And just think, not only is she the most beautiful steam locomotive ever built, but under that streamlined casing she’s also the single most powerful 4-8-4 locomotive ever built; no wonder she was able to pull that grade unassisted 😍😍😍
Oh man, I absolutely love that she was running unassisted here. Glorious chuffing, no diesel brum to drown it out! And real genuine work gettin' done too, she's pullin' hard and runnin' like a swiss watch here.
As a Brit I love our locos, particularly the A4 streamliners one of which holds the world record for steam, but there is something about these magnificent American locos which I really admire. Of course we dont have the loading gauge to accommodate huge trains like this in the UK, but your engineers took full advantage of the space available to build fantastic locos. Great video, thanks.
Poetry in motion. Gorgeous videography, great vantage points, high production values. It all comes together to produce an experience that is the next best thing to being there. I've ridden behind the mighty 611 on quite a few occasions before the current restoration and I'll have to say that she is quite the lady, very refined, elegant and graceful. She's the epitome of modern steam technology when NS built her in their own shop in Roanoke around '50 or '51. She's just a joy to watch with her roller bearings, automatic lubrication and steam operated stoker and from what I hear an engineer's favorite because of her ease of operation. If you get a chance buy a ticket for a ride behind her if she's coming through your area or at least watch her as she passes by. You'll not regret the experience. I'm certainly glad she wasn't scrapped.
Rail tunnels are notorious for gassing crews. My father fired steam through the Mount Airy tunnel on the Old Main Line of the B&O and has a story about stalling in the tunnel and nearly passing out from the locomotive exhaust. He had to wake the engineer out of a gas-induced stupor, cut away from the train, and run light out of the tunnel to escape the gas.
This was a great day to chase the 611. It was my and hubby's favorite and got hooked on it. The 4501 came down the tracks behind our house and we got some stunning pix. This is a terrific video of the 611.
I rode this train on this same route with my girlfriend but it was earlier than 2016. Wish I could remember. Was probably in the 80s. Very cool ride. N&W string band walking through the cars playing bluegrass. I remember feeling the pulsating feeling of power it had...and the small amount of flakes of soot or maybe unburnt coal dust on us. Just stumbled on this video. Really takes me back. We were running late and almost missed it. Glad we made it.
My uncle was an engineer on the Powhatan Arrow, though he never spoke much of it. I never knew that he drove the mighty J class. Such a beautiful engine.
my grandad was a train engineer for 35 years, used to take me n my brothers on short rides in the summer when we went to visit, ill never forget those days, thanks grandpa Frank!!!!!!
Terrific camera work and all locations familiar from my many trips to shoot #611 in the late 1980s and early 90s. Love the shot of the freight meet on the Christiansburg curves! Great video and thanks for posting.
Nice video! I am the fella standing on the back of his truck in the first part of the video! I am a crew member and we swap morning and afternoon runs, so I took the opportunity to take a little video of her pulling out.
Noted the Northern Pacific Vista Dome passenger car being pulled by 611. Brought back many fond memories riding the southern Montana part of the NP as a youngster. Saw the 611 in Manassas last year, it really stands out with the paint job.
I just got done watching Up's 844 and I decided to compare, I am noticing 611 has no diesel assistance and is pulling a longer consist up rougher terrain. Those boys at the East end Shops knew how to build a locomotive especially The J class. I had the privilege of riding behind her twice. Once when I was a kid june of 89 to Buffalo NY and in May of 2016 from Manassas to Front Royal. 611 is definitely my favorite engine. She has both grace and power. You definitely feel it when she runs by that she's a living and breathing marvel of human engineering at It's finest. When I was in Great Britain I've also got to ride behind the Flying Scotsman. It's a fine engine and graceful, to me the Flying Scotsman doesn't have the character and soul like J 611 has.
Great Video of "her"!!... and great camera angles & video capture. Personally, I think the best "stack talk" I ever heard from the 611 was the day she stalled on Saluda with 22 heavies.... was a Masterful "touch" on the throttle to get her started again on the grade... though that had to cut the train and bring the trailing end up with diesels.... but Hey!... it was on Saluda, and she did "good". If you haven't seen that video.. just search for N&W 611 stalls on Saluda (Oct. 1992). Seems to me that the whistle is not as "clean" and stout sounding as it did "back in the years" before she was static and then the rebuild.... or, maybe it's the engineer(?). It sounds like it's just "waking up" from a sleep, with wet steam not yet cleared out of her "throat" and the boiler is only at about 70 or 75 percent of operating pressure (300psi.. after 1950).
