N&W 611 test run successful

Great photo's of the progress! It appears to be going well!

 

I am looking forward to seeing this beauty under steam! And, hope to be able to ride behind her one day!

 

My hat is off to the Fire Up 611 Group!!!

Really nice to see the supe effort and progress on a beauty.  Too bad they couldn't have done half as well on the old PRR K4 that is still in pieces-in Altoona, I think. Or maybe scattered all around. What a disgrace but it will be great to see 611 steaming.

No, it was taken out thru the firebox where the grates and ash pan were. 

 

Laidoffs dad...very nice photos...thanks for sharing those.

 

Your welcome guys...it's an exciting time for the 611 and N&W fans.

You mean it isn't rolled up and stuffed thru the fire door?

I appreciate what's going on here, but where are they going to find a matched set of cars to go behind it?  Like the SP Daylight, it will be towing a "Dog's Breakfast" consist.  And of course, the obligatory Amtrak unit to supply HEP.

 

Well some may try that....

No problem Chris. I would really like to be there when they actually fire her up. BUT a long trip from Calif.

611 makes UP steamers and the ATSF Warbonnet BORING!

OK...call them and tell them to stop the work. We'll have 'em send it back to the museum.  

 

Have you seen the NS coaches and power car that have run behind 765?  Or their office car consist? They are ALL painted the same...just like in the picture posted above.

Norfolk Southern Office Car Special Coach Roster

Laidoff's Dad:

Thanks for the great photo display.

Yep, the OCS fleet boasts designated HEP car 39, and car 42 has its own HEP generator on it, so electricity for the train shouldn't be a problem.

A "Dog's Breakfast" of a train is still better than no train, right? 

...And for those occasions when 611 is in for her boiler wash, we can use that Red Bird sitting in the foreground !   N&W..bring it on !

Also a quick video I came across.

 

Chris, I want to thank you for your efforts keeping us informed/advised on the J611 Progress. I like others wished I lived closer to view it for myself!..............Brandy

 

I keep hoping, that something positive will come out of the 844/4014 mess.

Chris, many thanks for your update and pictures.  611's restoration brings back some great memories from an excursion trip with friends out of Atlanta in the early '90's IIRC.

 

Carl

Brandy, Your welcome.  It is really exciting to follow along with the rebuild and see the progress.  I think eventually the situation with the UP's steam program will be worked out.

 

Pingman your welcome.  I agree it takes me back as well.  I remember being in Roanoke to watch the early excursions and chasing and riding behind her many more times as well.  Those were some great days back then.  I was in Roanoke the day she came in for last time...December 7th 1994.  It was a sad day..especially when her whistle was blown for the last time....well until now.  

I'm following the resto and very much appreciate the pictures Chris. I would love to come down when its complete.

Very impressed with the restoration work on #611 as well as the 'in-progress' videos of the actual work being performed. Also hoping to see the AT&SF #2926 restoration on the rails hopefully in late 2015.

Your welcome, they are moving ahead quickly.

Is that a chrome plated power reverser?

No, it's for the injector.

Very Very Interesting and Informative Thread.
Thanks for Posting!!

K.C.

Your welcome, it's exciting following the rebuild. 

Restoration work continues on the 611 with completion expected in the spring of 2015.  Also don't miss out on the J ingle bell bus trip to visit the 611 at Spencer on December 11.  You can read more about it here.

 

 

 

Are excursions planned next year? Where would they most likely operate, out of Roanoke or elsewhere within Virginia or even out of state?

Obviously nothing is "planned" yet, since 611 isn't even completed yet, nor has she passed any of her tests.

 

You will just have to wait for announcements from Norfolk Southern.

This is off the VMT's website.

 

Norfolk & Western Class J 611 Restoration
Anticipated completion in Spring 2015
611 has moved to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC for a complete restoration, thanks to support from Norfolk Southern and many donors worldwide. Her fans are invited to visit the NCTM and watch the progress! Behind the scenes tours are offered Fridays through Sundays. Once completed, 611 will return to its home here at the Virginia Museum of Transportation and begin pulling excursions in Spring 2015. Dates, destinations, and ticket prices will be announced in early 2015. For more information, visit Fire Up 611!

 

But everything will hinge on the 611 being completed/tested as HW stated.

Wow, this is Great!  Pretty ambitious schedule, ready to run by next Spring.

 

I was just told that flue preparations begin next week! 

Since the flues/tubes are all completely new, what are the "preparations"?

Yes, ditto what HW said.  The new rear flue sheet is in, the tubes have already been  swedged by the TVRM...is that a word?  

Best I could figure from reading is that you swage the tube (reduce the OD), install in the sheets, and then expand, bead and roll to get a nice tight fit. 

 

Would welcome any info on this from those with greater knowledge.  Always interested in the details of how the work is performed.

I thought in today's world they welded the tube ends at the flue sheet.

Generally the tubes are seal-welded AFTER rolling & beading, at the rear (firebox end) tube sheet only, on steam locomotive boilers.

Rickoshay,

I did some editing of your photo to make it more enjoyable. Thanks for posting it. In my opinion, the 611 is by far the best passenger steam engine to have polished the rails.

Now, that's the kind of flue that you can't get a shot, for!   Good news;  these guys are really working hard and making good progress.  Should be on target for a springtime fire up, right?

 

Paul Fischer

Yes...unless there is a unforeseen problem.