Hard to believe its been over 5 years now...me and a buddy left Chattanooga at around 11pm 4/9, got to Spencer around 6 am 4/10......made sure my 2013 Mustang GT had a full tank then along with every other railfan chased her to Asheville......we then drove back to Chattanoooga, Once of the best damn train chases of my life!!!
I always used the "ear to the rail" trick before walking across a narrow rail bridge...general rule, if you can hear it, it's less than a mile away, if you can hear it and feel it, it's a few hundred yards away and if you can hear it, feel it and see it, it's time to jump.
They are there for extra insurance and to save fuel. It really isn't that much of a bother, having shot this thing for over 3 years with diesels in tow.. It saves 611's fuel expenditure, helps with any dynamic braking, and is just plain backup in the worst case scenario. NS actually tried with the helper units on most of the excursions that required them.
Well done video! Thank you. Why so slow at 3:20 ? Besto stage at grade crossings to capture the whistle. Unfortunate-sounding whistle. What's wrong withe 611's bell? Sounds more like a cow bell.
Zachary Sands Modern passenger cars are powered by electricity at 480v three-phase AC. Steam excursions need either a genrator in a power car or a diesel locomotive equipped to provide it. Both locomotives were painted in the Southern passenger scheme as well. In a train this big, even the 611 might need assistance on some of the steeper grades.
James Braithwaite The diesels help 611 with dynamic braking and consuming less fuel. More economic to use them on the grades to give 611 a slight break.
Normally you just need one, but given the terrain for this run, two were added. The primary unit was behind the tender for dynamic braking and coal saving purposes. The second was thrown in for fun and light assitance, as it hasn't seen mainline use in some time.
Yeah, 611 is capable of pulling this train with no assistance (plenty of videos showing her pull 20 or so heavyweights through sharp curves and hills by herself.) They usually (probably always) have an HEP car providing electrical power to the coaches. The old EMD was just for show and the newer NS unit in Southern livery was there as an "insurance" policy (and show) in case something happened, though most likely would be used for a little extra push or braking to keep more wear off these antiques. Alas, don't forget, 611 could easily handle this train herself; her only downfall is she's not allowed to run at her peak wherein she could potentially be blasting over hills at 70+ mph with a heavy passenger train. She ain't called The Queen for nothin'...
I really hate when they hook the Diesels up to these old Steamers. What the Steamers wheels are so old they can't haul the cars on their own anymore? It ruins the effect when you see these old steamers with period coaches. and there is a Diesel hooked up to them....
You have to remember, they are there for liability purposes. The engines here provided assistance over the two day weekend, cutting back on coal burnt, and extra insurance just in case something went wrong. On paper, all steam excursions are a rolling massive liability, and steps must be taken to keep things moving across the system. 8099 itself was vital for this run, as it had dynamic brakes required to descend the loops, and give a shove going up. If you want to see these things run on the main, that's the card we're generally dealt. I'd rather see a diesel in tow than the engine parked somewhere. Southern green blended well enough with the engine anyway, most were glad to see 6133 out of the museum paired with 8099.
The whistle on 611 is a soul warmer i tell you that
This train is just beautiful, I've ridden on it twice and both times were outstanding, I hope to ride it again soon. Great video man!
I think the N&W 611 is a perfect example of American railroad elegance and power
Eric Ramirez Gaming 101 p
I think I’d fall flat on my ass watching that iron beast pass, one awesome thing it is!
Andromeda M31 what if you drove it? I would nearly pass out if I got the chance to
Some very nice shots!
I just screencaptured @3:18 . It is now my new desktop background.
Very nice videography! Nice too to see vintage SOU signals still keeping the line safe.
Thanks! I actually shot a few more sets on Saturday, check out the video if you'd like to see.
N&W 611 and 1218 are the queen of steam
nice video and great catch of the steam engine on the passenger train.
Excellent video of 611. Nicely done. This one is my favorite from 4/10/16, even better than my own. Keep chasing!
+railfan49 and a good job of catching that deer on the tracks at the beginning. That was great. I'm glad the deer moved out of the way in time.
Thank you!
Going over that bridge you couldn't tell if it was 1940 or 2016. Going back in time. (minus the diesels of course)
King of the rails. Magnificent.
We Americans sure know to build something sturdy and beautiful
Hard to believe its been over 5 years now...me and a buddy left Chattanooga at around 11pm 4/9, got to Spencer around 6 am 4/10......made sure my 2013 Mustang GT had a full tank then along with every other railfan chased her to Asheville......we then drove back to Chattanoooga,
Once of the best damn train chases of my life!!!
Ухх! Какой весёленький дымочек!
omg i heard this twice last night. i would have loved to see it
That opening scene is really cool
BIG MAMA!
Those were 611’s better days on the mainline.
I always used the "ear to the rail" trick before walking across a narrow rail bridge...general rule, if you can hear it, it's less than a mile away, if you can hear it and feel it, it's a few hundred yards away and if you can hear it, feel it and see it, it's time to jump.
That undertrain shot! So good! I'm in Winston-Salem, and planning to head to the NC Transportation Museum ASAP to see this ol' girl soon!
Thank you!
It’s at Strasburg Rail Road right now.
Great photography on this video! Awesome!
Jerry W Thanks!
That is a mournful sounding whistle. Give me a nice sounding Nathan 5 chime steam whistle any day.
