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Or... West Coast, eat your heart out, lol!

 

So, can we actually expect NKP #765 over Horse Shoe Curve?!?!

 

TO: ALL NORFOLK SOUTHERN EMPLOYEES


Norfolk Southern employees soon will enjoy opportunities to ride
behind steam-powered excursion trains.

NS’ “Employee Appreciation Excursions” will be operated on weekends
this summer and fall in recognition of the corporation’s 30th
anniversary. Each of the railroad’s 11 divisions will host several
excursions.

The tentative schedule is:

June 2-3, Georgia Division
June 9-10, Piedmont Division
June 30-July 1, Virginia Division
July 14-15, Central Division
July 21-22, Lake Division
July 28-29, Dearborn Division
Aug. 4-5, Pocahontas Division
Aug. 11-12, Pittsburgh Division
Aug. 18-19, Harrisburg Division
Sept. 8-9, Illinois Division
Sept. 15-16, Alabama Division


The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and the Fort Wayne Historical
Society are providing the steam locomotives, equipment, and services
to make these excursions memorable, fun, and of course, safe.

Southern Railway 630 will be used for the trips on the southern part
of the system. No. 630 was built in 1904 by the American Locomotive
Company at Richmond, Va., and is one of the three locomotives that
will be used in NS’ 21st Century Steam program over the next four
years.

Nickel Plate Road 765 will be used for the trips on the northern part
of the system. No. 765 was built in 1944 by the Lima Locomotive Works
in Lima, Ohio, and is familiar to many railroaders, having been in
excursion service on and off since 1979.

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Originally Posted by Zephyr:
Aug. 11-12, Pittsburgh Division

Aug. 18-19, Harrisburg Division

Nickel Plate Road 765 will be used for the trips on the northern part
of the system. No. 765 was built in 1944 by the Lima Locomotive Works
in Lima, Ohio, and is familiar to many railroaders, having been in
excursion service on and off since 1979.

This might explain Rich's coy NKP 765 reference to the Horseshoe Curve from a week or two ago.    Looks to be a grand time for many rail fans that either ride or just take pictures along the route.

Originally Posted by Keystone:
This might explain Rich's coy NKP 765 reference to the Horseshoe Curve from a week or two ago.    Looks to be a grand time for many rail fans that either ride or just take pictures along the route.

Just to clarify...these trips are for Norfolk Southern employees and their families. These are not public trips and no tickets will be available to the public.

 

Yes, the 765 will be on Horseshoe Curve later this summer. NS is assisting us in the installation of cab signals so the 765 can lead the train. The NS main line from Cleveland through Pittsburgh, Altoona and on to Harrisburg is all cab signal territory. Without cab signals, the 765 would have to be towed behind a diesel equipped with cab signals.

 

And here's another little detail...NS 8100 (the NKP Heritage Unit) will be tucked in behind the 765's A-Tank on all these moves.

 

Norfolk Southern is obviously very proud of their heritage and the fact that this is their 30th birthday. These trips are a very tangible way of showing that. We (the 765 crew) are very pleased to be a part of this exciting program.

Looks like a trip to Altoona is in order this summer....haven't been up there for a few years and this is a **** good reason to go! While I assume this isn't public knowledge but  is it possible that a rough time estimate would be given when the train will be looping the curve? I would LOVE to take a photo or two and just enjoy the sight of the 765 running the curve. I'm no NS expert and don't know the system and trackage except Horseshoe Curve...any chance steam will be getting closer than Altoona to Washington DC area? 

Originally Posted by Unseenthings:

So where does that leave the public for NS rides this summer?

No where!  The NS is doing all this for their employees, shippers, and community/political personnel. Just like the Union Pacific. You have to be an "invited guest" to ride the train.

 

Besides, it is against the law for class one railroads to sell tickets on passenger trains, ever since congress started Amtrak. The railroad may lease their train to private organizations who can then sell tickets to the "public".

It dosn't bother me that I can't ride. If they did offer tickets then yes I would ride. But the fact they are running these excursions in the first place is A no.1 in that we get to see these fine machines in action on high iron.

 

Now that the schedule is out, does anyone know what districts within these divisions they will run? I hope the Ga. div. is the Atlanta North dist. between Atlanta and Chattanooga.

