Norfolk & Western 611: Arriving on The Road to Paradise

During a late August Day in 2019, the legendary sole survivor of the famed Norfolk and Western "J" Class locomotives would finally arrive at the Strasburg Rail Road. After a long journey beginning from the Virginia Museum of Transportation, Norfolk & Western 611 would finally roll onto the Road to Paradise, one of America's oldest and most popular shortline railroads. With the much anticipated "Reunion of Steam" drawing closer, the promise of two Norfolk and Western steam locomotives operating together for the first time since the age of steam ended becomes even more of a reality. Sit back, relax, and enjoy as this iconic locomotive traverses the rails of the Strasburg Rail Road for the very first time brought to you by Eastern PA Railfan Productions!
With Strasburg Railroad 2-6-0 mogul 89 in charge of the final train of the day, the run around operation begins as 611 arrives on the Keystone corridor and stops just ahead of the switch that leads to Strasburg's line. After the regular train departs, Norfolk Southern GP38-2 5657 and 5654 lead the move as 611 is not equipped with PTC (positive train control). They push 611 into the siding and 611 then waits. The GP38-2s then leave to clear the track. Returning to Leaman Place, 89 returns to run behind the ferry move to East Strasburg Station. A few Amtrak trains run by in the meantime. Before departing, 611 then moves in front of 89 and sits while 89 couples to the back of VMT's tool car. The move then departs Leaman Place at a restricted speed of 10 miles per hour.
At Groff's Grove, 611 runs forward through the passing track to test the switches to make sure everything works out. Crew are out on the ground monitoring for problems. The move pauses for a moment and is back underway at a restricted speed of 15 miles per hour up the grade past Cherry Hill. A crowd gathers at the Caboose Motel and welcomes 611 to her temporary fall residence in Pennsylvania.
Once 611 enters East Strasburg Yard, 611 uncouples from the move and runs forward, while 89 moves the tool car and auxiliary tender into the yard limit. The "J" then creeps forward to test out the tracks she will use. Once 611 approaches the water tower, a problem is discovered. The chain that hangs down from the spout will not clear 611's iconic sky-lining. The crew manage to move 611 forward so the crew can tie up the chain with wire so 611 is able to clear the water tower. The crew also tests the switch near the water tower, and 611 makes some real noise on that. The track strained under the weight of the "J" class. N&W 611 then moves back into the yard to be put into the shops for a month to be inspected and readied for the next month of excursions.
Locations:
0:00 Intro
1:00 Leaman Place Junction
10:09 Cherry Hill
12:40 Fairview
13:45 East Strasburg
Special Thanks To:
- The Strasburg Rail Road Company
- Virginia Museum of Transportation
- Norfolk Southern
- Amtrak
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Filmed on Wednesday, August 21, 2019
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© Keystone Rail Productions (Formerly Eastern PA Railfan Productions) 2019
All Rights Reserved
COPYRIGHT POLICY: This may not be copied or reproduced without exclusive permission from Keystone Rail Productions. We work hard to create these videos, and they are not be re-uploaded/distributed without permission, or will be taken down in accordance with international copyright law. Thank you for understanding.
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Back To The Wood by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Artist: audionautix.com/

[@titaniabell8682]

Can’t believe she still runs. Thought she was in a museum while growing up. I remember riding 611 when I was a kid in the 90’s. Fun time Glad to see the ol gal is still kicking it in 2019 going on 2020

[@SteamZRailfan]

Awesome! Glad you got to see her.

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Steam Z yea I’m glad I was able to catch it

[@titaniabell8682]

It was either spring or summer of 91 when I rode this with my grandma for the first time. Loved the sound of whistle. One thing I remember was getting black smoke on us since we were looking out the window and waving to my parents. Lol I got a photo of the 611 when it was in Ft Wayne Indiana for a visit

[@gayatrirasane1691]

P

[@fernandovallejosmoreno9412]

3231

[@TrainChamber]

O gahd all the foam is gonna pour in. On the other side, great video!

