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I'll be spending some time with Norfolk and Western 611 this weekend, recording a follow up episode for Notch 6. Part of that plan is to spend some time with the overnight crew and getting their unique perspective on helping to operate and maintain N&W 611. 

If you have a question about 611 that you've always wanted answered, leave it here and I will try and get an answer during our time together. 

You can hear the answers during an upcoming episode of Notch 6. 

Thanks,

Derek

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Please inquire with the crew if 611 will pause at Crewe, VA on its May 6/7 run between Lynchburg and Petersburg, VA.  The train is scheduled to cover the approximately 110 miles  in 5 hours, leading me to suspect that an unadvertised stop is planned.  If the train will stop at Crewe for servicing or crew change it would provide me an opportunity to video the train both east and west of Crewe on its morning run to Petersburg.

Gregg posted:

Do the hot box detectors  pick up anything from the firebox? 

No, as the firebox on any large main line steam locomotive is way too high for the detectors to read. In my experience, some of the areas that detectors "pick-up" are:

1) One specific rod bearing which might just happen to be "down" at the detector location. The plain type rod bearing generally run hotter that a freight car roller bearing. Of course, N&W 611 would not have that issue being all roller bearing on the rods.

2) Steam operated cylinder cocks, even closed, can be detected as "hot".

3) Feedwater exhausts, depending on the location.

4) Blowdown exhausts.

5) Injector overflow.

6) Dynamo, or other, condensate drains, that are piped down to track level. 

A few questions: 

Has the 611 crew contacted the Wheeling and Lake Erie about conducting excursions on the former N&W up north (read old Wabash Terminal)? 

What sort of background does the crew have? e.g. machinist's experience, former hoggers for freight railroads, etc.

I've heard a few stories about the old N&W/NS excursion programs. What was each crew member's most memorable or humorous experience they had in the course of operating 611? 

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