Estimates place the 611's return excursion from NC to Virginia under her own power some time late spring/early summer 2015. Keep you eyes open for the specific dates once they become available 
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I know that 611's hydrostatic test was successful. How long before the locomotive can be reassembled and fired up?
Earlier, crews in Spencer did a test fire on 611 and it seemed to be working. Now all they have to do is paint and reassemble her.
https://www.facebook.com/Fireup611" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Tested her whistle too; sounds great (videos on the facebook page). Can't wait for this beauty to roll on her own power again.
Tested her whistle too; sounds great (videos on the facebook page). Can't wait for this beauty to roll on her own power again.
Someone just sent me pictures and info from the Fire Up 611! website. Very impressive, and well done to all.
Looking at the photos of 611 at NCTM and the last one makes it hard to believe that 8 months ago, the roundhouse was bustling with over two dozen streamlined diesels.
Summer excursion schedule is out:
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/20 ... for-may-30" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/20 ... for-may-30" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The 220-mile, one-way May 30 trip will see the powerful Class J stride along the former Southern Railway main line and enter home rails at Lynchburg. There, the engine will retrace its regular service route when it pulled N&W’s named passenger trains across the fabled Blue Ridge grade. The locomotive is expected to arrive between 2 and 4 p.m., stopping at the O. Winston Link Museum in the former N&W passenger station in downtown Roanoke. The engine is expected to run with no diesel helpers.
The train will be for invited guests and VIPs and no tickets will be sold. The celebration at the depot will be free and open to the public and additional events will be announced for that weekend, Virginia Museum of Transportation officials say. May 30 is significant because it is 65 years and one day after the engine entered service, and one year after its appearance at the Streamliners at Spencer festival, kicking off the restoration at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer.
The first opportunity for the public to ride behind No. 611 will come the following weekend with excursions between Manassas and Riverton Junction, a 102-mile roundtrip on former Southern Railway tracks. A morning trip will take place June 6 and both morning and afternoon trips will take place June 7. This takes place during the 21st annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival.
The following weekend, June 13 and 14, the engine will pull 260-mile round trip excursions between Lynchburg and Petersburg.
Independence Day weekend will see No. 611 running July 3, 4, and 5 from its hometown. Each day it will pull morning trips from Roanoke to Lynchburg, a 98-mile roundtrip, and each afternoon it will pull a 42-mile roundtrip to Walton and back. The afternoon trips send the locomotive across famed Christiansburg grade.
http://www.nctrans.org/Events/J611-Debu ... -5-23.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.nctrans.org/Events/J611-Day- ... -5-28.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.nctrans.org/Events/J611-Day- ... -5-28.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm going on the excursion on June 14th and travelling in Dome class. Any idea of the origins of the dome car(s) that will be in the train consist?
Tom6921 wrote:I'm going on the excursion on June 14th and travelling in Dome class. Any idea of the origins of the dome car(s) that will be in the train consist?Not just yet, but presumably towards the middle-rear of the train.
This is the consist for the trip back to Roanoke from NC. Whether it is reflective of the excursion consists, I cannot say, but at least this gives us an idea of what to expect:
https://www.facebook.com/norfolksouther ... 48/?type=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.facebook.com/norfolksouther ... 48/?type=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
So, who's ready for this weekend? I sure am :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRwm0VIzL4Q" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(Not my video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRwm0VIzL4Q" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(Not my video)
This morning, in Manassas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AaEHtTah9E" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Arguably one of the BEST N&W 611 chase clips I recorded today was the first one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boVe71Rx9no" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Chasing 611 on Sunday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXc33H8NP6c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;