I believe there was some fiasco involving the original engineer and HIS whistle from her last excursion service back then. The one she has now is either a repop or the closest they could get. Its still amazing, and to hear it echo through danville va as she was coming through, sent chills up my spine and tears in my eyes. Its the most sorrowful, lonely sounding noise Ive ever heard. But with her in view, its kinda cheerful in a way.
Fun story: In July 1988 NKP 765 was tucked behing two SD40-2's and a U33C which were pulling a 60 car freight train. They were heading up to Gulf Summit on the former Erie, and at first they were rolling at 40 mph but once they hit the hill at Gulf Summit their speed began to drop to 25 mph and was was continuing to drop. The fireman on 765 that day wanted to test a new load of coal they just aquired (765 had been "idling" this whole time on this 60 car freight train) 765's engineer radioed the diesels and asked if they wanted some "help" up the hill. Eventually after easing 765 into the load the throttle was to the roof with a steady 245 psi boiler pressure with the 765 making SO much noise it drowned out the diesels ahead of it. After several minutes they were back up at 32 and accelerating slowly (still going up this hill mind you) Satisfied with the performance of the coal, 765's engineer radioed to the diesels informing them they would be backing off now. The response he got was: "It's a good thing you let me know. I'll start notching up again. You guys have had the whole train all by yourselves for the last 3 miles." 765 pulled a 60 car freight train BY HERSELF up Gulf Summit Grade at 32 mph, and three diesels couldn't match her power.
I'd hate to be in that cab going through the tunnel. NS speed restrictions not allowing the ole girl to get some speed hitting the grade meaning you really have to let the engine work to maintain your speed. Which means holding your breath and closing your eyes going through the tunnel lol
Steam locomotives gain horse-power the faster they travel; diesels loose horse-power as they gain speed. That's why a heavy consist requires 3 to 4 diesels to pull it.
No, I got there at the same time the train did so I didn't have time to set up my tripod. The wobble is the camera trying to compensate for the unsteadiness of my hands.
In only a couple of shots did it show that the Fireman was earning his keep because "Black Smoke Wastes Fuel" is printed in Large White Letters on the face of every Tender where it's coupled to a Norfolk and Western Steam Locomotive!
wish they would take her out to the test track in colorado, and let her thunder the rails at top speed to show she still got it, or at least let her run at speed she is not designed for 40 mph she is made for going 80 +
I heard either 611 or one of her sister engines had gotten up to 110 when the PRR had her pulling the Broadway Limited once. That would really be a sight to see.
611? that was a differant railroad that had that the Broadway was a PRR train, unless this was in the excursion days post steam when N&S had her, but speedwise yea 100 would be pushing her, but I know she is known to do 100 mph, but there were faster locos of course, though some would say she is the most technological advanced loco left from the steam era due to her fine craftsmanship, and balanceing as well as her roller bearings, and being one of the last locomotives built in the united states at a point where many were already bringing on diesles. I hope the t1 does get done and cant wait for that day that we can get some miles on her and find out once and for all what one can do the people building her or rather the crew that is spearheading the effort like gary bensman and wayne york come from the Fort Wayne Historical Railroad, so they know what steamers can do and how to put them togather, they have been at it for a very long time, Fort Wayne was the first all volunteer and non profit know in the world to be the first to get an engine back to running order in steam took them a few years but they were the first recorded to do it, others did as rail companies and so forth but Fort Wayne was all volunteer, I do hope the use some better metal though for the poppits that were one of the mechanical downfalls of the metal at the time, when they ran them as hard as they did on the crestline to chicago division via fort wayne the Altoona of the PRR West lol though they look like they are trying to make her as much as they could in the origional fashion so far.
nothing like the sound of big steam working steep grades. that sound...... i can do it, i can do it, i can do it..... it's almost like its steady beat is saying that lol
From what I noticed, the Great Northern passenger cars have been split up and bought by others. I would love to see the F7 units and all the cars together running again
What an amazing machine! Any railroad running that train as an OCS would have 2 of their newest high horsepower diesels on it. 611 took care of business!
diesles can start up a train, high power low end torque, but a steamer works better when it has a good speed on it or worked hard makes the fire burn hotter and the steam expands more taking less of it to push the piston and once gets going the steam admission valve can be cut shorter saving steam, and that is where it makes its most power when its running hard the boiler does its job the best. that is where with the more modern steamers built late in the era like 611 make their peak hp at speed.
