N&W 611 Restoration Thread

Becky Morgan · **Joined:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 4:22 pm **Posts:** 495

I can't recall the last time I was excited to see somebody yanking chunks of metal off a steam engine. If you don't know what they're doing, it looks terrible.

I have to wonder how much is like NASCAR teams when they eye up a damaged car during a red flag. They aren't allowed to work on it, but they can plan the work, fabricate the parts, get all the tools in position and have the people ready. When the red drops to yellow, they can jump in and get things done amazingly fast. Something tells me the people they assembled got their act together while they were waiting for the money to come in and the engine to get to Spencer, and we're seeing how fast and well they can execute their plan.

NW Class J · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 3:08 pm

The amount of work completed thus far is impressive to say the least. The 611 is in great hands at Spencer.

Rainier Rails · **Posted:** Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:15 pm

The latest update:

Restoration almost halfway complete!

j32885 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 27, 2014 11:49 pm

"An Economic Engine For Tourism" Could Be--611? by J3a-614
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37163

Like said in the other thread...

Many people probably wouldn't go to VMT or even to Roanoke IF N&W 611 wasn't there. I've gone to see 611 down in Roanoke on 5 different vacations throughout my lifetime.
Here's my past and recent videos of N&W 611:

Norfolk & Western 611-1218 (Museum Tour), 08-14-2009
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRR_1lddeik

Norfolk & Western 611 (Fire Up 611?), 05-27-2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKXHbrUokv8

Norfolk & Western 611 (Spirit Of Roanoke), 05-28-2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-mJM_2mAcQ

Norfolk & Western 611 (Night Photo Shoot), 05-29-2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWobF7KKWew

Streamliners At Spencer (Night Photo Shoot), 05-29-2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS09UVKyAOY

Streamliners At Spencer (Yard Switching), 05-30-2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMmzUJ7f7OA

Norfolk & Western 611 (Powhatan Arrow), 05-30-2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzArhJKwsdk

Norfolk & Western 611 (Pocahontas), 05-30-2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBalfZrkyxo

My 2nd visit to see 611 once again during the past NCTM train show. Preston Claytor talked about the history of the locomotive, and what's being currently worked on during this restoration. While at the presentation he did mention the locomotive is a Magnet at attracting people. Hopefully I'll get the talk and restoration videos up on my YT soon.

Here's the most recent restoration video on 611

North Carolina Transportation Mueseum and N&W 611 by metraf40c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXHZpIz3Chk

Enjoy! ^_^

j32885 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:03 pm

Yet again another restoration video on N&W 611.

Norfolk and Western 611 Restoration by 844Steamtrain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axInJiZWES8

Enjoy! ^_^

j32885 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 09, 2014 8:59 pm

Finally got my videos up of 611 from NCTM Train Show back on August 23, 2014. This was before VMT/Fire Up 611!'s "Halfway Done Restoration Report".

Fire Up 611!/Restoration Progresss
http://fireup611.org/restoration/

Norfolk & Western 611 (Restoration Seminar), 08-23-2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZnajGA0eig

Norfolk & Western 611 (Restoration Tour), 08-23-2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs1zPDw8mHo

Norfolk & Western 611 (Restoration Tour), 08-23-2014 #2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=136KogkSJgE

Enjoy! ^_^

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:10 pm

Just was taking a look at Jeff's photo of the 611 in the roundhouse--and I have to say I had forgotten just how large this locomotive is!

Good to see the work just rolling along. . .

Kenny L · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2014 10:29 am

So great to see a restoration of such a predominant streamliner. Progress looks to be coming along nicely.

A bit off the topic, but does anyone know if there are any streamlined steam locomotives currently operational in the US or will this be the only one when completed? I don't immediately know of any aside from the famous ones in the UK, but I'm no expert.

John E. Rimmasch · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 8:35 pm **Posts:** 374

By US Standards the Southern Pacific 4449 located in Portland, OR. is streamlined.

Kindly,

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2014 7:23 pm

Kenny L wrote:

A bit off the topic, but does anyone know if there are any streamlined steam locomotives currently operational in the US or will this be the only one when completed? I don't immediately know of any aside from the famous ones in the UK, but I'm no expert.

Outside of 611 (streamlined) and 4449 (semi-streamlined), I don't know of any others that would be operational.

Others do exist. One is a semi-streamlined SP GS-6 (smaller version of the GS-4, actually based on the earlier GS-2) at St. Louis (No. 4460?). There's a C&O 4-6-4 rebuilt from a 4-6-2 (490, in the museum in Baltimore), at least one Canadian National streamlined 4-8-4, and a semi-streamlined CN 4-8-2 (6060). There are several semi-streamlined Canadian Pacific locomotives, all sharing the same general style, including several Royal Hudsons, I believe two CP Jubilees (4-4-4s, of two classes), and two or three 2-10-4s; the latter were the only 2-10-4s to have such styling.

There is at least one former streamlined steamer around, too--CB&Q 4000, named officially Aeolus, but nicknamed by crews and fans alike "Big Alice the Goon."

Kenny L · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:03 am

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Streamlined steamers have always been a fascination of mine.

Back to the topic though, interesting to note that 611 will likely be the only operational "fully streamlined" steam locomotive in the US when completed. It's a sight that I hope to see in person.

southern154 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:54 pm **Posts:** 320

Due to the fact that 611 will not be under the "care" of Norfolk Southern this time around, will the 611 be able to attend other rail fan events? Such as Train Expo and etc, I know during the time of the original NS steam program that many of the "big" rail fan events such as the 2 Railfairs, happened on the west coast. Other than the NRHS conventions there was not much happening. Will VMT send 611 to these events? Or will she strictly run on NS rails? Just curious

Scranton Yard · **Joined:** Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:08 am **Posts:** 733

Kenny L wrote:

A bit off the topic, but does anyone know if there are any streamlined steam locomotives currently operational in the US or will this be the only one when completed? I don't immediately know of any aside from the famous ones in the UK, but I'm no expert.

As J3a-614 mentioned, CP 2929, a non-operational 4-4-4 "Jubilee" currently in Scranton, was designed to be "semi-streamlined". The other extant CP F-1-a class, 2928, is in the Canadian Railway Museum at Delson, Quebec. Here is a pic of 2929 from 2010.

j32885 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:05 pm

I'm sure this time around with VMT owning/operating N&W 611, that the steamer can attend Other Railroading Events Non-NS Related.

For example: NKP 765 this year has done excursion trips with following:

- Norfolk Southern (21 Century Steam)
- Steam Railroading Institute (Train Expo 2014)
- Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (Steam In The Valley 2014)

I would also think a group like VMT would like to do some Amtrak trips near home and closer to Roanoke. ATSF 3751, MILW 261, SP 4449, & SPS 700 have all done trips with AMTK in the past.

Alan Walker · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:10 pm

Kenny L wrote:

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Streamlined steamers have always been a fascination of mine.

Back to the topic though, interesting to note that 611 will likely be the only operational "fully streamlined" steam locomotive in the US when completed. It's a sight that I hope to see in person.

I imagine that 611 will go to other events when time permits. As for going to the West Coast? Probably not. One factor that likely prevented some eastern steamers from attending either Railfair was UP.