Fine slideshow here. The N&W Class J is the closest actually executed design to how I picture the New York Central/American Locomotive Class S-3, with a simpler streamlining execution than the Dreyfuss mods to the 4-6-4 NYC/Alco Class J-2a (used for the 20th Century Limited).
I remember her. I actually got to see her in steam when I was too young to appreciate such a gift for its true worth. It was terrible madness that NS dropped her fire in the 90's. I still hope that someday they will bring her back. Thank you for this video.
Nice tribute to the 611. I had the destinct pleasure of seeing this locomotive run on 3 seperate occasions whil I worked for Norfolk Southern Railway. It was a sight to behold. This engine was built for speeds in excess of 100 M.P.H.
Wonderful video. Thanks for posting. You Australians are certainly no slackers when it comes to steam. I had a great time riding the 'Long Lunch' train out of Sydney when I went to Australia to watch my wife compete on one of the U.S teams in the 2000 Sydney Games. I have a steam fireman and diesel engineer qualification and for those who wax nostalgic about restoring more steam and 611 or 1218 in particular, it really is cost prohibitive under U.S. FRA regulations
Great job. Yes there were afew J's built during WWII without streamlining and without the light weight rods, they also had a lowered boiler pressure. In late 43 or early 44 they were streamlined and given the light weight rods and their boiler pressure's raised to 300psi. 611 being outshopped in May of 1950 came out streamlined from the get go along with the light weight rods and 300psi BP.
I saw the 611 pull excursions and never saw her assisted with diesels so I think you might be mistaken. The relatively small drivers (70") actually improve pulling power over grades with long trains. In fact, the class J is the most powerful and finest 4-8-4 locomotive ever built.
Yes, it's true that the Class J #611 is on static display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA. But the 611 got back to Roanoke under it's own power so it's essentially stored in running condition. I really hope it runs again someday.
What a great collection of pix. Love those Class J's. Hope you like this video, my first attempt, of my Bachmann Plus Class J. I added the sound unit. Now I have a newer Spectrium with sound but no smoke. God Bless. Walt
I apologize. Roanoke was what I meant. I have been to the museum, to see the old girl but just mixed up the cities. I rode her when she did a tour in Kentucky some years back. Have a picture of me next to the drives , almost to my shoulder. We miss seeing her in Kentucky.
All you people on here that know all these names, statistics and history of these trains, I think that is soooooo cool!!! I love these old trains, I have since I was a little kid in the 70's! I don't know why I'm fascinated with them, but I know I am! I'm mostly into the art deco trains and am going to get some tattooed on my biceps, but today I just discovered the Big Boy, That thing is ridiculously cool! WOW!!! If I was Bill Gates rich, this is how I would travel across country!
Why does everything cool go away and we are left to things that have no class or substance? I wish I would have lived as a young man in the 30's, 40's, and 50's and not aged just been able to appreciate the things those decades had to offer. A time when even poor people had traveling clothes and people wore hats and had class and dignity! If there is a heaven, I'll be able to time travel and live through those years.
Close, but no cigar .... she is on display here in her birthplace, Roanoke, Va. at the Va. Transportation Museum ... she is a Registered National Engineering landmark ... all roller bearings and 5000 tractive horsepower ... NO other engine in her class could touch her if they were to compete in any way ... My grandfather was an engineer for the N&W for 30+ years and ran all the "J"s and other fine engines produced by the N&W in the East end shops in Roanoke.... Star City of the South.
Close, but no cigar (sorry I had to hehe)..... She's officially a class "J1b" with 5,300 horsepower when she was built and currently. She's not the only J1b, though, 612 and 613 although built before her were in the same batch, and the same class so they would be about the same. The other members of her class the original "J"s and the "J1"s were rebuilt to similar J1b specifications. Although she is still a "J" because that's what the N&W called their 4-8-4s, similar to the class "A", "Z", and "Y".
Thanks for posting. Is it true 611 is only a static exhibit these days? These mad Brits have built their own A1 Peppercorn 4-6-2 from scratch and it tears up and down the UK east coast line, limited to 75mph. It's a genuine working loco developed from the last one built in the 1940's, so it's not just a replica. I wish somone would spend a few millions on building a new Class J in the same vein. One of the greats, perhaps the greatest. How about it guys. Surely a commercially viable proposition?
There's a slight complexity difference between an A1 Pacific and this monster though isn't there? It took 18 years to plan and build Tornado. I'm guessing it would take even longer to plan and build this titan from scratch.
I'll make a promise here: If I ever make enough money, at least $50 million dollars, I'm going to put that money towards building a brand new Class J, specifically with the ability to use electricity from electromotive diesel units for powering the boiler. Here's hoping. :D
Fine slideshow here. The N&W Class J is the closest actually executed design to how I picture the New York Central/American Locomotive Class S-3, with a simpler streamlining execution than the Dreyfuss mods to the 4-6-4 NYC/Alco Class J-2a (used for the 20th Century Limited).
I remember her. I actually got to see her in steam when I was too young to appreciate such a gift for its true worth.
It was terrible madness that NS dropped her fire in the 90's. I still hope that someday they will bring her back.
Thank you for this video.
Nice tribute to the 611. I had the destinct pleasure of seeing this locomotive run on 3 seperate occasions whil I worked for Norfolk Southern Railway. It was a sight to behold. This engine was built for speeds in excess of 100 M.P.H.
Wonderful video. Thanks for posting. You Australians are certainly no slackers when it comes to steam. I had a great time riding the 'Long Lunch' train out of Sydney when I went to Australia to watch my wife compete on one of the U.S teams in the 2000 Sydney Games.
