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Nice pictures Palmland....... may go see 611 over the summer..... hoping to ride behind the 4501 this fall though.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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David, I just got notice from the NC Transp. Museum in Salisbury that 611 will return on June 20-21 for their Rail Day festival on June 20. Might be a good time to see 611 before she returns to Roanoke for the summer.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Saw that Palmland.... but my wife, daughter, and I will be away June 20-30. Old friends in Colorado to see....both flesh and blood and narrow gauge steam!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Sounds fun, David. We'll follow in your tracks during August-but no Amtrak- family in Estes Park then Alamosa// Durango
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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This weekend I was in Roanoke to ride one of the excursions sponsored by the Virginia Transportation Museum (home to 611), Fireup611 organization, and the NS as part of their 21 Century Steam program. Everyone had their act together. From the Museum's personnel that manned the cars on the train, the 611 group that put on a flawless trip with 611, and the NS that made it possible all worked together to show that you can run mainline steam in 2015.
The proceeds must have been significant. After expenses proceeds will go to a maintenance facility for 611 on the grounds of the Museum, that were part of N&W's shop complex. The train was 19 cars with, I think five or six being very full first class cars with seat cost ranging from around $200 to over $300 for the half day trip. Six trips are being operated this weekend.
The highlight of the trip for me was the return to Roanoke from Lynchburg and the assault on Blue Ridge Summit. It's been a long time since I felt the unmistakeable surge as 611 slipped momentarily on the 1.39% grade with a heavy train and wet rails. While we were held to 40mph (although someone said they clocked it at 45) near the summit we were down to about 10 mph.
The thing that struck me the most was the active participation of the NS. At about every small town and in Roanoke and Lynchburg there were NS personnel standing trackside with their safety vests and glasses 'inspecting' the train. I didn't see one without his camera. Unlike some other railroads, NS understands that the value of pride in your company can't be quantified by the bean counters, but there is real value.
Related to Amtrak - our car hosts couldn't do enough to keep us full of food and drink. They were great (we were in IP's immaculate dome, Prairie View). Recently I saw an article that with the recent wreck in the NEC and other missteps, Boardman and the Board should step down and be replaced by the retiring Wick Moorman who needs to bring in personnel that can run a railroad. The Board should have heavy representation from the states, who are now leading the way in passenger rail.
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Mr. Palmland, your comment regarding a housecleaning at 60 Mass is noted. Let us be mindful, that housecleaning, in order to have any effect, would have to include as good as every non-Agreement soul on the property (OK, their college recruited "Management Trainees" hired on a week ago; let's give them a pass).
Regarding railroad heritage, NS and Uncle Pete are the best keepers; let's give some note to KCS and Amtrak. The other four; all of you have your heritages as well; why not recognize them? You wouldn't be here were it not for such.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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We took another trip to see steam in 2015. This time it was NS 21st Steam Program operating out of the Tennessee Valley RR Museum in Chattanooga with Southern's famous 4501 2-8-2 steam engine. Because it was a relatively short trip (about 3 hours) and a short consist of 6 cars, NS did not require a diesel helper.
Beautiful weather and well run operation. The NS participated heavily. According to one of the staff there was two Trainmasters, a road foreman and a couple brakemen/conductors. They were needed as we tied up their Chattanooga to Knoxville/Atlanta main while turning on the wye in Cleveland, TN and then on the return near the TVRM at the NS junction with their line to Cincinnati.
It also required two back up moves. One to clear the signal after getting on the mainline near TVRM and then to back into their siding at the end of the trip. Spectacular ride, especially when viewed from the railfan seat in the observation.
That evening we took TVRM's dinner train for a short (and decidedly unscenic) run. But, great service. Our steward was a retired caterer and does it for fun when not working for Ellis' Pullman operation out of Chicago. The train had a business car (ex B&O), Pullman heavyweight 8-5, Clover Colony, and a modernized ex CofG heavyweight diner.
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It looks like a group in Nashville is about to pull a NC&StL 4-8-4 out of a city park, restore it and run it on the Nashville and Eastern Ry, formerly the Tennessee Central Railroad.
This will be quite a sight to see this 'Dixie' class locomotive pulling one of the TC Museum's well restored excursion trains.
quote:Originally posted by palmland: It looks like a group in Nashville is about to pull a NC&StL 4-8-4 out of a city park, restore it and run it on the Nashville and Eastern Ry, formerly the Tennessee Central Railroad.
This will be quite a sight to see this 'Dixie' class locomotive pulling one of the TC Museum's well restored excursion trains.
That would be awesome if they can. Who will do the work and where?
In the 1962 restoration and operation of the General the work was done in the South Louisville Shops, and at that time there were plenty of men still living that had done work on Steam, and presumably in the shop all the tools and equipment still in existence, as it had been less than 10 years more or less since the last regular steam on the L&N / NC&StL.
Not even possible to see anything like the running of the route of the Great Locomotive Chase today.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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According to Trains newswire and as reported by the Nashville Steam Preservation Society the inspection of the NC&StL engine determined it was in great shape:
"To say the least, our findings, so far, are extremely encouraging! We are extremely thankful and grateful for the care and foresight that the NC&StL shop forces had to properly prepare No. 576 for long term storage, in an outside environment, that enables it to be a prime restoration candidate."
And Trains reports that: "Next, the nonprofit is to go before the Nashville Metropolitan Council, governing agency for the city and Davidson County, tonight (July 19) for what’s expected to be the first of at least three meetings. If the Council approves an agreement in August or September, and if enough funds are raised, the locomotive could be moved this autumn."
If it clears these hurdles it will move to the old Tennessee Central shops/office (now a museum) for repairs by the contractor.
All it takes is time and $3M.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Nashville City Council unanimously voted to move 576 to the TC museum shops for restoration. Move expected this fall. If enough money is raised it will run in excursion service on the Nashville and Eastern RR - route of music city Star.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by palmland: Nashville City Council unanimously voted to move 576 to the TC museum shops for restoration. Move expected this fall. If enough money is raised it will run in excursion service on the Nashville and Eastern RR - route of music city Star.
That would be great!!!! If only we could see it pounding down its home rails between Nashville and Chattanooga, but that cannot even be classified as a dream. At best it is a hallucination.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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