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

All that foams gonna make 611 slip and get ded. Lol thanks

[@TrainChamber]

@@KeystoneRailProductions oh *boi*

[@brianfalzon6739]

A 611/89 doubleheader? Wow! I'm impressed, well done!!!!!!

[@MrSonicthehedgehog31]

Brian Falzon actually it was a push pull besides 89 has done this before back in Easter 2008 when she and 7312 aka 31 were doing it. So it’s just 611 pulling with 89 pushing in the back.

[@brianfalzon6739]

@@MrSonicthehedgehog31 Oh okay, I see!!!

[@darriusstrainsthings5736]

**facepalm**

[@facundodelvalle5913]

@@MrSonicthehedgehog31 r ew wewcu itqq ú8kyj j ño50@ 00 l L) q1++1Qaaaaa1q

[@mincamp]

I wish with all my might to travel to a promised land called North America. May Gd bless you.

[@rishodebbarma8554]

Hju

[@trainnadimamtrakthomasalle9037]

5:33, the Amtrak train blew its horn in excitement. Amtrak train: wow, new steam engines . hello Strasbourg railroad. Number 69: hello Amtrak train.

[@Redwagon2012]

It's 89 not 69

[@trainnadimamtrakthomasalle9037]

@@Redwagon2012opps, got confused

[@thomasavensjr.2790]

A beautiful and classic locomotive, n&w j 4-8-4 611 an elegant example of a steam locomotive.

[@UpsheetscreekWOapaddle]

611... One of my favorite chocho designs 👍

[@Stussmeister]

Very nice. I've been to the Strasburg Railroad multiple times (my grandmother lived out in Lancaster County), and was fortunate enough to ride behind 611 in 2019.

[@EastPennRailfanProductions]

As always, a remarkable piece of work! We can't wait to see the "Queen of Steam" this October! Your new trailer looks amazing too!

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

East Penn Railfan Productions thank you so much! I can’t wait either!

[@Keystone1906_Productions]

@@KeystoneRailProductions0:28 how did you do that view for 90 and 89?

[@PennsyPro]

Welcome to Paradise, 611!

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Pennsy Productions indeed

[@PennsyPro]

No. She left at the end of October.

[@destroyergaming637]

Whelp

[@AutismTakesOn]

This is awesome. I saw it in Strasburg when I went to their train museum. I just put the video about it up on my channel. I was so excited to see it in Strasburg that I put it on my thumbnail for my video. Thanks for sharing. :-)

[@ScoobyDigites]

We went yesterday and had the chance to see the 611 rolling by as we left out of the station. The Strasburg run is so short but still nice

[@dwkcamman611]

Awesome video, would love to chase her again in 2021!

[@thecarolinianrailfan8339]

Awesome!

[@peterrosenquist]

611 also was not equipped with cab signals either.

[@Mr.RailYard-LJLRailYard]

I am super pumped that 6:11 is at the Strasburg railroad

[@railroadvelocipedeproducti2020]

LJL RailYard nice pun

[@destroyergaming637]

10/10 pun ;)

[@stuartadamsrailfanningvideos]

Spectacular video! This is about as close as I'll ever get to seeing 611 up close, as I live far away from where this was filmed.

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Thanks!

[@stuartadamsrailfanningvideos]

@@KeystoneRailProductions You're welcome!

[@lehighlinervlrailfanproduc57]

5:33 89s engineer climbs quickly gets in the cab and blows back the horn at amtrak

[@CatchATrainRailfanProductions]

Great video! So excited to see her in October!

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Catch A Train Railfan Productions Thanks! I am very excited too

[@jacksalvin364]

611: Ahhh, Strasburg Railroad was the world's oldest line.

[@TrainLordJC]

Wonderful video of the 611, especially where the loco was moving slowly next to the water tower, listening to the groans and creaks as she moved. Certainly inspires me more to enjoy my HO scale model of her on my train layout. I also just subscribed to your channel. Greetings from the Train Lord in South Australia a long way away from this epic action.

