N&W 611 test run successful

I would love to see the 1218 operate again someday,  but at this point the 611 will keep me smiling.

611 wins the prize for most handsome streamlined 4-8-4 - what a great looking steam engine!

I know I've seen shots of those markings on Js from the 50s.

But I don't think 611 carried these during the 80s and 90s, did she? I saw her under steam a few times, rode behind her and looked into the cab while under steam once and I don't recall seeing markings like that there...

Seriously, have you ever heard of 4449?

N&Ws Js were an amazing design, no question, but it smacks of foamery to say they looked any better than several other streamlined types of Northerns on various RRs...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Lee. Frankly l like both engines as they both are unique in their own way. They also reflect the design philosophy of their users.

I've seen 4449 - I find it less aesthetically appealing than 611.  To me, the nose looks rather lumpy due to those bulging headlights, and I'm not that fond of its red/orange paint.  611 has that sleek bullet nose and understated yet attractive maroon striping.  That's why there's vanilla and chocolate - what's tasty to one might be kinda unpleasant to another...

IMHO, the attachment to the 611 is pure N&W and Roanoke Virginia; my home town. It was designed by the N&W, built by the N&W and operated by the N&W. N&W ran steam to the very, bitter, end. By all measures the technology represented the absolute zenith of the late steam era. 

 

Were there other great locomotives? Of course, and a great number of other railroads placed their purchase orders and bought them. To my knowledge, no other railroad anywhere approached what the N&W achieved with their J, A, and Y class locomotives. 

 

There remains very deep family pride in what the N&W achieved in East End Shops! As for the 4449, I must admit that the Southern Pacific gave their Lima engine a very pretty paint job.

Very well said Gilly.

Lee, I know that the tender was marked with the warning about the stoker slides being removed,  not sure about the other.  I'll go back and check some of my old photos.

I'll look forward to hearing more.

I'm willing to concede that I might have missed that, but markings is something I usually notice. I know for sure it had nothing like that when it was on Roanoke on display, as I have a (really badly out of focus) shot of me sitting at the engineer's seat and you can see no markings on the forward face of the tender behind me in that spot. That would have been in 1981, a time when I was just a kid and never could have imagined that I'd get to see 611 (and later 1218) running and ride behind each, just a few years later...

This was taken just before the 611 went to Spencer.

 

 

Nothing to get flustered over, the new lettering is how it should have been all along. BTW Lee, 1982 was the year she returned to service.

Yeah, I saw her the year before that, still cold in Roanoke. Either 81 or 80, but I'm pretty sure 81.

Didn't see her again until I think 86, and she was under steam then.

On the Fire up 611 F/B page there is a photo of the tender taken during her initial restoration down in Birmingham and the markings are not there so I am sure your memory is correct regarding her appearance in 80 or 81 as it appears no work had been performed on the tender at that point.

A video segment from the Fireup611 F/B page.  She will wear the "The Spirit of Roanoke" lettering on the cab, and a black magnet will be placed over it for photo shoots.

 

Also another nice video segment.

thanks Chris

Thanks for the links to the videos, Chris.

Can you please find out who resigned from the "Fire up 611" committee over that "the Spirit of Roanoke" lettering on the side of the cab? 

I'm hearing it was Claytor. I'm also hearing it wasn't just the lettering.

 

As they say..."Denmark isn't smelling so good".

Now THAT sure isn't good! I also wonder Preston was not pleased with the efforts to "control" through registered trademark efforts, all memorabilia and photos of 611.

 

Also just learned that they, the museum, have apparently named #2156, "The War Horse", and now are trying to figure what to call #1218.

Since you two like to stir the pot so much I heard they are calling the 1218 "The Spirit of Ed Dickens" 

Well, that should certainly guarantee that #1218 will never run again!

There was a plaque on the right lower front of the tender commemorating Robert Claytor. I saw it as the 611 was being pulled out of VMT last year. From the pictures I've seen of the refurbished tender, it's not there. I had wondered much earlier in this conversation if this plaque would remain after the restoration.

 

I can see both sides of this discussion. Purists would like to see the 611 exactly as she was originally outshopped.  The other are individuals who have memories of the 611 since it was moved to the Roanoke Transportation Museum until the present day.

 

Considering his association with the 611, it would be extremely disappointing to see Preston Claytor leaving at this project.

 

As for "The Sprit of Roanoke" sticker", it's just a sticker. Thousands contributed to her restoration, myself included. I get it; fans of the 611 pulled together and did what they could to make this happen.