I have a steam fireman and diesel engineer qualification and for those who wax nostalgic about restoring more steam and 611 or 1218 in particular, it really is cost prohibitive under U.S. FRA regulations
Great job. Yes there were afew J's built during WWII without streamlining and without the light weight rods, they also had a lowered boiler pressure. In late 43 or early 44 they were streamlined and given the light weight rods and their boiler pressure's raised to 300psi. 611 being outshopped in May of 1950 came out streamlined from the get go along with the light weight rods and 300psi BP.
The Js are fabulous! I love them!
I got to ride the J611 twice back in the 90's. I love her and its a shame she sets cold now.
Thanks for posting--the music matches the video sweet. I had the luck of riding behind 611 in 1983. Too bad they retired it again...
A very beautiful video and thank you for sharing it along on here.
I saw the 611 pull excursions and never saw her assisted with diesels so I think you might be mistaken. The relatively small drivers (70") actually improve pulling power over grades with long trains. In fact, the class J is the most powerful and finest 4-8-4 locomotive ever built.
Yes, it's true that the Class J #611 is on static display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA. But the 611 got back to Roanoke under it's own power so it's essentially stored in running condition. I really hope it runs again someday.
great! i saw the that one in Roanoke transportation museum... a real nice one!
michael
What a great collection of pix. Love those Class J's. Hope you like this video, my first attempt, of my Bachmann Plus Class J.
I added the sound unit. Now I have a newer Spectrium with sound but no smoke. God Bless. Walt
What a beautiful fall picture! It's a shame they re-retired her.
The greatest of Passanger locomotives in the world. A's hitting best steam freight.
Awesome! I miss them and her (611)!
The 611 is on display in Norfolk, Va at the Norfolk & Southern Museum.
Such a beautiful engine...least they all didn't scrapped unlike the Dreyfuss Streamlined Hudsons of the NYC
I apologize. Roanoke was what I meant. I have been to the museum, to see the old girl but just mixed up the cities. I rode her when she did a tour in Kentucky some years back. Have a picture of me next to the drives , almost to my shoulder. We miss seeing her in Kentucky.
Everyone who built steam locomotives built the best locomotives in the world.
All you people on here that know all these names, statistics and history of these trains, I think that is soooooo cool!!!
I love these old trains, I have since I was a little kid in the 70's! I don't know why I'm fascinated with them, but I know I am!
I'm mostly into the art deco trains and am going to get some tattooed on my biceps, but today I just discovered the Big Boy, That thing is ridiculously cool! WOW!!!
If I was Bill Gates rich, this is how I would travel across country!
Why does everything cool go away and we are left to things that have no class or substance?
I wish I would have lived as a young man in the 30's, 40's, and 50's and not aged just been able to appreciate the things those decades had to offer. A time when even poor people had traveling clothes and people wore hats and had class and dignity!
If there is a heaven, I'll be able to time travel and live through those years.
Close, but no cigar .... she is on display here in her birthplace, Roanoke, Va. at the Va. Transportation Museum ... she is a Registered National Engineering landmark ... all roller bearings and 5000 tractive horsepower ... NO other engine in her class could touch her if they were to compete in any way ... My grandfather was an engineer for the N&W for 30+ years and ran all the "J"s and other fine engines produced by the N&W in the East end shops in Roanoke.... Star City of the South.
Close, but no cigar (sorry I had to hehe)..... She's officially a class "J1b" with 5,300 horsepower when she was built and currently. She's not the only J1b, though, 612 and 613 although built before her were in the same batch, and the same class so they would be about the same. The other members of her class the original "J"s and the "J1"s were rebuilt to similar J1b specifications. Although she is still a "J" because that's what the N&W called their 4-8-4s, similar to the class "A", "Z", and "Y".
@HonRevPTB I'll see you there my friend!
Thanks for posting. Is it true 611 is only a static exhibit these days? These mad Brits have built their own A1 Peppercorn 4-6-2 from scratch and it tears up and down the UK east coast line, limited to 75mph. It's a genuine working loco developed from the last one built in the 1940's, so it's not just a replica. I wish somone would spend a few millions on building a new Class J in the same vein. One of the greats, perhaps the greatest. How about it guys. Surely a commercially viable proposition?
Based and streamlinerpilled
They were #600-613. 611 is still alive
There's a slight complexity difference between an A1 Pacific and this monster though isn't there?
It took 18 years to plan and build Tornado. I'm guessing it would take even longer to plan and build this titan from scratch.
Ed Miller-as well as Kings X/St Pancras,do yourself a favour & visit York. Our national rail museum is worth it,as is York railway station.
yes 611 is, ps r.i.p stan rogers
@sgprailfan Do a google image search for "unstreamlined n&w j class" and its the first picture that pops up
you and me both mate but at least steam is not all dead and gone like some think it is :)
unfortunately no, all those images were online.
@RedtailFox1 don't the Chi-coms still make some?
@brickmaster24 'The Idiot' by Stan Rogers
u kown when they where testing the speed of j class the diver got cold feet and stop the high speed run
whts the song
Is the 611 the only surviving J?
I'll make a promise here: If I ever make enough money, at least $50 million dollars, I'm going to put that money towards building a brand new Class J, specifically with the ability to use electricity from electromotive diesel units for powering the boiler. Here's hoping. :D
I had a man tell me them shits can move over 130
whats the song
1000 tons at 100mph, no problem
Sorry. Norfolk and Western
one person hates trains
ans has no taste in music