one of the last, most prominent, and most distinctive locomotives assembled in Roanoke, No. 611 often serves as a symbol for Roanoke and its railroad history.[29]

In 1983, No. 611 continued to pull more public and private excursion trips for the Norfolk Southern steam program including an NRHS excursion on Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac (RF&P) trackage from Alexandria, Virginia to Richmond, Virginia where it double headed with Savannah & Atlanta 750 on July 17.[30][31] Afterwards, one of 611's excursion trip took the locomotive up to the Midwestern United States, where it ran some August excursion trips out of Chicago, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri on Chicago and North Western (CN&W), ex-Nickel Plate Road (NKP), and ex-Wabash (WAB) trackage.[31][b]

No. 611 passing through Tolono, Illinois with a one-way excursion trip from Muncie, Indiana to Decatur, Illinois on June 16, 1985.[33]

On May 19, 1984, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers dedicated No. 611 as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark and it has since been added to the National Park Service's Historic American Engineering Record.[3][34] In August of that year, the locomotive once again ran more excursions on ex-NKP trackage, where it double headed with Nickel Plate Road 765.[33] On November 10 and 11, No. 611 visited Jacksonville, Florida to haul the Suwanee Steam Special round trip excursion from there to Valdosta, Georgia for the North Florida Chapter NRHS.[33]

During the Roanoke NRHS convention in August 1987, No. 611 pulled a round-trip excursion train from Roanoke to Radford, Virginia, where it joined side-by-side with the recently restored class A No. 1218, who was pulling an empty 50 hopper car train and later double headed with No. 611 at Radford.[35][36][c]

In June 1989, No. 611 joined Nickel Plate Road 587 to haul the Roanoke NRHS Charter Independence Limited excursion trip from Cleveland, Ohio to Roanoke, Virginia, where the latter locomotive would join No. 1218 to make some excursion trips down in North Carolina the following month.[36][37] On the same year of September 16, No. 611 ran two round-trip Powhatan Arrow anniversary excursions from Roanoke to Radford and Lynchburg, Virginia, pulling a matching set of ten Tuscan red passenger cars, marking 40 years since the re-equipment of the Powhatan Arrow.[36][37]

On November 3, 1991, during the Norfolk Southern steam program's 25th anniversary, No. 611 and No. 1218 teamed up with Southern Railway 4501 on a triple-header run-by, hauling a 28-car passenger excursion train from Chattanooga to Ooltewah, Tennessee, where the latter would take a few coaches for a complete round trip back to Chattanooga, turning around at Cleveland, Tennessee.[38][39] Afterwards, the two N&W steamers would complete the rest of the trip to Atlanta, Georgia.[38][39]

In October 1992, No. 611 ran two round trip excursions from Charlotte, North Carolina to Asheville, North Carolina; one on the 24th over the Old Fort Loops and other on the 25th, where it conquered over the Saluda Grade, the steepest railway grade in the United States.[39][40]

No. 611 departing Norfolk, Virginia, with an excursion in May 1993.[40]

In June 1994, a year and a month after the death of Robert and Graham Claytor, respectively, No. 611 joined a double header excursion run with St. Louis–San Francisco 1522 for the annual NRHS convention in Atlanta, Georgia.[40][41] At the same time of September 28, there was a switching yard accident in Lynchburg, Virginia, involving the 611's excursion consist of nine passenger cars being damaged, causing a shortage and the consequent need for more passenger cars.[41] As a result, David R. Goode, who was the NS CEO at the time, announced the decision to terminate the steam program due to rising insurance costs, expensive costs of steam locomotive maintenance, low spare system capacity, and delayed freight traffic.[41][42][43]

On December 3, 1994, No. 611 hauled the last NS steam-powered excursion trip from Birmingham, Alabama to Chattanooga, Tennessee and back.[42][44] The next day, No. 611 set off to return to Roanoke, reaching there on December 7.[44] On the last leg between Salisbury, North Carolina and Roanoke, No. 611 displayed two black flags.[44] That evening, upon arrival at Shaffer's Crossing in Roanoke, No. 611 had its fire put out for the last time, making it the last steam locomotive to operate on the NS system in the 20th century.[44]

Second retirement (1995–2012)[]

No. 611 on static display next to the O. Winston Link Museum during National Train Day 2010

After 12 years of excursion service with Norfolk Southern, No. 611 sat in storage at the East End Shops until October 1995, when it was donated to the City of Roanoke, and put back on display at the Roanoke Transportation Museum, which was currently known as the Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT) and located at the former N&W Roanoke freight station, where it sat underneath the Robert B. Claytor and W. Graham Claytor Jr. Pavilion shed.[45][d] In June 2003, No. 611 was reunited with No. 1218, which was particularly reassembled and cosmetically restored from its cancelled 1992-1996 overhaul.[45][46]