When the ev'nin' train goes by
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
I love it, reminds me of better times.
Awesome video, very nice!
Thanks!
I have family members in black mountain. I usually visit them for thanksgiving and sometimes I visit them in the summer or spring break.
How is my old TH-cam channel still visible in the comments of this video?
Nice loco, thanks for posting
かっこよすぎる!この圧倒的存在感と重量感!
My dad and I was there at Dryfork, VA and Gretna we tailed it down.
Definitely looks a bit like a fictional “old steamy train” for its shape at the least!
It's just very weird to have two of those diesel locomotives behind the steam loco. I wonder if those diesel loco are broken and not running as well
There for breaking
Great video. Too bad the sound is ruined so often by shutter clicks.
Great! Job!
Great video
I love it
Why 611 whistle is very different in 2016 then the whistle it had in 2015
At 2:26 I think I was just out of frame. I had a white pickup truck.
They also powered from electric motors of vagons?
Красиво через мост, потихонечку с гудочком!
Why are the diesels necessary? Can't the 611 pull the cars without them?
They are there for extra insurance and to save fuel. It really isn't that much of a bother, having shot this thing for over 3 years with diesels in tow.. It saves 611's fuel expenditure, helps with any dynamic braking, and is just plain backup in the worst case scenario. NS actually tried with the helper units on most of the excursions that required them.
0:01, deer.
Cool guy Samuel oh deer
do they have a conductor for each engine?
Well done video! Thank you. Why so slow at 3:20 ? Besto stage at grade crossings to capture the whistle. Unfortunate-sounding whistle. What's wrong withe 611's bell? Sounds more like a cow bell.
Robert Gift I assume it slowed down to allow viewers more time to grab photos and video
Why is the train going so slow on the bridge at 3:30? Also why is it hauling two diesel locomotives?
Zachary Sands Modern passenger cars are powered by electricity at 480v three-phase AC. Steam excursions need either a genrator in a power car or a diesel locomotive equipped to provide it. Both locomotives were painted in the Southern passenger scheme as well. In a train this big, even the 611 might need assistance on some of the steeper grades.
me and my dad were on that trip! :D
+Jimmy Hook Neat!
+SCL3618 thanks! :3
I was on the Virginia trip
+Dorothy Frick nice :)
+Jimmy Hook I ate an bbq sandwich
Why was the locomotive hauling those two diesel engines as well?
James Braithwaite The diesels help 611 with dynamic braking and consuming less fuel.
More economic to use them on the grades to give 611 a slight break.
611 does it need a break it's the most powerful Northern ever built end of story
Is that the same Spencer that's in The Wreck of the Old Ninety-Seven?
banjofrog Yep, that's the one.
What's the 611 famous for?
Being the sole survivor of the N&W J Class type and probably for being known by many rail fans, it’s also famous for the beautiful streamlining.
en Europe on a pas la même....belle et puissante...le sifflet ??? magique pour moi qui ai traversé les US en train
Do you Have to Have 2 Diesels as Back up in The USA ,we seem to manage with just 1 in the U.K. Great Pictures Though
Normally you just need one, but given the terrain for this run, two were added. The primary unit was behind the tender for dynamic braking and coal saving purposes. The second was thrown in for fun and light assitance, as it hasn't seen mainline use in some time.
It can also run without diesel assitance, as you'll see in some of my other footage.
The F-unit could also have been providing Head End Power (HEP) for the rest of the train
That 6133 is a restored EMD FP7 if my research is correct. It might be part of the "show".
Yeah, 611 is capable of pulling this train with no assistance (plenty of videos showing her pull 20 or so heavyweights through sharp curves and hills by herself.) They usually (probably always) have an HEP car providing electrical power to the coaches. The old EMD was just for show and the newer NS unit in Southern livery was there as an "insurance" policy (and show) in case something happened, though most likely would be used for a little extra push or braking to keep more wear off these antiques. Alas, don't forget, 611 could easily handle this train herself; her only downfall is she's not allowed to run at her peak wherein she could potentially be blasting over hills at 70+ mph with a heavy passenger train. She ain't called The Queen for nothin'...
Two diesels for backup?
Originally it was just going to be 8099, but 6133 was tacked on last minute for fun.
No they are using the diesels for generating of electricity
Like
What is that diese engine doing there?
Wim Philipsen generator for the coaches I assume
I believe they are on show also as they are vintage locomotives as well the coaches have generators on them providing the power.
Bambi, get off the tracks!
*whistle blows from the Steam Train*
Deer are smarter than cars...
Joemar aban
I really hate when they hook the Diesels up to these old Steamers. What the Steamers wheels are so old they can't haul the cars on their own anymore? It ruins the effect when you see these old steamers with period coaches. and there is a Diesel hooked up to them....
You have to remember, they are there for liability purposes. The engines here provided assistance over the two day weekend, cutting back on coal burnt, and extra insurance just in case something went wrong. On paper, all steam excursions are a rolling massive liability, and steps must be taken to keep things moving across the system. 8099 itself was vital for this run, as it had dynamic brakes required to descend the loops, and give a shove going up.
If you want to see these things run on the main, that's the card we're generally dealt. I'd rather see a diesel in tow than the engine parked somewhere. Southern green blended well enough with the engine anyway, most were glad to see 6133 out of the museum paired with 8099.