Norfolk & Western 611: "The Queen of Steam" | Manassas, VA - Front Royal, VA

• Report rights infringement
• published: 09 Jun 2015
• views: 1121

Like Us on Facebook!- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Northeast-Railfan-Productions/208444422564482?sk=info&tab;=page_info Follow Us on Twitter!-https://twitter.com/indie1361 Norfolk & Western #611 is a “J” class 4-8-4 streamlined steam locomotive built by the Norfolk & Western Railway in 1950. She was one of thirteen such locomotives built by the N&W; to handle its crack passenger trains, such as “The Powhatan Arrow”, “The Pocahontas”, and “The Cavalier”. The J was one of the fastest and most modern locomotives of its time. In fact, N&W; #610 (#611’s sister) was once recorded at 110 miles per hour, while pulling a fifteen car passenger train. The Js were also some of the most reliable locomotives on the N&W;’s system, often racking up 15,000 miles a month. Unfortunately, the N&W; began purchasing first-generation diesel locomotives towards the end of the 1950s, and many of the Js found their way to the scrap heap. #611 was the only survivor, and thanks to the generosity of the N&W; and the efforts of photographer O. Winston Link, she found her way to the Virginia Museum of Transportation on Roanoke, VA and was put on display. She ran again in the 1980’s and 1990’s as a part of Norfolk Southern’s Steam Program, but was then put out of service due to rising costs and a change in corporate philosophy. Many doubted she would ever run again. Those doubts proved to be wrong, however. In 2011, Norfolk Southern surprisingly announced that they were re-starting their steam program. Many hoped that this would give the kick that was needed to get #611 back on the rails again. Sure enough, it was; on February 22, 2013, the VMT announced that they were starting a feasibility study to see if #611 could indeed be brought back into service. In June of that same year, it was found that #611 was in excellent mechanical shape and that a restoration was feasible. A capital campaign was launched with the goal of reaching $3.5 million by October; however, that goal was not met, and it was decided that the campaign would continue until the goal was met. Despite this, though, in May of 2014 the decision was made to go ahead with the restoration (there being enough funds to mechanically restore the locomotive). She was sent to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC for a restoration expected to take six to nine months. Over the past year, the 611 mechanical team has been working almost seven days a week to make her ready for her rebirth. They stripped her boiler down and inspected every inch of it. Her driving wheels were examined and re-tooled. They re-painted her tender. And then, they put her back together. On May 9, 2015, National Train Day, she moved under her own power for the first time in 20 years. Over the next several weeks, she was tested and re-tested on museum grounds, and finally hit the main line on a full break-in run to Greensboro, NC. On May 30, 2015, she departed for home. Thousands waited as she thundered up the former Southern Railroad main line from Spencer and crossed the Virginia border. Then, at Lynchburg, she finally graced home rails as she entered former Norfolk & Western territory; rails that she had often traveled many years before. As she tore down the tracks, armies of train buffs with cameras greeted her, and signals shone green, clearing her route into Roanoke. She passed the former Norfolk &Western; East End Shops, where exactly sixty-five years (and one day) earlier, she had rolled out of the shops as a new locomotive. Finally, she steamed into Roanoke, to the delight of thousands. Crowds cheered and shutters clicked. The whistle blew loud and clear as the Queen of Steam re-asserted her dominance over the rails she once ruled. Then, with a squeal of the brakes, she halted and gave a long blast on her whistle. Norfolk & Western 611 was home. After a weekend of festivities in Roanoke, 611 took to the rails once again and headed to Manassas, VA, where she would haul her first public excursions in twenty years from Manassas to Front Royal, VA. It is here that we will pick up the 611, and watch as she brings delight to another generation of railfans! Special thanks goes out to the Fire Up 611 mechanical team that brought her back to life, to the Virginia Museum of Transportation for willing to undertake her restoration, and Norfolk Southern for being a major supporter and one of the largest donors to the 611 effort! Please support #611 by visiting fireup611.org