C&O No. 614T

Chesapeake & Ohio J3a 4-8-4 steam locomotive 614 in Charleston, Marmet, and surrounding West Virginia areas as part of the 614T ACE 3000 Project in January 1985. Videography by Mr. Jerry Waters. (www.cohs.org)

[@09JDCTrainMan]

This 4-8-4 is definitely underrated and is easily among the best steam locomotives ever made, definitely needs more love

[@ThomasELeClair]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,amen....................

[@09JDCTrainMan]

19:40 The fact that 614 is wasting no time with a loaded coal train probably between 3,500-5,000 tons really shows how mighty this Greenbrier is, and I love it

[@SuperFoxyRailwayProduction6702]

Same

[@jacksonsdrones]

Wish they still ran steam thru here. We have the Amtrak Cardinal but still, would love to see an ol' Chessie on the Mainline again.

[@MrStevesTrains]

Awesome, love it. C&O my favorite ❤️ Drive it like you stole it! This engine is movin down the tracks at speed. A rarity indeed.

[@drby0788]

C&O had two beauties with the Greenbriar and Kanawha. Gorgeous locomotive

[@jasonbryant6889]

This is a really awesome video I live in Charleston Wv and I wasn't around for that time period it's really cool to see this

[@lennyhendricks4628]

Looking at that big firebox and that big four wheel trailing truck it makes me think of the 4-8-6 that Lima wanted to build when steam ended.

[@mattdotsonrailfanproductio266]

The 614 is the most underrated 4-8-4 in my opinion.

[@southernkansasrailfan3746]

In the preservation era or in general? Because if you ask me, the most underrated Northerns the Cotton Belt L1's and Milwaukee S-3's

[@Cessna-er4je]

@@southernkansasrailfan3746 I'd say preservation at least, but yeah, Cotton Belt 819 and Milwaukee Road 261 deserve the spotlight too

[@TB587.3]

In my opinion, the most underrated 4-8-4 is NC&STL 576

[@samuelmears7660]

The whistle is just to die for! A beautiful B dominant 7th

[@ThomasELeClair]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Watching steam videos,,,,I have learned,,,,,It takes a specially high spirited man to pull and release the up and down notes just in way to scream out power..........

[@stephenclark6499]

Fabulous footage!! I kept thinking to myself how this represents a dual time traveling experience...the world as it was in January 1985, while they are looking at this magnificent locomotive and thinking a piece of the world as it was pre-1950!

[@davemick8620]

This Is America and 614 passed through the towns that made America, great video.

[@ronaldlinkenhoker5705]

I took pictures of her coming west through Covington, Virginia in 1985.

[@Idkjustgothere]

Great fodage! I hope some day in the near future that 614 will be restored if 611 can she can to.

[@Ryebread1945]

Maybe the first they have to move it someplace and then they have to evaluate

[@HuntOfficial1776]

Hope she goes back into excursion service soon. I visited her about a month ago and sat in the engineer seat

[@michaelbragg6903]

Love the 614. Saw it come through Thurmond, WV on one of these runs.

[@SouthernerFloridain2006]

Michael Bragg what year you were born I’m not asking for your personal information but did you saw it under Steam power

[@michaelbragg6903]

@@SouthernerFloridain2006 Yes. My dad saw in our local newspaper that it was coming through the town of Thurmond where his father used to work as a brakeman and conductor.

[@ishirotanaka]

In the possible near future, i'd like to see 614 be moved to Ravenna KY, to meet up with her old partner 2716.

[@brianfalzon6739]

Yeah, that'll be awesome to see that happen again in the future.

[@maxwellsteam5810]

614 had no connection to 2716 besides being both C&O locomotives, though it would be nice to see the two pair up.

[@thunderbird1921]

Is CSX FINALLY going to allow steam on their rails? I was bewildered when I saw them towing 2716 to its restoration site, and CSX's logo was even on the tender.

[@ishirotanaka]

@@thunderbird1921 hard to say, ever since the change in management it could very well be possible. But only time will tell if it’ll come to pass or not. Best thing to probably do if you want it to become possible for a steam program of its own is to have the 2716 group sit down and talk with CSX about it.