 

CofG

"The Right Way"

Well Rich, I said that if the 765 came to Harrisburg I would try to come out of retirement. I just made a phone call to see what I need to do other than pass a Physical and Book of Rules to get set back up running. Of course if and that is a big if I go back out on the road I will have to re-qualify the territory I plan to run. Passing the physical will be the biggest hurdle. After that I asked about getting tickets to ride the train on one of the legs, Pittsburgh or Harrisburg. Hope to know something soon. My supervisor is going to look into everything for me. Maybe I'll see you in August.

P.S.  Anyone at liberty to share which engine will be on the Pokey runs?  Could be either, but I can't help but notice that it's in the middle of the 765 schedule.

 

was wondering the same thing myself.  I was lucky enough to get to see the 8100 in Portsmouth yard this morning and it truly made my day.  The thought of it and the 765 together is almost more than i can handle.   I have several crappy iphone pics im gonna have to start taking my camera with me when i go in the yard

Here are the steam locomotive assignments by division:

 

June 2-3, Georgia DivisionSRR 630
June 9-10, Piedmont DivisionSRR 630
June 30-July 1, Virginia DivisionSRR 630
July 14-15, Central DivisionSRR 630
July 21-22, Lake DivisionNKP 765
July 28-29, Dearborn DivisionNKP 765
Aug. 4-5, Pocahontas DivisionNKP 765
Aug. 11-12, Pittsburgh DivisionNKP 765
Aug. 18-19, Harrisburg DivisionNKP 765
Sept. 8-9, Illinois DivisionNKP 765
Sept. 15-16, Alabama DivisionSRR 630




Originally Posted by OGR Webmaster:

Here are the steam locomotive assignments by division:

 

June 2-3, Georgia DivisionSRR 630
June 9-10, Piedmont DivisionSRR 630
June 30-July 1, Virginia DivisionSRR 630
July 14-15, Central DivisionSRR 630
July 21-22, Lake DivisionNKP 765
July 28-29, Dearborn DivisionNKP 765
Aug. 4-5, Pocahontas DivisionNKP 765
Aug. 11-12, Pittsburgh DivisionNKP 765
Aug. 18-19, Harrisburg DivisionNKP 765
Sept. 8-9, Illinois DivisionNKP 765
Sept. 15-16, Alabama DivisionSRR 630





VERY cool.  Be nice to see 765 this close to the southeast again.  This should be pretty gratifying for the FWRHS, especially after that big overhaul knowing the steam scene at the time (or lack thereof).  Time to make Lima and NS proud.

Originally Posted by Hartman:

I'm one of those people that could never afford a ride on such a trip even if it was open to the public.  BUT, I sure will try to be out there getting some pictures of the event!


The trips last fall were cheap.  I think the Chattanoga trips were $30 (including the $20 admission to TVRM's Railfest), and the long trip was about $65 or so.  Considering NS ended up providing a free boxed lunch AND dinner (the latter of which was NOT planned for and arranged at the last minute when we ended up running very, very, very late for a variety of reasons) as well as unlimited drinks and snacks on the train, and--of course, the chartered bus return, it was incredibly good value for money.

Originally Posted by CWEX:
On the 21st century steam site it states the 2012 schedule will be announced soon....so I guess just keep checking back periodically....

These 2012 trips are not officially part of the 21st Century Steam Program. That program is the public trips. I'm not sure that there will be any public trips in 2012. The 30th Birthday Celebration will keep all the steam crews and the railroad pretty busy this year.

I am just hoping to get to just see the 765 on the Curve and maybe somewhere closer to home.

 

Riding is not as important to me, since I find that riding behind steamers in enclosed cars is nowhere near as fun as open air cars (which you won't see on the mainlines) where you can better see the engine, hear the engine working and smell the coal smoke (and get covered in cinders ).  Of course, being in the cab is even better. 

 

Andy

Originally Posted by Andy Hummell:

 

Riding is not as important to me, since I find that riding behind steamers in enclosed cars is nowhere near as fun as open air cars (which you won't see on the mainlines) where you can better see the engine, hear the engine working and smell the coal smoke (and get covered in cinders ).  Of course, being in the cab is even better. 

 

Andy

 

No guarantees that it will be the same, but vestibules were open on the public trips last fall.  They were closed however on the private trip to Alcoa.

 

Hopefully, they will allow them to remain open on any future public excursions.  Nothing like getting pelted with cinders at 40mph while listening to the whistle and stack talk.

