It is confirmed! She will Return!

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njmetsfan

New member
From multiple sources including Fire Up 611 and people close to the project, Fire Up 611 has enough funds to have her return to steam!! The word is that 611 will be moved from the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC. While the money for her to return is there, fundraising is still going on. The plan is to construct a facility in Roanoke to house and maintain 611 as well as 1218 (for anyone who ask about 1218, she will NOT run in the foreseeable future). So Fire Up 611 is a go but we still need to try to send some funds to build the maintenance facility at the VMT.
 
Southern 630 has been running a few excursions from Chattanooga to Attala, Alabama and I found a few pictures of 611 running the same trip at least once. So it looks like 630 has been following in the steps of 611. If 611 does the same trip, I'll try to buy a ticket to ride behind her.
 
this is great to hear, first the big boy locomotive 4014 is going to be restored to running condition and now the sole survivor of the N&W J, two legends of steam, it does not get better than this!
 
wow...At times I chastise my fellow Americans for doing there upmost to kill mainline steam, and I rage about why we can't follow the example of the UK. then I see this, and my faith in my fellow man and railfan in the US is restored :) Rock on 611!
 
I'm not trying to cause any problems, but they might send some part(s) to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) if they (NCTM) can't fix it there. The TVRM has all the pieces needed to do a full ground-up restoration. The TVRM is the only place in America that has all those pieces. I must note that Milwaukee Road 261's drive wheels were sent to the TVRM to be worked on during her overhaul. Union Pacific did the same with their 844.
 
Ehh, i don't see any trouble with it. It's pretty much up to the Fire Up 611 team. I can believe that some parts will be sent to the TVRM in Chattanooga. It's not even that far.
 
They could ship parts to Strasburg or TVRM for rebuild, but if we remember, she was put away nicely. I have a feeling the main components that will need rebuild will be boiler related.
 
Well hopefully most, if not all, the work will be done at the NCTM. They have a great viewing area in the repair section of the roundhouse where people can watch the work being done.
 
Does anyone know when they're planning on moving her down to Spencer? Last I heard they were going to do it at the end of October but I haven't heard anything since then.
 
Wow...........first 4014, and now the 611....... This is gonna be a year to remember for railfans the world over. If I can find out when 611 will run, I'll sure as shootin buy a ticket for an excursion. And Jordon, lets not forget that the Nevada Northern is also unique in the sense that they also have the full capabilities to repair their own steam engines.
 
I was going to say that they should have enough funds to start it up since it's a multi-billion dollar business but this isn't the Norfolk Southern. I'm glad that they were able to get them. I like the whistle sound on the engine.
 
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