[@aceoftrainsproductions745]

I think the fact that they've helped the Nashville Steam and Kentucty Heritage groups in a number of ways, like how they assisted in moving the 576 and provided a facility for the 2716, is promising for the future. I agree though, only time will tell.

[@trainknut]

It's been longer now since this footage was recorded than it had been since 614 was retired by the C&O at the time.

[@milepost465historyhobbies4]

Saw it almost daily

[@Cbazz]

Hard to believe this was 36 years ago

[@rjmcclain2832]

9:56 that was so perfect

[@struck2soon]

Nice footage. I am currently reading “The Red Devil and other tales from the age of steam” by D.Wardale,(one of the investigative engineers onboard this train) so this ties in nicely. No. 614 did not acquit herself well, returning some awful consumption and efficiency figures.

[@nicholmansgarage3501]

Many large locomotives have been restored. So what's stopping the 614? Nothing! All she needs is someone with the time, money, and resources to give her som tender loving care.

[@jay600katana]

and a place to run her

[@artiek1177]

@@jay600katana one of the things that I remember hearing after the 614 finisher her excursion runs in the late 90’s was that CSX was very reluctant to let steam run on it’s lines.

[@dariusthedmirconsolidation3494]

I’m so sad that the ace 3000 project was canceled

[@hodges-hg6ck]

That was a great month. Now she is outside going no where in a big hurry.

[@dwkcamman611]

Great coverage, well done!!

[@NYMR-Pacific-6323]

Oh,This Was Posted On My 11th Birthday

[@jacksalvin364]

January 1985.

[@dagger1-140]

One day. One day hopefully someone will restore this powerful giant and let it sing in the hills once more

[@brianfalzon6739]

Maybe 611 can doublehead with 614 in the future.

[@kingofthepod5169]

611 doubleheaded with the 4-8-0 on the Stratsburg once.

[@brianfalzon6739]

@@kingofthepod5169 and also with 1218, 587, 4501, 765, 750 and 1522

[@Cessna-er4je]

@@brianfalzon6739 Yeah, triple headed with the 1218 and 587 that one time as well, quite the amount of steam locomotives it's been with over the years

[@jonbuck7096]

My favorite steam locomotive design is the 4-8-4 Northern; a combination of speed plus power. C&O's 614 looks powerful just sitting still...kinda brutish so to speak. It certainly is both powerful and fast. !

[@09JDCTrainMan]

And 614 (C&O J-3a) is among the most efficient 4-8-4s too, up there with the N&W J and NYC Niagara.

[@jonbuck7096]

Thanks for your comment. I think I read somewhere that 614 was one of the very last 4-8-4s to come off the line and therefore had the benefit of all that was learned with earlier models. I've always preferred the 4-8-4 design, myself, with the Pacific a close runner up! In an aside, when I arrived in Maryland way back in the 70's I managed a ride behind 2101 on one of Chessy's Steam Specials. That was my introduction to coal-burners, and cinders! Really messy stuff!! Born & raised in Burbank, CA next to Southern Pacific's main line north from L.A. to San Francisco, I only knew the cleaner oil-burner steam locos of the western RRs, i.e. SP, UP, and ATSF. I used to bike down to SP's Taylor yard and climb all over Cab Forwards and Daylight 4-8-4s until someone yelled at me to get down off there...kid! Probably even climbed on 4449 at one time but my favorite was 4458, one of the two roller-bearing Daylights. A man who lived on our street was an engineer on one of them (the S. J. Valley Daylight I think). He would give me his old worn out engineer hats. A real boyhood hero in my young mind!! Even got to know some of the crews during passenger stops at Glendale who would let me up in the cab during their brief stops. Wow..what a thrill for a kid!! I really wanted to become a locomotive engineer (steam type) but when I became old enough, the Korean War had ended and the RRs were no longer hiring. Diesels were starting to replace steam engines and I lost interest. I'm glad because now I know just how cantankerous, dirty, and complicated Steam engines can be. Now I can run my favorite steamers on a simulator with all the fun and none of the grime! Much better! Those were some exciting days,though. The sound of a steam whistle was like music to my ears!! Thanks for the note. Take care, and Merry Christmas to you and yours! JonB (I'm in Maryland) @@09JDCTrainMan

[@09JDCTrainMan]

@@jonbuck7096 Wow, quite a story, thanks for sharing! I'm a fan of the SP, UP and AT&SF as well. And fun fact, the 614 was actually THE last 4-8-4 to be built by a commercial builder. Also, I'm in Florida and used to live in Maryland.

