Great to see her stepping out like the day she was made! That's the way a steam locomotive should be run. Rode behind her years ago with Bill Purdie at the throttle. That man could make some time between Alexandria and Charlottesville. Great video!
I feel I am very lucky because a lot of steam locomotives are getting restored and the 611 is complete. Union Pacific is Restoring one of the Big Boys, and The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is Restoring 1702. Which I had the pleasure of seeing in service back in 2004. Steam has really started to become popular this generation.
Marvelous to see 611 running again. What I was realy surprised about, is that 611 is not accompanied by a regular diesel engine as often to be seen on heritage steamer trips. though this engine is modern and reliable enough to run alone! Great!
Wonderful to see her running again, thanks for a fine post. I can only hope on Sunday the 7th there are as few people in my frame as you had...although I doubt it
Kudos to NS for their steam program; I wonder how it's perceived by NS employees? Even for the most senior employees -mainline dieselization had occurred before they started. I would have to think they'd love getting a chance to work with steam - it's tradition and such a big part of railroading heritage.
Great video! Cool to see the Florida car - I rode in that one last month during an NKP765 excursion. How fast were they running her? The NKP765 was held to 40 mph in New Y ork - 611 looked to be going faster than 40 mph in a couple shots.
The whistle she was wearing for 2015 was a Union Pacific Hancock 3-chime. In 2016, they changed it to what I heard is an authentic N&W J-class Hancock, supposedly off of sister 610. I don't know if this is the history behind the new whistle, but it sounds more steamboat-ish, and more appropriate for 611.
@@armagonarmagon3980You were told incorrectly about 611's 2016-2022 whistle. I'll let you know that Scott Lindsay, who owned the 2016-2022 whistle, confirmed that it was NOT from one of 611's sister locomotives.
![THE QUEEN [NORFOLK & WESTERN] 611 With SPIRIT!! & Insane Whistle & Chase & Pacing N&W 957](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/US-TfA6e3F8/mqdefault.jpg)
8:00
Holy COW! Not only is she alive! But she can FLY!!!!
It's great to have you back 611!
i just did some math knowing the rough rpm and the driver diameter, in that clip she appears to be doing about 65 mph!
611 was going really fast.
Outstanding work! Great sound as well!
There's ma baby girl! I knew she'd be back to steaming again!
Dang, it's awesome to hear #611 whistle again. I really though I'd never hear it again.
She is just so beautiful! Since its the start of Summer 2015, it's like a gift!
Its now been 5 years since this test run and alot has changed since 611 returned
I used to watch her go thru Bristow when I was a kid, now I can't wait to see her come into Front Royal next weekend for the first time in years!!
Great to see her stepping out like the day she was made! That's the way a steam locomotive should be run. Rode behind her years ago with Bill Purdie at the throttle. That man could make some time between Alexandria and Charlottesville. Great video!
Just got home from school, and I see THIS! I'm so happy that Ms. Roanoke herself has finally returned to the high iron!
Zephyr4501 When I saw her on Saturday she was still looking great. She works as good as new. She looked like she was running real smooth too.
The Creepernator I saw your videos. She certainly looks as well as she ever did.
Ikr. When I uploaded the videos the views exploded. I didn't expect this many views wow.
Cool. You're pretty lucky to see 611 in person.
I feel I am very lucky because a lot of steam locomotives are getting restored and the 611 is complete. Union Pacific is Restoring one of the Big Boys, and The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is Restoring 1702. Which I had the pleasure of seeing in service back in 2004. Steam has really started to become popular this generation.
Wow great shots! And thanks for including a detailed description- It makes the video even more interesting!
Beautiful job catching the Queen of Steam at her best!
Thanks! It's so great to see her back in service!
Sure is!
Marvelous to see 611 running again. What I was realy surprised about, is that 611 is not accompanied by a regular diesel engine as often to be seen on heritage steamer trips. though this engine is modern and reliable enough to run alone! Great!
Great catch she looks great a true classic
Her whistle is glorious! No better way for the beautiful lady to announce her return!
Wonderful to see her running again, thanks for a fine post. I can only hope on Sunday the 7th there are as few people in my frame as you had...although I doubt it
Not really a fan of this type power but I have to admit it was very cool to watch this, I enjoyed it. Great video, nicely done!
She is a beauty!
Excellent video and views of this train.
Man, what a sight! Definitely a fist pump moment when that baby goes by. Worth the millions I bet it cost to get her going again!
This engine looks like she was just made way to go I would love to ride in one of the cars!!
Love the chatter on the radio!
Kudos to NS for their steam program; I wonder how it's perceived by NS employees? Even for the most senior employees -mainline dieselization had occurred before they started. I would have to think they'd love getting a chance to work with steam - it's tradition and such a big part of railroading heritage.
Why is the whistle deeper pitched than it was before when she last was running in the 1990's.
Awesome video !
Welcome to the future, 611!
I can't wait till she visits Illinois!
Great video! Cool to see the Florida car - I rode in that one last month during an NKP765 excursion.
How fast were they running her? The NKP765 was held to 40 mph in New Y ork - 611 looked to be going faster than 40 mph in a couple shots.
They were topping out around 55 mph on this test run
Great footage man!!!
That first high speed run by she, with the whistle and stack talk occupant help but smile and laugh with glee like an idiot :)
Memories
Now we just need them to get the Class A and Class Y back on the rails!
chasing her back To Roanoke?
Great job!!!
God bless the Lady J.
Those rods look like they are about to fly off.
She is alive!!!
Now two Norfolk and steam engines are running 611 and the Norfolk and Western steam engine in Strasburg PA
Destinee Meyer The strasburg engine is good old #475. And she too is Beautiful Piece of equipment.
And 475 is over 100 years old too, and she's still a beauty!
09trainman
Its amazing how she still runs like new.
The Creepernator Yeah, I love that!
She's running pretty fast. Ironically, I've spent the entirety of Amtrak journey's going far slower than that.
Is it just me, or does her whistle sound like SP 4449's old whistle?
It's 611's original whistle
DanielChannel57 they both have Hancock 3 chimes.
611 is wearing a Union Pacific style Hancock whistle at the time.
@@nicholashuynh6907 I know that, but the similarities between that and 4449's 2000s whistle too hard to not notice.
@@DanielChannel57 Right now from what I heard, since 2023, 611 is wearing a new Hancock whistle which came from a NP 2-8-8-4.
Make sure to check out and share my video of 611's inaugural run to Roanoke as well!! ua-cam.com/video/-Ry3MPgzJE8/v-deo.html
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Check out the train walk through. ua-cam.com/video/R43_LP-6gvQ/v-deo.html
jbailey969 Make sure to share my video of 611's inaugural run as well
The 611 whistle sounds a lot out of tune maybe it needs to be tuned up
Andrew Bowe It's not out of tune. It's because of low boiler pressure and the temperatures so the whistle is fine.
+Andrew Bowe Also its a Different whistle.
The whistle she was wearing for 2015 was a Union Pacific Hancock 3-chime. In 2016, they changed it to what I heard is an authentic N&W J-class Hancock, supposedly off of sister 610. I don't know if this is the history behind the new whistle, but it sounds more steamboat-ish, and more appropriate for 611.
@@armagonarmagon3980You were told incorrectly about 611's 2016-2022 whistle. I'll let you know that Scott Lindsay, who owned the 2016-2022 whistle, confirmed that it was NOT from one of 611's sister locomotives.