They still aren't as good they can also overheat the motors on a hard hill as it were like the problem with ashbula hill that 765 climbed unaided last year on the way over though ohio about this time she needed everything she had and they thought she would slip but she made it , also, just listen to the hill story by Rich Melvin when he ran up attica hill, during the conrail years a yard foreman doubted that any train could make the hill since the diesles needed help, but then got a shock when Mr Melvin had 775 accellerating up the hill, the thing is the harder you work the pressure on the pistons as it goes up the stack the harder the draw on the fire like puffing a cigar when you smoke or a set of bellows in a blacksmith shop the the harder you draw the more it glows and more heat it gives off, the hotter the fire the more the steam expands and takes up more volume with less gas to push the piston in the cylinder, also the more easy it makes steam in the boiler.
That yard foreman must have had the shock of his life as he witnessed 765 climb Ashbula Hill by itself. Amazing information on how a steam locomotive seems to become more efficient and powerful the harder the engineer works her; just the opposite for a diesel. You just can't beat a steam locomotive for sheer power and torque.
I think you could do so some modifications to use some type of state of the art "Clean Efficient Coal"system. I Believe these beauties could see more service especially in coal country. I think these J-Class are roller bearing chassis and rods. With a few mods these locos could be a testament to efficient use of AMERICAN Energy. These were put out of service way before their time. These Steam Beauties are a huge part of our AMERICAN Heritage. Just my opinion. Cheers
Everything moving part on that loco was mounted on roller or needle bearings. Two men could pull it with a rope. The trouble with coal power is the amount of carbon dioxide it puts into to the air (far less efficient than diesel so more CO2) and the contaminants in the firebox ("cliinkers") that are poisonous. Plus they use coal from mines that destroy the environment (mountain topping, pouring coal wash water into local streams, etc.) Diesels are far more reliable, too.
The tender attached to the locomotive holds both coal and water. The second tender is usually referred to as an auxiliary tender or canteen and holds just water. Canteens weren't very common in the days of steam because trains could just stop at water towers on their route, but these days they are a necessity for any mainline steam operation.
@@SantaFe19484 Also just as a FYI, the second car after the canteen car, the one with the smoke stack at 14:33 , was the generator car providing power for the consist.
Thank you! Actually at the time this was filmed I was using the Sony ECM-XYST1M stereo mic. I now use the Azden SMX-30 which can be switched between shotgun and stereo as the situation requires.
Listen to the SP 4449's old whistle on the 611! Truly spectacular!
Exiting the tunnel shot was fabulous !
Thanks!
And just think, not only is she the most beautiful steam locomotive ever built, but under that streamlined casing she’s also the single most powerful 4-8-4 locomotive ever built; no wonder she was able to pull that grade unassisted 😍😍😍
You cannot appreciate the noise of 611’s stack talk until you see her in person working hard! It’s deafening!
Oh man, I absolutely love that she was running unassisted here. Glorious chuffing, no diesel brum to drown it out! And real genuine work gettin' done too, she's pullin' hard and runnin' like a swiss watch here.
Nice not to have a diesel. And it doesn't even need one.
How many Diesel Electrics would it take…
2, maybe 3.
As a Brit I love our locos, particularly the A4 streamliners one of which holds the world record for steam, but there is something about these magnificent American locos which I really admire. Of course we dont have the loading gauge to accommodate huge trains like this in the UK, but your engineers took full advantage of the space available to build fantastic locos. Great video, thanks.
Camelot is up,and running on the Bluebell. Gorgeous .
Laws of economics. Americans needed big heavy power: UK needed to move a lot of short trains very quickly and efficiently. And they did.
Poetry in motion. Gorgeous videography, great vantage points, high production values. It all comes together to produce an experience that is the next best thing to being there.