Kevin

Originally Posted by MartyE:

Steam through West Park again on the North Side?  I sure hope so!  We already had these beauties through.

 

 

PRR 042

Quite possibly. If there is a dome car in the consist, it may be a bit sketchy. I've seen the NS OCS run through the (Amtrak) station downtown with the dome car, as well as on the Mon Line. Amtrak's Capitol Limited makes it in there with Superliners on a daily basis. But anything that won't make the tight clearances between CP BELL and CP WING will go around the city on the Mon Line. It will also depend on traffic on either the Fort Wayne, Pittsburgh, and Mon Lines.

Originally Posted by OGR Webmaster:
Originally Posted by Keystone:
This might explain Rich's coy NKP 765 reference to the Horseshoe Curve from a week or two ago.    Looks to be a grand time for many rail fans that either ride or just take pictures along the route.

Just to clarify...these trips are for Norfolk Southern employees and their families. These are not public trips and no tickets will be available to the public.

 

You don't know how many train chasing, picture taking, railfans are now going, Whew,  now I don't have to listen to any complaining about not supporting these programs by not buying tickets.  

Oh yeah I know what you guys are scheduled for is not "public" trips.  I was just referring to the "public" schedule, but I didn't think about how busy things were going to be this summer for the crews.  The 630 is scheduled for several trips I see, I wonder if they have the bearing problems figured out.  I remember a while back you had said that with the 630 having been in a wreck some years back that the frame is not straight....must be a royal pain in the bleep trying to figure out measurements and such.
 
Originally Posted by OGR Webmaster:
These 2012 trips are not officially part of the 21st Century Steam Program. That program is the public trips. I'm not sure that there will be any public trips in 2012. The 30th Birthday Celebration will keep all the steam crews and the railroad pretty busy this year.

 

Good to hear that big steam is running over some historic routes again even if it's only for employees.  I don't have a problem with that.  You can never see these beauties anyway when you're stuck in a coach behind them.    Much better to watch it go by.  Kudos to NS for keeping up their heritage.

 

Ray

Originally Posted by Mike CT:

There should be a photo in there somewhere.  It would be interesting to know the routes.

Is Altoona Harrisburg Division or Pittsburgh Division?  


back in the conrail days i think the pitts. division started at slope or alto interlocking[alto is located on the west end of whats left of altoona yard].  i heard alto tower was being phased out this year,if not already.-jim

per Eastern Rail News, this is the employee excursion schedule as of right now--subject to change.  Most trips will be very short.  A few will have a bit more mileage to them.

 

 

SR 630

June 2-3 Inman to Austell, GA (Atlanta, GA area)

Atlanta North District MP 140.8H to 134.7H

 

June 9-10 Salisbury to Barber Jct, NC

NS Asheville District MP S0.6 to S11.5

 

June 30-July 1 Roanoke to Walton, VA

NS Christiansburg District MP N261.7 to N297.6

 

July 14-15 Knoxville to Coster, TN

NS Knoxville Terminal MP A130.7 to A125.0

NS Coster Line MP C0.0 to C2.5

 

September 15-16 Irondale to Downtown Birmingham, AL (14th St)

NS East End District MP 791.8 to 798.2

 

 

NKP 765

July 21-22 Bellevue to Colsan, OH

NS Sandusky District MP S96.4 to S62.9

 

July 28-29 Homestead to Airline Yard, OH (Toledo, OH area)

NS Toledo Belt Line Connecting Track MP TB5.6 to Tb1.2

NS Chicago Line MP CD286.9 to CD290.8

 

August 4-5 Williamson to Naugatuck, WV

NS Pocahontas/Williamson District MP N459.7 to N470.3

NS Kenova District MP N470.3 to N484.3

 

August 11-12 Conway to CP Wood, PA (near Pittsburgh, PA)

NS Fort Wayne Line MP PC22.6 to MP34.8

 

August 18-19 Enola to CP Capital, PA (Harrisburg, PA area)

NS Port Road Branch MP EB73.0 to EB73.7

NS Pittsburgh Line MP PT110.9 to PT105.1

NS Harrisburg Line MP HP112.9 to HP111.3

 

September 8-9 Luther to Robertson, MO (St. Louis, MO area)

NS St. Louis District MP S8.3 to S16.9

Post

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