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Train Lord thank you! Much appreciated

[@mattdotsonrailfanproductio266]

They should keep 611 at the Strasbourg railroad until CSX continues to allow steam

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Ford Lover well 611 is going to NCTM after Strasburg for train rides and CSX isn’t the issue, NS won’t allow 611 to run without ptc

[@theidiotwithinternet]

Man that bell got a workout

[@jeanbarbierjab91]

The 611 is really a very nice machine

[@lenlucas3737]

Beautiful work!

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Thanks!

[@WoodJack99]

I wish 611 could stay there forever. It’s obvious that she can’t be run as much as a possession of the VMT. I was so sad to see her leave.

[@stovellproductions1637]

Welp it was a matter of time before I ended up in someone's video, 13:45..... really great video, personally I wish I went to leaman place, but I didn't feel like it.

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Stovell Productions Lol. Thanks man, groundhog cut was still a shot worth waiting for

[@stovellproductions1637]

Eastern PA Railfan Productions first time doing it, I made it worth it, and it worked out cause I knew I could get from work up in ES before the train got there, even though they left late lol.

[@2011traincrazy]

If I had known what date it was arriving and when, believe me I would have been there too! Great video though!!!!

[@facundodelvalle5913]

Oiiiio

[@SmithConductor]

Awesome Video, just subscribed

[@Brianrockrailfan]

Awesome video :)

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Castle Rock RAIL FAN thanks!

[@destroyergaming637]

This Video has the best quality footage of 611 during her arrival at Strasburg. I give a 10/10. Keep up the great work! :)

[@riverlinerailphotoproductions]

It was an experience of a life time to see the Queen of Steam 611 running at Strasburg but Amtrak Wouldn’t allow 611 on the Keystone Corridor with or without Cab signals bc they would rather have NS lead and Deliver 611 to strasburg

[@juhirail6303]

Super

[@brucetharpe762]

Soon I will be able to meet my Queen! 🚂

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Bruce Tharpe yep

[@GETOUTLTD]

We waited and you delivered

[@heihei3453]

I feel like 611 is too big for Strasburg. I saw it years ago when it was a static display at the VMT and forgot how enormous it is.

[@zphotography7305]

Camden cope1355 90 is pretty big for her size

[@lenlucas3737]

I'm Roanoke and she's sorely missed. Granted she may be a bit overwhelming for Strasburg, but at least she's not sitting in mothballs rusting.

[@LeitoTrenes]

Good video. Subscrito

[@netnico1]

Wow

[@matthewvogel3071]

the N&W 611's water tender used to be the 1218's

[@Redwagon2012]

Really

[@cjdavis2684]

has to be at Strasburg only place they run the engines backwards.

[@sikujacob4556]

She's pretty

[@southernrailwayfan1338]

How did it even get on the track there

[@destroyergaming637]

Hopefully Something similar should happen in this new century (If not the exact same thing)

[@railfansammy4974]

nice What intro is this

[@MPT_Productions]

Welp know someone was foaming. Jk nice video.

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

MPT 1225 hey hey hey let’s not assume now lol. Any way, thank you

[@MPT_Productions]

@@KeystoneRailProductions mmhmm that's what they all say... lol you're welcome

[@rudycarlson8245]

Does anybody have any idea where the 611 is now? Last I heard she was still at Strasburg? when is she supposed to head back to the VMT?

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

611 is currently still at Strasburg. No information has been published on future operations or movements.

[@rudycarlson8245]

@@KeystoneRailProductions Thanks for the info I was wondering where she was

[@analufreitas3364]

Ok

[@tristanrailproductions5820]

fantastic video buddy of Norfolk and Western 611 arriving Strasburg I've been waiting all week for this thank you for sharing I love it so much! :)

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Tristan Rail - Productions same channel no thank YOU! I’ve been trying to make the perfect intro, and hopefully it was worth the wait

[@tristanrailproductions5820]

@@KeystoneRailProductions Yeah! I have a Huge Strasburg Railroad Video Coming soon! Big One!

[@KeystoneRailProductions]

Tristan Rail - Productions same channel ok! I’ll look for it

[@tristanrailproductions5820]

@@KeystoneRailProductions thanks!

[@Redwagon2012]

@@KeystoneRailProductions Unfortunately 475 crashed into a Crane at paradise