I've ridden behind the mighty 611 on quite a few occasions before the current restoration and I'll have to say that she is quite the lady, very refined, elegant and graceful. She's the epitome of modern steam technology when NS built her in their own shop in Roanoke around '50 or '51. She's just a joy to watch with her roller bearings, automatic lubrication and steam operated stoker and
from what I hear an engineer's favorite because of her ease of operation.
If you get a chance buy a ticket for a ride behind her if she's coming through your area or at least watch her as she passes by. You'll not regret the experience.
I'm certainly glad she wasn't scrapped.
Rail tunnels are notorious for gassing crews. My father fired steam through the Mount Airy tunnel on the Old Main Line of the B&O and has a story about stalling in the tunnel and nearly passing out from the locomotive exhaust. He had to wake the engineer out of a gas-induced stupor, cut away from the train, and run light out of the tunnel to escape the gas.
This was a great day to chase the 611. It was my and hubby's favorite and got hooked on it. The 4501 came down the tracks behind our house and we got some stunning pix. This is a terrific video of the 611.
Arguably one of the most beautiful streamlined locomotives ever designed.
Agree and disagree. Daylight Limited looks better.
Other railroads had made all of the mistakes by the time they built this.
I rode this train on this same route with my girlfriend but it was earlier than 2016. Wish I could remember. Was probably in the 80s. Very cool ride. N&W string band walking through the cars playing bluegrass. I remember feeling the pulsating feeling of power it had...and the small amount of flakes of soot or maybe unburnt coal dust on us. Just stumbled on this video. Really takes me back. We were running late and almost missed it. Glad we made it.
How beautiful and majestic! What a terrific whistle!!
My uncle was an engineer on the Powhatan Arrow, though he never spoke much of it. I never knew that he drove the mighty J class. Such a beautiful engine.
God I Love Steam Locomotives! Bring back such fond memories of my youth and my Grandfather....
Poetry in motion...reminds me of the late 40s and 50s living east of Roanoke, good times.
my grandad was a train engineer for 35 years, used to take me n my brothers on short rides in the summer when we went to visit, ill never forget those days, thanks grandpa Frank!!!!!!
Awesome!!! and 2:16 right side there is a old car running on the road, wowwwwww, just feel back to 1920
Beauty of a Beast. 611 seems to be in pristine condition. Kudos to the maintenance team. Great video, man.
Absolutely beautiful piece of art that is still in use.love the nostalgia.
It is amazing to see such a beautyful old steam Train in action! :)
Terrific camera work and all locations familiar from my many trips to shoot #611 in the late 1980s and early 90s. Love the shot of the freight meet on the Christiansburg curves! Great video and thanks for posting.
Nice video! I am the fella standing on the back of his truck in the first part of the video! I am a crew member and we swap morning and afternoon runs, so I took the opportunity to take a little video of her pulling out.
kind of like a busmans holiday.
7:20 on, that has to be my favorite train video ever, blasting out of that tunnel OMG amazing
the sound rattling in the tunnel is amazing
Robert Coulter that is the sound of people trying to breathe!!!
They'll manage :)
Noted the Northern Pacific Vista Dome passenger car being pulled by 611. Brought back many fond memories riding the southern Montana part of the NP as a youngster. Saw the 611 in Manassas last year, it really stands out with the paint job.
Impressive! That's a long train through the mountains and that single steamer is doing it all alone.
611 is a real beast, you could feel her shaking the ground as she went by.
That is one gorgeous locomotive!!!!
Just found this - beautifully done!
Excellent footage. Love it when she's "chopping them off" as we say here in the UK. Thank you sir.
Wow , 611 is and will always be my Favourite American Steam Loco !!
THAT SOUND!! Some absolutely gorgeous shots!! Thanks for sharing!
What a beauty !!!
Fantastic video, excellent camera work, well scouted locations.
8:02 - Crewman opening the cab window after leaving the tunnel!
Thank you!
I just got done watching Up's 844 and I decided to compare, I am noticing 611 has no diesel assistance and is pulling a longer consist up rougher terrain. Those boys at the East end Shops knew how to build a locomotive especially The J class. I had the privilege of riding behind her twice. Once when I was a kid june of 89 to Buffalo NY and in May of 2016 from Manassas to Front Royal. 611 is definitely my favorite engine. She has both grace and power. You definitely feel it when she runs by that she's a living and breathing marvel of human engineering at It's finest. When I was in Great Britain I've also got to ride behind the Flying Scotsman. It's a fine engine and graceful, to me the Flying Scotsman doesn't have the character and soul like J 611 has.
