The Last Run of the N&W 611 - Dec. 7, 1994 - Part 1
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- This segment includes the Gretna to Lynchburg portion of the final run of the Norfolk & Western Class J 611 steam locomotive on its return to Roanoke, Virginia, where the locomotive was retired from service and eventually moved into the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The first minute of the segment features the sound of the locomotive's distinct and mournful whistle in the distance, as the train approached Gretna on the former Southern main line.
I live a couple blocks away from that Golden Corral location. My dad and I stood on small overpass nearby and watched the 611 go right underneath us (it would have happened just moments before it passed the restaurant in this video). I was covered in smoke/soot .... and loved every minute of it!
I'm glad you took the time to record 611's sweet sounds. It is rare in today's world that that kind of thing is appreciated, as evidenced by the folks around you running their mouths and missing that audio treat that preceded her arrival. I once had the chance to be alone on a high bridge recording 611's climb out of downtown Birmingham, only to be joined by some railfan that began loudly by asking me "What is the lore fo the train?" and ruined the recording session.
@HaloCE14 I totally agree, I was a kid when this ended and I was talking with my dad and uncle about how much it sucked basically that they stopped running the 611. I was very passionate about trains and still am, even as a 22 year old college guy haha.
Sound of the 611's whistle is amazing.
I used to watch this video with a great deal of sadness thinking I would never hear or see her run again. Now I watch these videos with joy knowing 611 is coming back to service. Fire up 611!!
I watch this video over and over and every time I hear her whistle it's saying No No Noooo I don't want to stop running!
@HaloCE14 Cool deal, thanks for bringing this to my attention! I shall look into it.
Love the track chatter you have going on in the car =]
Such a beautiful whistle. Hopefully one day it will sound again. Excellent video.
I hope they can get the 611 restored, there is a serious consideration in the air right now about getting her moving again.
Oh I know that oh so famous voice at 5 minute mark calling out the signal... That was great to hear!
I would like to see this locomotive run again.
I live in St. Paul,in the business I was talking about is Honda in greensburg,in
Love how the video is 6:11 minutes long!
Heartbreaking.
Last run of N&W 611, in the 20th century!
Nearly 20 years later and she's on the road to restoration!
Thank David Goode for ending the steam program at the time.
Thank you so much for posting this video! I now live in Roanoke, but grew up between Gretna and Lynchburg, right off of this line. I had no idea that this line was part of 611's last run. I wish I hadn't been away at college at the time and missed it! :( I get to see her (and 1218) as much as I want at the VMT, but videos like this one are the only time I get to see her run. There's nothing quite like the sound of 611! Thanks again!!!
611 is coming back, YES!!!
Was that 460 you were driving down. The 611 must have been really moving as I see you had to pass many other cars. Awesome turn out too. I don't think that's a GC anymore by the bridge. Great video thanks for posting.
611 please come back
Well to be honest I called the guy up and I asked about some stuff and I then out of the blue I asked "Ive heard rumors that the NS president has been saying he wants to reopen the steam program". and then he said quote "If the CEO wants to bring the program back he can if he wants to theres no question about that, he already has plans to open a steam program similar to UPs." Thats pretty much how I heard it.
Great locations! Love the pacing.
love the whistle hope they can restore her, if they can restore 4449 or 3751 they can restore her
Ending the steam program tarnished the NS forever making people look at the railroad in a completely different way
Kyle Gherke Well NS at the point decided being a business was priority one over anything else. That simple
Her going home video's always make me cry, I do not know why!
This video is 6:11 long, what a coincidence.
You railfans think you're sad/pissed? Can you imagine how the crew felt?
25 years later... edit: now 26
@trainmandan05 that really cool, i hope it happens
the church bells remind me of the famous recording made by o Winston Link in rural retreat Virginia
611 is now back on the rails, and every day I get to see her is a memory I try to keep with me. Who knows what might become of 611 again? Maybe she'll continue to run excursions for years and years to come, Maybe even making it to her 15 year inspection, Or she may be retired yet again soon. We just have to see what the future holds, That's why Im thankful for everyday I get to see her. The last time I saw her fully under steam was in July of 2016, I got to go inside her cab, Ring the bell, and blow the whistle, and even got to ride behind her. I saw her being fired up just Thursday of last week, and I'll be seeing her under steam again tomorrow at the NC Transportation Museum's TEXAS returns festival. I'll even get to ride behind her again. Any day when anyone sees an active Steam Locomotive, It's a gift that must be cherished forever. Because what many people don't know when they see an active steam engine is that they are looking at not just rail history, But American history. Any day I get to see 611 or any other steam locomotive out there is a gift for me, and I always try to cherish those memories, Cause I know one day, Whether Im dead or still alive, Steam will not be around as much as people want. Eventually it's gonna be gone as a whole, That's why we all need to work together if went to help make steam last as long as possible. :)
Ah, to hear that whistle again will be amazing
I hope they make sure the whistle sounds just like it did in this video. I love it more then any other one of her tuning for it!
No one knows what it's like to have a love of trains of all kinds even diesels and be living next to an operational line and when a business comes to the city 12 miles from you and it blocks the mainline so that no other trains except the ones it needs to come through your town now that is truely the worst thing that has happened to me except for the cancelation of the n&w steam program
I just noticed this run was made on Pearl Harbor Day.
I can tell that the crews were probably upset that NS was killing steam back then.
Halo don't know jack!(Troll) Great memories..maybe NS will get her rolling again!
This was a sad moment in rail history, complete with black flags on the locomotive. Happily, it's not over. 611 is coming back! In the meantime it spent 20 years in good storage, so I guess that's OK.
Thrilled 611 is back. But NS ending the steam program was the final end to railroading in a non corporate world. Before that they still were the outlier where railroading had a certain aura to it. Once it died it was all business.
Plus Excaliburlink has no respect for trains
Who the hell dislikes this?
check out trains magazine for 1994 many articles on then 'new president' david goode,EVISCERATING the Claytors bros beloved steam program, the shop, the equip, all gone in LIGHTENING speed,after last claytor bros final breathe..the two locos survive, but 1218 ,which was in middle of tubing repair, was hastily,cosmetically ,re assembled. Goode didnt even let 611 finnish its last charter trip...ordering it home mid trip..." so sad. Thats what happens when an "accountant' takes over NS..
dec 7th a day which has lived in infamy
you might want to change the title
@trainmandan05 when and how did you hear this
Long live 611
Are you even remotely aware of the economics of having to operate steam? I love steam engines, but if I were the head guy of NS, I'd have canceled the steam program too.
I was born Dec 7, 1994 :)
This
Cockroach2008