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On Sunday, my son and I went chasing the 611 between Manassas and Front Royal.  We first saw her early Sunday morning when she was parked way in front of the station in the darker wooded area.  As we approached I felt as if I was entering a sacred temple where the engine was perched up high on the rails and roadbed and she was surrounded by dozens of people who were standing still and gazing at this massive machine.  It was quiet, no one was talking.  I was afraid to talk as if I was in church.  I don't exactly know what it was but it was like seeing a T-Rex in real life.  Very impressive and larger than life.  I have seen many trains and some live steam before but nothing quite like this.  There was something special about this engine.  Even my son was not expecting it to be that impressive.  Anyway, I put a video together and posted it below.  The engine still looks impressive in the video, but its nothing compared to seeing her in real life.   When I got home, I got inspired to pull out my MTH model, run it and takes some video and photos.  There are a couple photos below and a short clip of the model at the end of the video.   Enjoy!

 

Rich

www.toytrainsontracks.com

 

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When I first clicked on the video on YouTube, I wasn't in my subscriptions (it was a recommended) so I didn't realize it was your video. When I got to the model J, I thought "That looks just like Toytrainsontrack's layout!" Then I realized it really was your layout, and laughed. I thought it was the real thing!!!! Great job!

Rich, what a nice day for you and your son, and congratulations on another great video - as usual.  The slow run through town was fantastic. If it wasn't for the people moving in some of the footage I was sure it was your Black Diamond layout. I really like your low angle camera perspective that creates the T-Rex effect that you mentioned.  

Loved the video! Still anxiously awaiting BDR volume IV!!

 

Your comments about the 611, saying something made it special, kind of makes me wonder about all the great engines we will never get to see on the rails. It does feel like steamers are alive,  which makes it extra sad to just see them sit.

Last edited by Zett

Thanks everyone!  The sounds are tremendous.  When it pulled out in the morning the whistle was so loud people were covering their ears.  I didn't, I wanted to take it all in, even if it meant a blown ear drum.  The sound of the engine accelerating in the first scene is my favorite.  My new camera captured the sounds very well, but again not the same as being there.  Also, as it slowly passed by in Manassas at the end, you hear and feel the ashes raining down.  My son said it smelled like gunpowder.  It was fun and I really enjoy doing the video.  Glad you guys like it.

 

Rich

Many years ago the old southern shops in Irondale, AL-- a suburb of Birmingham-- did a lot of the repairs/maintenance and restoration of the 611 and the 1218. I got my courage up, and drove into the yard to see what I could see-- and after spotting the back half of the engine sticking out of the shop I stopped and got out to take a closer look. I asked one of the workers if it was OK to nose around-- and he said as long as I did not go inside the shop building it would be OK. Seems like I shot some photos, and when the 611 made her maiden voyage as a test pulling a freight-- I loaded up the boys and my wife and we chased it from B'Ham all the way to above Attalla Alabama filming with a cam corder. Lots of pacing, some crossing shots, etc. I remember my oldest son was about maybe 7 at the time, and we stood by the track at the first crossing as it came around a curve and came blasting by. Scared him to death and he burst out crying-- this is one awesome piece of machinery at speed. We followed it until it stopped on a siding and just stayed there, and later we found that it had some problems with Rod Bearings over heating, and possibly they were waiting on a diesel to help get it to Chattanooga or back to Birmingham. To see this monster at 60 or 70 MPH, and those huge rods moving up and down is pure magic to a gear head. That's when I remembered the phrase "noting but teeth, hair and eyeballs" would be all that was left if that rod gear came apart at speed. They ran many excursions back then, and the son and I rode behind the 1218 from B'ham to Chattanooga and back. Really great memories, and with those engines coming back into service maybe a whole nuther generation can see what big steam is all about here in the east. Not just the UP/SP folks.

A great day for you and your boy Rick - Thanks. I stumbled upon 611 at the Chattanooga Choo Choo back one evening in the early 90's and and was invited up into the cab by a volunteer fireman (he was a medic from New England). We spent a few minutes talking and then my family watched her pull 23 passenger cars out the next morning. Would love to have caught some images of her crossing the TN River on one of those bridges!

Great video as always Rich-thanks for taking the time to get it, edit, and post.

 

I was amused at how tight the reins were on 611 in your video; I remember pacing her at better than 90 MPH between Jacksonville and Valdosta back in the 80's- yes, Graham Clayton was at the throttle and 611 was prancing along with little effort dragging 18 passenger cars behind her on the level. Those main rods were just flying.....

 

Pacing 1218 was another good day as well.......The old freight engine will get up and go as well.

Rich, nice video I'm with big Jim best video so far. Saw 611 once pull out of Alexandria Va. In the 80's been my favorite engine ever since. Got the Williams "J" on sale for father's day, only tested it out, but like Alex will have to run mine. I don't have cars for it to pull but my old Lionel Silverliners. I have some old K-line track I can set up on the porch to run it on.

 

I remember when you did your last lay-out video alot of forum members said you should do a video of just running trains on your lay-out; I'm for that!

Give you goosebumps! Quite amazing how quickly and how perfectly this engine came out of mothballs, and now runs beautifully and never looked better. 

 

That's what happens when influential people (of means) who know what they're doing get together and get things moving. A salute to the clubs that get these engines running as well, even if it takes them five years of work (Milw. Rd. 261) or more. That's real devotion.

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