East coast engines, there were a lot more powerful than west, of course coal was big part of that
Luv the sound of the rails sing as the 611 passes by!
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to shoot it, edit it, and post it.
16:30 I live right down the road from there! Glad you could join us in watching 611!
Western Virginia is beautiful. I hope to see 611 running through there many more times in the future.
Great Video of "her"!!... and great camera angles & video capture. Personally, I think the best "stack talk" I ever heard from the 611 was the day she stalled on Saluda with 22 heavies.... was a Masterful "touch" on the throttle to get her started again on the grade... though that had to cut the train and bring the trailing end up with diesels.... but Hey!... it was on Saluda, and she did "good". If you haven't seen that video.. just search for N&W 611 stalls on Saluda (Oct. 1992). Seems to me that the whistle is not as "clean" and stout sounding as it did "back in the years" before she was static and then the rebuild.... or, maybe it's the engineer(?). It sounds like it's just "waking up" from a sleep, with wet steam not yet cleared out of her "throat" and the boiler is only at about 70 or 75 percent of operating pressure (300psi.. after 1950).
I believe there was some fiasco involving the original engineer and HIS whistle from her last excursion service back then. The one she has now is either a repop or the closest they could get.
Its still amazing, and to hear it echo through danville va as she was coming through, sent chills up my spine and tears in my eyes. Its the most sorrowful, lonely sounding noise Ive ever heard. But with her in view, its kinda cheerful in a way.
Cool hadn't seen any footage of the 611 coming out of the tunnel!!
You Yanks certainly have some great locos to admire!
Damn right Brit
Thank you! Glad there’s so many still operational.
You over in England have some beautiful steam locomotives too!
What a great looking and sounding train!
I live in Christiansburg, the sound is amazing in person
I live in Radford
There is a lot of very good steam locomotive vidos. This is among the best. Thanks!
My hometown, great railroad town with a museum , come on down you'all.
Excellent work, especially at Montgomery!
Great work indeed, but I feel sorry for anyone following through the tunnel . . . and diesels going through a tunnel are already bad enough.
A most excellent video. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Stunning, what an impressive beast and I love the whistle
Music to my ears!
Look at how easily it draws such a heavy train
NEVER underestimate the power of steam
Fun story: In July 1988 NKP 765 was tucked behing two SD40-2's and a U33C which were pulling a 60 car freight train. They were heading up to Gulf Summit on the former Erie, and at first they were rolling at 40 mph but once they hit the hill at Gulf Summit their speed began to drop to 25 mph and was was continuing to drop. The fireman on 765 that day wanted to test a new load of coal they just aquired (765 had been "idling" this whole time on this 60 car freight train) 765's engineer radioed the diesels and asked if they wanted some "help" up the hill. Eventually after easing 765 into the load the throttle was to the roof with a steady 245 psi boiler pressure with the 765 making SO much noise it drowned out the diesels ahead of it. After several minutes they were back up at 32 and accelerating slowly (still going up this hill mind you) Satisfied with the performance of the coal, 765's engineer radioed to the diesels informing them they would be backing off now. The response he got was: "It's a good thing you let me know. I'll start notching up again. You guys have had the whole train all by yourselves for the last 3 miles."
765 pulled a 60 car freight train BY HERSELF up Gulf Summit Grade at 32 mph, and three diesels couldn't match her power.
@@e-train765 They were great locos, operated by a company that understood steam and what it could achieve.
What a thing of beauty ! The times of real men and women and families
great shots!
Great video skills... thanks for posting!!
Thanks!
Great video work! Thanks for sharing!!
Love to see that Milwaukee Road coach (car). America's Somerset and Dorset? We all seem to have lost fantastic lines.
Good speed and good power to pull 20 coaches in flat and a gradients.
Ahh, my home city. What a pretty sight.
I bet the engine crews were gasping for air. Nice video.
How many noticed the antique car passing through at 2:15? Then the sports car behind it?
Pulling 21 carriages including it's own weight is an incredible feat, such is the power of steam...