[@jonbuck7096]

Hi-ya fellow trainfan. Just watched that chase video of 614 again and am impressed with the looks of the thing. Compared to most other 4-8-4s it just looks powerful. Don't know what or why. Possibly that large sandbox on top, or the front end with its lower headlight, or maybe those 74" big drivers. It's just an impressive machine! I think N&W's J-line 4-8-4s were built in the 195s but not by a commercial builder, I believe they built their own in Roanoke shops. 611 is impressive too, sleek, but doesn't have the raw power' look of 614. I don't think we'll ever see her run again and that's a shame. Florida huh? We just returned from a week in Kissimmee at a timeshare golf resort next to Disney. It's yearly trip. Lived for years in Columbia, MD and now just outside Baltimore in Catonsville, if you can remember those names from your MD days. Near AMTRAK's busy Northeast Corridors line. Lots of action to watch, but electrics and diesels are definately not as interesting as the old steamers!

[@09JDCTrainMan]

@@jonbuck7096 Hello fellow railfan. And you're mostly correct. The N&W did build their own 4-8-4s in their Roanoke East End Shops, and the last three were built in the 1950s, including survivor 611, but the first eleven were built in the 1940s. And yeah, 614 does look more brutish than 611 due to 611's sleek streamlining, but 611 is actually the more powerful one, tractive effort wise. Both are close on horsepower and while 611 has a higher tractive effort, 614 has a booster, which can make her rival 611 in pull. And while 614 does have larger driving wheels, which by default should make her faster than 611, the 611 (and the J class as a whole) has extremely precise counterbalancing, which gives her a theoretical top speed of 140 mph! However, no N&W J has ever reached such a speed, so it is unknown whether a J can go that fast or not. But it is known that the N&W were master builders, and Lima also built masterpieces, and I love both 611 and 614. Oh nice, I'm not too far from Orlando. And yeah. And while I also enjoy diesels and electrics, I agree, steamers are more interesting to watch!

[@zzascha5512]

In my opinion, American steam locomotives have better whistles than the steam locomotives here in the UK.

[@southerncrescentproductions]

I have to agree as most UK steam whistles are single chime banshees

[@agwrr71productions79]

It's because we have more than one chime in our whistles.

[@timothyxv171mmmpertinentgamer]

Is truly smoking Steam 614 is still having so much kicks just now working out on it cars SUPER hurry running up

[@HuntOfficial1776]

Hello, could I use clips from this footage in a music video for my song “The Ballad Of C&O 614”? I will provide credit in the description and I already have y’all in the description of my KZbin channel for my viewers to learn more about the C&O

[@D0g_boy642]

THE GREENBRIER AND I CALL IT BIG BEER!!!

[@SuperFoxyRailwayProduction6702]

16:52

[@hodges-hg6ck]

#Fireup614

[@lennyhendricks4628]

Since 614 was a passenger engine it would have made more sense to use it on fast freight than to use it on coal.

[@railfanjordan8141]

614 is a dual service locomotive meaning it can pull both freight and passenger trains at high speed like in the footage with the second pacing shot and trackside view at speed. So 614 could handle any type of train, but the reason why for this was because they were experimenting with a new steam locomotive model that they wanted to make (ACE 3000 which is cancelled) so they tested 614 to see how she would perform and do and to prove that coal was more efficient than oil. In the end it was successful, but the project was canned

[@09JDCTrainMan]

@@railfanjordan8141 While 614 is capable of dual-service work (as shown here), she (and her sisters) was built for passenger service, even tho she had her share of pulling freight in the steam era.

