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Norfolk & Western's J class 611 will be at Strasburg on these dates; 

The special events at the Strasburg Rail Road include:
  • September 28-29: A Norfolk & Western Railway Steam Reunion
  • October 4-6: Railfan Photography Extravaganza
  • October 12-14: Rail & Road: A Transportation Evolution
  • October 19-20: At the Throttle of Norfolk & Western Steam

 

Tickets are a bit steep however, $200.00.  I need to read more in order to learn the details.

 

 

Last edited by Former Member
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I wanted a cab ride but all the jump seats were sold out and I’m not interested in being a fireman and for the engineer seat you must have a valid drivers license, I don’t drive, I have a PA non driver state ID. I’m guessing the 765 will be running in Ohio the same weekend 611 is running in late September. I wanted to go to the WMSR this July for 1309, but now I chose 611 at Strasburg not sure if my mom would be willing to travel that far to Cumberland with her breathing issues, she has a portable machine but battery only lasts so long, we charge it in the car when going out.

Last edited by Robert K
Robert K posted:

 I’m guessing the 765 will be running in Ohio the same weekend 611 is running in late September.

This would be a fun weekend if it is true.   I booked a hostling tour, a whistle blow, and a open air train ride ticket for the 28th.  I will be there with my 9 year old son and we have always wanted to see the 611.   This is a great opportunity!  It will be a ZOO there though!  

I did the hostling tour last year with the 475, and if you have never done it before it is a very cool experience.   

Now if the 765 will be in Ohio that weekend it would be perfect.  Strasburg on the 27th and 28th, the 765 on our way home on Sunday the 29th! 

I did decide against the photography experience.  As much as I wanted to do it, the cost is just too high for me and my son to experience it together.  

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jim pastorius posted:

I only live 2 hrs away but can't afford the event but think it is very cool.  Will be good for the east to have this for the fans. I will buy the video.  Have fun.

What is nice about Strasburg is you can walk around the whole place and explore without purchasing a ticket.   The train rides are very affordable.   Worth the 2 hour drive!  

Who's to say that we can't find a spot along the tracks and take pictures ?   From the website description, it seems like unless we fork out $200.00, we will not be able to take a picture.  I'm only a bit over an hour away, so it will be worth the ride, just to see if I can find a spot somewhere along or near the right of way.  

My grandmother had many sayings.  One of them, "Money comes to money", comes to mind in cases like this.  In my next life, I am going to be born rich, instead go good looking.....LOL

Dan Padova posted:

Who's to say that we can't find a spot along the tracks and take pictures ?   From the website description, it seems like unless we fork out $200.00, we will not be able to take a picture.  I'm only a bit over an hour away, so it will be worth the ride, just to see if I can find a spot somewhere along or near the right of way.  

Plenty of places to take photos.  The $200 will be for the Lerro ran photo charter.   These are very well done and I have attended a few in the past.  

Drive into Strasburge.  Park along one of the crossings and wait for the trains to pass.  The 611 will only be pulling 3 trips that day, they will be running their normal trains also.  Usually in the morning you can see a train come by every 15-20 minutes.  

See my past photos here: https://www.3rdcoast.photograp...s/Strasburg-Railroad

If you come down the 27th or 28th let me know.  I can show you some great spots.  

I have been to Strasburg a couple of times. Love the place and planned to go this summer. Saw the 611 at Spencer, NC two years ago, not in steam but cool. Talked to the engineer while his kids got dirty playing in the engine. Rode in the cab of the steamer at the WM many years ago. Have a video of that.  So glad that NS is supporting it and making it happen. What I am hoping is they bring the 611 up the  lurgan branch to the mainline.

So for the days that happen to follow York (10/19-20), when they are doing all those sold out Engineer's/Fireman's/ Jump Seat experiences, is the engine sitting still at the station, and is there any chance of getting a half decent view of it if you are not one of the participants in those experiences? 

I'm making the assumption that at half hour spacing, the engine is not going anywhere in between sittings, and also since they seem to be selling 3 seats per time slot, there would be no place for the people actually qualified to run the train to do so!

 Sorry for stupid questions, as I don't generally railfan, but Strasburg is pretty close to on my way home from York with a very slight detour, so if there is a chance of getting any sort of view, It might be worth stopping by just to see this classic in person. 

(Even if from afar, obviously I would expect that close up viewing/photos is likely only realistic for those participating in the offered experiences)

-Dave

Last edited by Dave45681
Kelly Anderson posted:

Not much point in buying an engineer seat ticket if you can't run the engine, that is the whole point!

From the web-site, "Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to sit in the engineer’s seat and pull open the throttle and feel the power of a steam locomotive at your fingertips? This 30-minute experience puts you in control on the rails of America’s oldest operating railroad. You’ll receive an orientation to the controls and then you’ll be off, taking direction from a certified steam locomotive engineer."

Fair enough.  I guess I was (probably falsely) basing that on the normal Strasburg runs I observe on the Wednesday of York week while visiting the TCA museum. 

Those tend to take about 40 minutes (roughly, IIRC) to go out and come back before they repeat, and that would not fit into the 30 minutes between seatings shown on the website.

I'd guess it goes far enough to pass by the area nearby in front of the TCA Museum and Red Caboose Motel?

-Dave

Last edited by Dave45681

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