I'd hate to be in that cab going through the tunnel. NS speed restrictions not allowing the ole girl to get some speed hitting the grade meaning you really have to let the engine work to maintain your speed. Which means holding your breath and closing your eyes going through the tunnel lol
Steam locomotives gain horse-power the faster they travel; diesels loose horse-power as they gain speed. That's why a heavy consist requires 3 to 4 diesels to pull it.
Winston Link would have loved this video
I miss the 611 it use to run by myhouse when I was a teen.
What a beast;
How Many Diesel Electrics would it take to pull all those cars up that mountain??
Just curious;
Anyone know?
Amazing video. Thank you for sharing.
Got to ride behind the 611 at least once, maybe twice in the mid 80s in the Ohio-Kentucky area.
10:24 was the sound waves from the trains horn causing the picture wobble?
No, I got there at the same time the train did so I didn't have time to set up my tripod. The wobble is the camera trying to compensate for the unsteadiness of my hands.
7:45 Do they stop adding coal beforentering a tunnel? I would.
Well done video with information. Thank you.
No they do not.
I rode 611 last July on this same route. I caught it the next day at various locations including the Friendship Rd crossing.
Would love to ride on her.
great job thank you
AMAZING stack talk. Great video, excellent work!
What a glorious way to travel.
3:13 that box car went past my place I even have a short video and a picture of it
Great camera work!
Sorry I missed this!
Attention! 2:11 The Cars to accompany!
7:48 THAT LOOK AWESOME!
In only a couple of shots did it show that the Fireman was earning his keep because "Black Smoke Wastes Fuel" is printed in Large White Letters on the face of every Tender where it's coupled to a Norfolk and Western Steam Locomotive!
Nice video dude
That's a great looking consist!
If I were a member of the top 10% or the 1% I would own a train like this and travel in no other manner.
wish they would take her out to the test track in colorado, and let her thunder the rails at top speed to show she still got it, or at least let her run at speed she is not designed for 40 mph she is made for going 80 +
I heard either 611 or one of her sister engines had gotten up to 110 when the PRR had her pulling the Broadway Limited once. That would really be a sight to see.
611? that was a differant railroad that had that the Broadway was a PRR train, unless this was in the excursion days post steam when N&S had her, but speedwise yea 100 would be pushing her, but I know she is known to do 100 mph, but there were faster locos of course, though some would say she is the most technological advanced loco left from the steam era due to her fine craftsmanship, and balanceing as well as her roller bearings, and being one of the last locomotives built in the united states at a point where many were already bringing on diesles. I hope the t1 does get done and cant wait for that day that we can get some miles on her and find out once and for all what one can do the people building her or rather the crew that is spearheading the effort like gary bensman and wayne york come from the Fort Wayne Historical Railroad, so they know what steamers can do and how to put them togather, they have been at it for a very long time, Fort Wayne was the first all volunteer and non profit know in the world to be the first to get an engine back to running order in steam took them a few years but they were the first recorded to do it, others did as rail companies and so forth but Fort Wayne was all volunteer, I do hope the use some better metal though for the poppits that were one of the mechanical downfalls of the metal at the time, when they ran them as hard as they did on the crestline to chicago division via fort wayne the Altoona of the PRR West lol
though they look like they are trying to make her as much as they could in the origional fashion so far.
+Jamie Stearns ;))
It was 610.
manga12 I think PRR had a controlling interest in NW at the time.
The train horn at 3:00 sund so good, what kind is it ?
I believe it is called a Hancock.
nothing like the sound of big steam working steep grades. that sound...... i can do it, i can do it, i can do it..... it's almost like its steady beat is saying that lol
From what I noticed, the Great Northern passenger cars have been split up and bought by others. I would love to see the F7 units and all the cars together running again
So magestic. !!!
What an amazing machine! Any railroad running that train as an OCS would have 2 of their newest high horsepower diesels on it. 611 took care of business!
diesles can start up a train, high power low end torque, but a steamer works better when it has a good speed on it or worked hard makes the fire burn hotter and the steam expands more taking less of it to push the piston and once gets going the steam admission valve can be cut shorter saving steam, and that is where it makes its most power when its running hard the boiler does its job the best.
that is where with the more modern steamers built late in the era like 611 make their peak hp at speed.
Actually, early diesels weren't good on slopes, the Santa Fe actually had steam engines on standby in certain areas as helpers for that reason.