In 2007, the 611 and 1218 were both temporarily put on display at the East End Shops to commemorate its 125th anniversary.[47] In 2011, the Roanoke City Council named No. 611 as The Spirit of Roanoke and the VMT had the name inscribed underneath both sides of the cab windows.[48] On April 2, 2012, the City of Roanoke officially donated both the 611 and 1218 to the Virginia Museum of Transportation.[49][50]

Second restoration and excursion career (2013–present)[]

In 2011, Norfolk Southern's management under CEO Wick Moorman brought back the steam program, under the name, 21st Century Steam,[51] leading to speculations if there were plans to restore the 611 to operating condition once again.[1] As a result, the VMT officials formed the Fire Up 611! committee on February 22, 2013 to conduct a feasibility study with the goal of returning the 611 to active service.[52][53] At that time, No. 611 was nicknamed the Queen of Steam.[54] Some of these members of the committee would include others who have worked with No. 611 since the 1980s and 90s; chairman Preston Claytor, volunteer firewoman Cheri George, and Steam Operations Corporation president Scott Lindsay.[52][53][e]

On June 2, 2013, the VMT and NS tested No. 611's roller bearings and were determined that the locomotive was in very excellent condition to be restored,[56] thus on June 28, the VMT officials launched the Fire Up 611! Capital Campaign to raise $3.5 million by the end of October before restoring the No. 611 locomotive.[54][57]

However, in October 2013, the committee's funds were under $3.5 million to require a maintenance facility for the restoration of No. 611, so they decided to keep working on the remaining funds of $2.5 million.[58] Soon, Norfolk Southern donated $1.5 million of the proceeds from an auction of a Mark Rothko painting to the committee.[59]

In March 2014,[60] after raising enough money of $3.5 million, several key appointments were made by the Fire Up 611! committee to the locomotive's mechanical team, and a formal agreement was made with the North Carolina Transportation Museum (NCTM) in Spencer, North Carolina to use the ex-Southern Railway Bob Julian roundhouse as the perfect maintenance facility to restore the 611.[61][62]

The recently restored No. 611 sitting on the turntable at the North Carolina Transportation Museum on May 23, 2015

On May 24, 2014, the No. 611 locomotive was finally towed out of the VMT and moved to the NCTM the next day to take part in the Streamliners at Spencer event the following weekend.[63][64][f] During the event, NS CEO Wick Moorman removed the first bolt off the No. 611 locomotive and the restoration work began on June 2, 2014.[65][66] The overhaul performed by the Steam Operations Corporation was made to meet the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) current safety guidelines and certification requirements along with the help of volunteers, including several from the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio.[60][67] This includes installing new flues, boiler work, repairs to the engine truck, tender, superheaters, flexible staybolt caps, running gear, and air brakes.[68]

On February 23, 2015,[69] No. 611's boiler successfully passed a hydrostatic test and was test fired on March 31.[70][71] After the steam test, the locomotive was being reassembled and repainted with a new coat of paint donated from Axalta.[72][73]

On May 9, 2015,[74] No. 611 moved under its own power for the first time in nearly 21 years and successfully completed a main line test run from Spencer to Greensboro, North Carolina and back on May 21.[75][g] On May 28, the NCTM held photo runbys with No. 611 leading passenger and freight consists, plus night photo session.[79]

No. 611 (middle) reunited with class A No. 1218 (right) and class Y6a No. 2156 (left) on May 31, 2015

On May 30, 2015, No. 611 began its homecoming trip back to Roanoke with now former NS CEO Wick Moorman at the throttle.[74][80] The next day, the locomotive was reunited with the static display class A No. 1218 and class Y6a No. 2156, which was on loan from the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis to be on display at the VMT until 2020.[76][81][82]

The locomotive ran several excursions in Virginia for the 21st Century Steam program during the summer of 2015 such as The American from Manassas, Virginia to Front Royal, Virginia on June 6 and 7, The Cavalier from Lynchburg to Petersburg on June 13 and 14, The Powhatan Arrow from Roanoke to Lynchburg and The Pelican from Roanoke to Radford on July 3, 4, and 5.[83][84] At the same time, Norfolk Southern officially concluded the 21st Century Steam program, although the 611 continued to pull various excursion trips over NS trackage.[85][86]

No. 611 conquered up the grade in Linden, Virginia with The American excursion train on June 5, 2016

During 2016, No. 611 had its front leading wheels and axles replaced with newer ones made by the Brenco Product Engineering.[87][88] Afterwards, the locomotive ran two round trip excursion trips in partnership with the NCTM; The Virginian from Spencer to Lynchburg on April 9 and The Blue Ridge Special from Spencer to Asheville the next day.[87][89] On April 11, No. 611 partake in another NCTM photo charter runby along with Lehigh Valley Coal Company 126.[90][91] On April 23 and 24, the locomotive ran The Roanoker round-trip excursion from Greensboro to Roanoke via Altavista, Virginia on ex-Virginian Railway (VGN) main line.[87][92] From May to June, the 611 reran the Powhatan Arrow, Pelican, and American excursions just like last year.[87][93]