 

It isn't like they painted her "Pevler Blue"! Just think of the C&O guys and that Whack-a-Doodle green paintjob that landed on the 614. At least it isn't rusting to death.

 

As for naming the other locomotives ????? Come on now!

NOT a "sticker". It is painted on, and for "photo shoots" will be "covered with a black magnetic strip" according to statement from VMT.

From WDBJ News "For Virginia Museum of Transportation Executive Director Bev Fitzpatrick, a Friday visit provided one of the finishing touches. He applied two decals that designated the engine "The Spirit of Roanoke."

 

If it's paint, I'm with you on this one....

Peel and stick paint.... COOL! 

 

 

This naming of the J and the Y6A are just ridiculous.  What to name the 1218???  Good grief...how about the 1218...or the only remaining class A....there's a novel idea.

OK, I stand corrected. However it is NOT simply a "remove at any time" sticker for photos. I also wonder if they clear coated over the script to protect it during washing?

You see this kind of thing all the time with old WW2 warplanes on the airshow circuit. Why people can’t leave locomotives or antique airplanes in historically-correct markings without ‘cute’ additions is totally beyond me.

It's the only J left in the world, does it really need more distinction than that?

I sure hope they didn't. That sticker can go away any time they would like. I'm normally not a complainer. We have too many of those already, but this just rubs me the wrong way. I sure hope you're right about the magnets Jack, I didn't pay a decent amount of money to participate in a photo charter with this goofy sticker slapped on the cab. 

Well, I am delighted to see it running again.  Couldn't care less what they name it or how big the sticker.  That's just me - you have the freedom to be incensed.

 

As to personal opinion - I am a very big SP fan, and modeler, with lotsof Daylight-painted stuff and every single type of cab forward ever built in my collection as models.  I think the "J" is the all time classiest streamline steam, and I have a Williams in my collection.

 

My 611 model has spoked engine truck wheels (probably blasphemy).  I would not mind capturing a pair of those modern tender trucks.

 

Two questions: I assume the Tuscan Vee on the trailing truck is original?  Likewise the "Russian iron" appearance of the cylinder covers?

1) I don't know what you are referring to without a photo.

 

2) I believe you may have seen a photo of the cylinder jacketing prior to them being painted. They definitely should NOT be "Russian Iron", as none of the N&W steam locomotives in the "modern era", i.e. post WWII had that.

Hot Water, bob2 -

 

Believe bob2 is talking about the engineer's side, but I don't have a clean photo of that side of the truck. So here's the fireman's side.

 

And bob2, the price of the EL SD45, as of late last year, was a few hundred short of $3k.

David

thought that might be what you were talking about, but didn't see this pic to post. Just some primer waiting for the final paint....

I'm sorry to learn of Preston Claytor's parting company with the Fireup611 Committee.  Has anything official been posted related to it?

 

Ed Rappe 

Why people can’t leave locomotives or antique airplanes in historically-correct markings without ‘cute’ additions is totally beyond me.

 

I'm just glad it doesn't have "Built By Lionel" stamped on the side (does it ???)

 

I wonder just how much of the J is stuff added on since it's beginning?  Appliances, safety features, etc. are bound to have been added over time.

Well, I don't know that to be true, but, the "Warhorse" name was used in the headlines of the Roanoke Times newspaper article. See > Warhorse

Paint 'er CSX blue, then she can join the rest of the CSX "Spirit" locomotives.

My guess is THAT is why some folks didn't want that on the cab.

 

Ain't no way  I'd EVER put "Spirit of Roanoke" on that beautiful engine.

 

That mess they got on her cab even looks like the lettering on the CSX "Spirit"

engines. Buy the way, CSX has a new one, "The Spirit of Cincinnati"

 

Ed

 

 

Only a radio and mounting bracket in the cab for the "Mary", which talks to the "Fred" on the rear of the train. What other "appliances, safety features, etc." would be needed?

Well, the 611's VMT's engine.  They can do what they want.

 

Rusty

Warhorse is a silly name for 2156:

• War horses traditionally were used very hard, and rarely lived for very long. Hardly a fitting name for a steam locomotive
• 2156 was completed early in 1942. She would have been on the N&S's books long before Pearl Harbor
• A freight hog like this engine would be more of a draft horse anyway

Frankly, I always thought one of the great things about not naming steam locomotives in the US (as opposed to the UK) was the idea that there were too many of them to give them each names.