They still aren't as good they can also overheat the motors on a hard hill as it were like the problem with ashbula hill that 765 climbed unaided last year on the way over though ohio about this time she needed everything she had and they thought she would slip but she made it , also, just listen to the hill story by Rich Melvin when he ran up attica hill, during the conrail years a yard foreman doubted that any train could make the hill since the diesles needed help, but then got a shock when Mr Melvin had 775 accellerating up the hill, the thing is the harder you work the pressure on the pistons as it goes up the stack the harder the draw on the fire like puffing a cigar when you smoke or a set of bellows in a blacksmith shop the the harder you draw the more it glows and more heat it gives off, the hotter the fire the more the steam expands and takes up more volume with less gas to push the piston in the cylinder, also the more easy it makes steam in the boiler.
That yard foreman must have had the shock of his life as he witnessed 765 climb Ashbula Hill by itself.
Amazing information on how a steam locomotive seems to become more efficient and powerful the harder the engineer works her; just the opposite for a diesel. You just can't beat a steam locomotive for sheer power and torque.
And you can't beat a steam locomotive for sheer beauty.
When the train enters the tunnel shouldn't the doors and windows be closed, otherwise the train wouldn't fill up with smoke?
Yes, all of the windows and most of the doors were closed.
They didn't struggle so much when they were able to break 70mph. Now it's limited to 40, and struggles up the mountain.
To be fair to 611, this excursion was much longer and heavier than a typical passenger train of the 50s.
Yeah, and it's all random cars. They special built light weight cars for the J class. Sadly not many of them survive
I think you could do so some modifications to use some type of state of the art "Clean Efficient Coal"system. I Believe these beauties could see more service especially in coal country. I think these J-Class are roller bearing chassis and rods. With a few mods these locos could be a testament to efficient use of AMERICAN Energy. These were put out of service way before their time. These Steam Beauties are a huge part of our AMERICAN Heritage. Just my opinion. Cheers
Everything moving part on that loco was mounted on roller or needle bearings. Two men could pull it with a rope. The trouble with coal power is the amount of carbon dioxide it puts into to the air (far less efficient than diesel so more CO2) and the contaminants in the firebox ("cliinkers") that are poisonous. Plus they use coal from mines that destroy the environment (mountain topping, pouring coal wash water into local streams, etc.) Diesels are far more reliable, too.
OMG what a cloud of smoke when it exited the tunnel.
And by the time the end of the train finally exited, the smoke was STILL trailing out of the tunnel!!! 😺💕🐾
The orange car's look like old Milwaukee road Pullmans . Or maybe even great northerners.?
The 1st tender is obviously for coal.....Is the 2nd one for water?
The tender attached to the locomotive holds both coal and water. The second tender is usually referred to as an auxiliary tender or canteen and holds just water. Canteens weren't very common in the days of steam because trains could just stop at water towers on their route, but these days they are a necessity for any mainline steam operation.
Totally awesome! I can't wait to see the 611 at Strasburg this fall. Does it have a cables diesel engine?
611 almost never runs with any kind of diesel, it can handle the excursions on its own.
@@SmokyMtnSteam So what is the car right behind the coal bunker for?
@@SantaFe19484 It's a canteen for extra water capacity.
@@SantaFe19484 Also just as a FYI, the second car after the canteen car, the one with the smoke stack at 14:33 , was the generator car providing power for the consist.
Where’s her bell? I hear it but don’t see it
611's bell is under the pilot steps on the fireman's side
These were great locos
What are the odds that at the very moment you need that line to be clear, you get another train? 100%
What's with the 26 giving this video a thumbs down?
Some great vantage points and crisp audio. Thumbs up! I'm guessing you use a directional shotgun mic?
Thank you! Actually at the time this was filmed I was using the Sony ECM-XYST1M stereo mic. I now use the Azden SMX-30 which can be switched between shotgun and stereo as the situation requires.
Did many engineers of these trains have lung damage from long term exposure to the smoke?
That can be a concern. Railways with many tunnels would often issue gas masks for their engine crews.
Do signal lights change whenever steam trains of today passed them?
Yes, the signals see it the same as a normal train
I don't know why we never stuck with those trains you look pretty cool I wonder why the nose of the train was a lot longer and bigger.