On April 8, 2017, the locomotive ran The Virginian round trip excursion again and the next day's Charlotte Special round trip excursion from Spencer to Charlotte in the morning and a second round trip excursion, The Piedmont Limited from Spencer to Greensboro in the afternoon.[94][95] At the same time, the Virginia General Assembly officially named No. 611 as the Official Steam Locomotive of Virginia.[96]

No. 611 running on the Strasburg Rail Road in June 2021

In 2018, No. 611 was unable to perform any main line excursions due to Amtrak's newest restrictions on private charter trips.[97] However, the VMT was able to put on alternate events for No. 611 by making the locomotive visit the NCTM for its annual FRA routine maintenance, cab rides, caboose rides, in-cab experiences, whistle blowing, and short passenger train rides around the museum.[98][99] Moreover, the VMT is presently in negotiations and talks with various entities in order to set up excursions and events for the No. 611 locomotive.[98] Presently, one key concern is the gradual introduction of the Positive train control (PTC) to the US railroad network, for which the VMT is asking for donations.[98]

In 2019, the VMT went into partnership with the Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg, Pennsylvania to have the No. 611 locomotive visit there for the five weekend N&W Reunion of Steam events in late September and the rest of October, reuniting with another N&W steam locomotive, 4-8-0 No. 475, who was also residing at Strasburg.[100][101] This would mark the first time since 1991 two ex-N&W steam locomotives were operational.[102] While being moved to Strasburg, the No. 611 locomotive, lacking both the PTC and cab signalling system, was being assisted by a diesel locomotive.[98][103] After the Strasburg events, the 611 returns to the NCTM for the first November weekend of in-cab experiences and caboose rides events.[104]

In 2020, No. 611 was unable to perform any special events due to the COVID-19 pandemic as it was on display and occasionally operates at the NCTM.[105]

During 2021, the locomotive returned to the Strasburg Rail Road, running on selected excursion weekends.[106][107] The 611's first 2021 Strasburg excursion trips were originally scheduled for May 21-23, but these were cancelled due to the locomotive having some malfunctioning issues to its mechanical stoker which was later resolved just in time for the May 29-31 trips.[108][109] On July 2, No. 611 was temporarily taken out of service due to a broken leaf spring in its trailing truck.[110] It was eventually repaired and continued to haul more selected excursion weekends until October 3, when the No. 611 locomotive stayed at Strasburg for its annual FRA inspection and maintenance to its boiler staybolts.[110][111] 611 will be able to Leave Strasburg and go back to Ronoake Virginia in early 2022.

Accidents[]

  • On June 20, 1953, No. 611 was pulling The Cavalier until it struck a bakery truck at a railroad crossing in Chattaroy, West Virginia, injuring the truck driver.[112] Four days later, the No. 611 locomotive was involved in another crossing accident at South Point, Ohio, hitting the end of a tractor-trailer truck while pulling the eastbound Powhatan Arrow.[112]
  • On January 23, 1956, No. 611 derailed at an excessive speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) around a 30 mph (48 km/h) curved track along the Tug River near Cedar, West Virginia with the late westbound Pocahontas.[113] The impact has caused the locomotive to flip on to its side towards the embankment of the Tug River.[113] The engineer, Walter B. Willard was killed, while fireman Ernest W. Hoback and fifty-one passengers were injured.[113] The No. 611 locomotive has received cosmetic damage, but was eventually repaired and continued revenue passenger service for another three years.[3][114] However, the dents on its tender still retained until they were eventually removed during the locomotive's 2014-2015 restoration.[55][114]
  • On May 18, 1986, No. 611 was at the head of a Norfolk Southern employee appreciation train at 58 mph (93 km/h) from Norfolk, Virginia to Petersburg, Virginia,[33] with 23 passenger cars behind and Robert Claytor at the throttle.[34][115] However, two of the passenger cars struck a faulty switch on the main line through the Great Dismal Swamp in Suffolk, Virginia, causing them and twelve other passenger cars behind them to derail, although the 611 stayed on the rails.[34][115] This was due to the fact that the consist contained heavyweight and open-air passenger cars, which were not equipped with tightlock couplers.[115] Nearly 177 of the 1000 employees and their family members were injured; 19 people were seriously injured and had to be airlifted to hospitals in nearby Norfolk for treatment.[115] 12 of the derailed passenger cars were repaired, but the two open-air cars; the Missionary Ridge and Queen and Crescent Club were damaged beyond repair and scrapped.[116] It was decided that Norfolk Southern would limit the steam locomotives, including the 611, to haul passenger train excursions at 40 mph (64 km/h) and the heavyweight passenger cars and open-air cars, lacking the tightlock couplers, were retired from main line excursion service since it was proven too difficult and expensive for them to be retrofitted.[116]

