Just found out earlier from a good friend of mine that N&W 611 is scheduled to undergo feasibility testing to see if she's in good enough condition to run excursions again. I don't see why NS couldn't start running excursions with her again, they can take the dimensions of the 611's moving parts and re-construct them to the exact same specs. The person who told me this is also a retired NS employee, so this is more than a rumor. Let's get our support out there too, and show them just how many people want to see the 611 back in action!!!
611 to undergo feasibility testing
- Thread starter haddock56
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Bushpounder
New member
The VMT owns 611. NS does not work on these engines anymore. All work would be conducted by a firm further down the road. Donate, donate, donate if she is to run again!
Don
Don
That's what I heard too. NS has already said they will run it if it's restored, and I'd sure like to be able to see her run again!! Lets hope the TVRM will be the facility to restore her, they did an awesome job with the 630 and 4501. Anyone know if 4501 is back yet or she still being restored?
magickmaker
New member
Depending on her condition, it may take upwards of a year or two before 611 is back on the rails and running.
I've got the Trains (magazine) March 2013 edition, with the 21st Century Steam program as it's cover story. It says that the restoration of 4501 is about 65% complete (when the article was written), with the running gear to be worked on in early 2013. She'll be equipped with a feedwater heater and coal stoker, which some of Southern's other mikados got when they had work done on them. The coal stoker is being 'donated' by the Canadian National 4-6-2 pacific owned by the TVRM, while the feedwater heater is being made in China (I'm not certain if they have recieved the feedwater heater yet or not). It may be out later this year, say October, November.
I've seen a photo of the feedwater heater sitting atop 4501's smokebox, so I think they've already received it.
Looks like a Worthington type (probably "SA") feedwater heater. I believe 4501 is also getting roller bearing conversion on its pilot truck and a roller bearing mod is also being made to its trailer truck.
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Nice! I hope to catch it when it finally returns. I was born too late to see the 4501 or 611 when they were in their excursion heyday so I'm really looking forward to being able to catch both of these engines in action. The new stoker and the roller bearings should make it a little easier for the crew of the 4501.
The stoker will certainly make things easier! When built in 1911, #4501 was the size engine that was reaching the limits of hand firing. If used in heavy service during the steam era, the loco would have usually warranted use of a fireman + helper. Even during excursion service duty, from conversations I've read online they were using two fireman on #4501.
A good fireman that knows how to use a stoker shouldn't need to lift a shovel except for the few times when minor adjustments need to be made to the fire. The feedwater heater should help #4501's efficiency. Once she's broken in, I'm hoping they'll hook up a dynometer car to her and publish the results!
I actually think it'll be oil bearings. On 630's first 'long-distance excursion' (Knoxville, Tennessee to Chattanooga, Tennessee), her friction bearings on her drive wheels heated up enough to where they had to stop three times to let them cool off. It wasn't until they got close to Cleveland that they finally took 630 off the train and the diesels assisting her took the train the rest of the way. When she got back to Chattanooga, the process of converting the bearings to oil bearings. They only got three of the four drive wheels completed before beginning her even long-distant trip, running trips out of Atlanta, Spencer, Winston-Salem (North Carolina), Roanoke, and finally, Knoxville. On the way from Winston-Salem to Roanoke, the last 'un-modified' drive wheel finally gave out. She limped into Roanoke and was taken to the same shops that made 611 to fix it. They had the 'un-modified' drive wheel shipped back to Chattanooga and fixed, returning soon afterward. However, 630 was a week behind on her trip. She made it to Knoxville and did a couple of 'Employee Appreciation Specials' out of Knoxville before returning home.
Number 4501's will have roller bearings installed on its lead and trailer truck wheels according to this post at Railway Preservation News. There's been several updates posted at that site and all that I've read have stated that the lead/trailer truck wheels are to be upgraded with roller bearings: Oct '12; Nov '12; Jan '13
Engineerkenny
New member
YAY! that would be awsome!:udrool:
:mop:
One thing everyone should keep in mind -- the feasibility study isn't just about returning #611 to operating condition. It's also about determining if the organization can afford to run excursions, and afford to maintain #611, etc.
The Virginia Transportation Museum (VTM) doesn't have a big corporate sponsor with deep pockets for the 611 restoration project, such as the Norfolk Southern (NS) was in the 1980s. No. 611 is owned by the VTM, and that's the organization that will have to come up with the money for the restoration and for the excursions.
As the VTM's FAQ page cautiously notes, the "routes, fares, and excursion dates will not be decided until restoration is underway, but we anticipate that most trips would be based out of Roanoke, VA." NS has said in the past that the company would allow #611 to run on its rails but NS could charge the VTM a good bit of money for those runs.
This isn't a "done deal" yet. The VTM needs help from #611's fans for this to become reality. First, money will need to be raised for #611's rebuilding and then enough paying riders will need to show up in good numbers.
Anyone that thinks they'd might like to ride an excursion pulled by #611 should go to FireUp611.org website and complete the online survey. The feedback from the survey will help VTM to develop a business plan for restoring, operating, and maintaining #611. It asks specific questions about what types of excursion you'd like to take, how much you'd pay, what type of accommodations you'd expect, etc.
Bushpounder
New member
You nailed it. The VMT is looking into the costs, logistics, etc. to see what it would take to get her back into operation and maintain her. This is a very important step and must be carried out very carefully. This also is not cheap to do. Please contribute!! If you love this engine, help the VMT!
Don
Don
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