[@everettthepetractionguy4222]

Is this Greenbrier #614 a "J-3a" class steam engine? It's a beauty. Intimidating, too! 😨

[@09JDCTrainMan]

Sure is, and one of the finest steam locomotives ever built :)

[@everettthepetractionguy4222]

@@09JDCTrainMan thanks for your reply/comment! I was trying to find out if the Greenbrier is a "J-3a" class steam engine because I'm going to receive an HO brass version of this marvelous machine very soon. Its a pre-owned model in excellent condition. And its was imported by PFM back in the 1980's. It will come in it's original box which is also in excellent condition, but, the label on the box mention that the model is a "J-3a" class engine. Nowhere in this video does it say the Greenbrier #614 is a "J-3a" class engine. But it looks identical to the PFM model. Now, I know. Its always good to know something about the history of a real-life engine that your small scale brass model represents. 👍😉

[@dudester7876]

If you pause this video at the very beginning it answers your question. But anywho 614 is definitely a J3A

[@davidsagona417]

Whistle at 6:18

[@danielwalton9012]

which will b Restored to Service as L&N 1992!

[@T128Productions]

C&O #614 was never restored to look like L&N 1992.

[@cjstibitz2130]

That guy was standing way too close to the tracks around 17:00

[@GTRailFanProductions]

I agree. That gave me so much anxiety watching it 🤣. Good shot though

[@victordubowski1276]

Does anyone know the tonnage. I had and old vhs tape from the early 90s, and I think it was mentioned on it, but to the best of my memory I think it was 4000 tons

[@leroyjones6958]

Ross is the boss!

[@nicholasmedovich6729]

Wasn’t William F Howes Jr in these videos or was that 2101

[@markusdude1]

Is the train at the end just an excursion with Amtrak equipment or was an actual Amtrak train powered by steam that day?

[@09JDCTrainMan]

It could've been an actual Amtrak train, 614 actually pulled The Cardinal once, and that might have been it.

[@justahillbilly7777]

To the two replies above mine, yes, that’s footage of 614 hauling a regularly scheduled Amtrak Cardinal service. I think it was Ross who managed to somehow arrange for it to happen. I think that’s also the only time in history that a regularly scheduled Amtrak train has been pulled by steam which is pretty nifty.

[@kazanu23]

​@justahillbilly7777 Actually 844 got a chance to pull a passenger train once. I think it was in the 70s.

[@SuperFoxyRailwayProduction6702]

6:19

[@danielwalton9012]

as The 42nd L&N Big Emma! undercover awaiting to be unvailed!

[@T128Productions]

Not true.

[@thesouthwestatlanticrailway]

12:10 9:56 6:19

[@TheWeavingBagel]

How many cylinders?

[@justahillbilly7777]

614’s got two cylinders.

[@judsmi9699]

A passenger 4-8-4 hauling freight looks unnatural to me idk.

[@SuperFoxyRailwayProduction6702]

24:35

[@AshCatTrainz]

Why 614T? The T would mean tank engine

[@bowlinerailfan]

The "T" normally would mean that when it's with the Whyte wheel arrangement listing like 0-6-0T or 2-8-2T, but here it's added to 614's number to signify that the locomotive is being used for testing in the Ace 3000 project, which was intended to possibly create a fuel efficient modern steam locomotive, at a time when oil prices were high. Poor test results and falling oil prices led to the project being cancelled, but it wasn't a total loss as 614 spent a month being tested with these revenue coal trains, which was a delight to railfans at the time, especially as 614 is running on home rails, being the C&O New River route. I'm not sure if she ran this line in her C&O days, but regardless, she makes a fine sight on it.

[@jodysmith8048]

Just think how pissed rail fans would be if CSX an Amtrack said the Daylight couldn't run in the US anymore or 611 for that matter that's why alot of steam locomotive that are an important part of our US railroad history get dumped off at railroad museums to sit on display an rot because all CSX an Amtrack are interested in is killing our US railroad history