In popular culture[]

  • No. 611 starred in the 1983 promotional documentary video, Going Home, produced by Norfolk Southern and featuring the locomotive's first restoration and homecoming trip to Roanoke in 1982.[22][117]
  • No. 611 was depicted on the Commonwealth of Virginia's "Railway Heritage" license plate.[118]
  • No. 611 was featured in the 2016 feature-length documentary 611: American Icon, which chronicles the history of the locomotive.[119]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ To run in excursion service, No. 611 would need two rolling stocks; an auxiliary tender to supply extra water and avoid the water stops during long trips,[25] and a tool car to carry maintenance equipment for the locomotive. The auxiliary tender No. 220166 was originally from an ex-Louisville & Nashville (L&N) 2-8-4 Big Emma M-1 No. 1958 and was painted black with a Tuscan red stripe to match the No. 611 locomotive.[26][27] Additionally, the tool car No. 1407 was a former N&W storage mail car.[27][28]
  2. ^ After the 1983 season, No. 611 went back to Irondale, Alabama to have its firebox repaired before resuming excursion service in April 1984.[32]
  3. ^ In 1988, NS retired and donated No. 611's original Tuscan red striped auxiliary tender No. 221066 to the Indiana Transportation Museum, where it will be used behind Nickel Plate Road 587.[26] No. 611 was given another ex-L&N Big Emma auxiliary tender No. 250002, which was painted black without a Tuscan red stripe and was later repainted all Tuscan red with golden yellow stripes in 1994.
  4. ^ On that same year, the locomotive's second original auxiliary tender No. 250002 was donated to the Friends of the 261, where it was now used behind Milwaukee Road 261, while the tool car No. 1407 was purchased by the Roanoke Chapter NRHS.[28][45]
  5. ^ The former would later resign himself from his position in 2015 due to his disagreement of having the No. 611 locomotive's The Spirit of Roanoke moniker inscribed.[48][55] N&W historian Jim Stump would eventually take Claytor's position.[48]
  6. ^ It was moved to Spencer, North Carolina by NS No. 8103, an SD70ACe diesel locomotive painted in Norfolk and Western colors.[65]
  7. ^ Being prepared for its second excursion career, No. 611 was given back the tool car No. 1407 from the Roanoke Chapter NRHS and another ex-L&N Big Emma auxiliary tender VMTX No. 250001, which was originally used behind No. 1218 during its NS excursion career from 1987 to 1991.[76][77][78]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "N&W Class J 611: The Spirit of Roanoke - Overview". Fire Up 611!. Virginia Museum of Transportation. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "A mechanical powerhouse of design, speed and reliability". Fire Up 611!. Virginia Museum of Transportation. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "N&W 611 Class J Steam Locomotive National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark". ASME. May 1984. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  4. ^ C. B. Peck (ed.). 1950–52 Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice. New York: Simmons-Boardman. pp. 530–531.
  5. ^ Drury (2015), p. 261.
  6. ^ a b Hensley & Miller (2021), p. 4.
  7. ^ a b c McClure, III & Plant (2007), p. 18.
  8. ^ Rosenburg & Archer (1973), p. 71.
  9. ^ Rhodes, John T.; Stephenson, David R. (September 2013). "Steam Locomotive Rail Wheel Dynamics Part 1: Precedent Speed of Steam Locomotives" (PDF). Coalition for Sustainable Rail. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  10. ^ Hensley & Miller (2021), pp. 20–21.
  11. ^ McKinney (2014), p. 57.
  12. ^ Drury (2015), p. 259.
  13. ^ Hensley & Miller (2021), p. 33.
  14. ^ a b c d e Wrinn (2000), pp. 1–3.
  15. ^ Solomon (2017), p. 207.
  16. ^ McClure, III & Plant (2007), pp. 32–33.
  17. ^ Hensley & Miller (2021), p. 53.
  18. ^ Miller (2000), p. 121.
  19. ^ Loy, Hillman & Cates (2005), p. 121.
  20. ^ a b c Wrinn (2000), p. 61.
  21. ^ Loy, Hillman & Cates (2005), p. 109.
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Bibliography[]

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  • Rosenburg, Ron; Archer, Eric H. (1973). Norfolk & Western Steam (The Last 25 Years) (1st ed.). Quadrant Press Inc. ISBN 0-915276-00-3.
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  • Wrinn, Jim (2000). Steam's Camelot: Southern and Norfolk Southern Excursions in Color (1st ed.). TLC Publishing. ISBN 1-883089-56-5.

External links[]

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