N&W 1218 ferry run - July 18, 1987

runby and pacing near Villamont, east of Roanoke Virginia

[@chico4449]

Honestly, one of the best whistles I have ever heard, Loud, commanding, eerie, joyous and at times a bit of sorrowful. I just love it!

[@epicstormchaserswf]

I understand why they stopped running her *Shes last of her Whyte Notation* but i kinda wish she still ran.

[@1940limited]

N&W freight whistle. You always knew what was coming before you saw it.

[@1940limited]

@@epicstormchaserswf I don't understand why they stopped running it. Explain it to me.

[@epicstormchaserswf]

@@1940limited In 1991 she begain to be repaired, and Norfolk Southern Cancled the Steam Thing in 1994, before she was ready to go again. Only Norfolk Southern has the money to get her Running again, and you would have to somehow convince them to Get her running for their next steam program rather than just using N&W 611 & Southern Locomotives 4501, & 630, since all 3 Run and their Owners would be probably happy to have them run on the NS Line.

[@liamstrains6420]

the chirping sound at the end of each whistle pull is just so amazing 🤩

[@sajdrj]

I always thought the whistle on the 611 seemed to sing, but the 1218's whistle was saying "Get out of my way, I have a job to do"!!!

[@papaganda2310]

Runbys!

[@coromark]

611 sings 1218 roared

[@NinjagoGuy416]

Just like Gordon - “Out of my way, express coming through!” 😂😂😂

[@Jaidyn228]

N&W 1218’s whistle makes the engine itself sound like a enthusiastic teen

[@saxonaudio]

@@Jaidyn228 I can see what you mean.

[@thomasavensjr.2790]

I never get tired seeing footage of N&W 1218 in operation, it's a true shame that this locomotive had such a short excursion service career.

[@patrickjohnson5245]

Perhaps one day, she will run again.

[@infaredxkingz8786]

NO, he will run again

[@Rckstar113]

Great sound! That whistle gives me goosebumps

[@AdmiralColdhead]

I love that squeal her whistle makes at 0:32. It's as if she got tired of yelling and had to recuperate her strength

[@jakecollins3669]

I seriously think the sounds of the T-Rex from Jurassic Park fit extremely well from how 1218 shows off his whistle.

[@mycarrocks100]

That’s one powerful whistle

[@seaboardrailfan429]

Honestly one of the best 1218 videos I’ve seen to date

[@NEAFarmKid4010]

I would love to see this locomotive run again, I was born in '99, way to young to see it run, so hopefully one day I can. Besides, who doesn't love that hooter whistle. It would be cool to see the 2156 run again as well, I don't think it would be too bad, I think it's in better condition than the 2050, though it would be cool to see them both run. Too bad money is so much of an issue.

[@michaelwood9922]

neafarmkid you are going to be in luck by this time next year 4014 will roaming the rails again

[@haroldfannin9554]

NEAFarmKid You would love it, Videos of the 1218 are great, But absolutely nothing is like seeing (And hearing) her in person.

[@overpoweredsteamproduction513]

I’m sorry to tell you think but 2156 has had a cracked frame since it’s retirement, so the chances of 2156 never moving under its own power are now down to 39%

[@NEAFarmKid4010]

@@overpoweredsteamproduction513 so I couldn't really understand what you were saying. Im not really sure where you got the 39% and the subject-verb agreement is a little off. When I wrote this comment, I was unaware of the crack in 2156s frame. However, it could be fixed (since the only crack is in the front engine frame), but restoring an articulated is a big feat in general, which is why no one has considered it

[@ArnavKhode]

What happened to the 2050? Is it been damaged by any chance

[@markgoodrich941]

Outstanding. I wish I could have gotten to see her. Thanks.

[@stonedperson97]

By far one of if not my favorite whistle, has a very unique sound.

[@ArnavKhode]

This footage is just perfect for 1218, and the hooter is what makes it special!

[@elzandr]

The 611 is now alive, hopefully we will see 1218, and 2156 come back to life as well!!

[@8989theman]

+elzandr 2156 is shot. The speed limit for moving steam locomotives when not on a flat car is 25 mph. NS took it over the speed limit. They rushed it to Roanoke. It damaged 2156.

[@thenorgalofthehills5688]

+elzandr I would love to see 1218 come back. But she was in the middle of an Overhaul when she was retired in 1994. She is missing a good chunk of parts. But I have a theory. Norfolk Southern leased 2156 for five years. Perhaps they could be trying to take parts from her that are needed on 1218 if she gets restored.

[@8989theman]

Maybe. Idk man

[@southwestvirginiarailfan729]

The Creepernator NS didn't lease 2156, the VMT did in exchange for a b unit from the first emd a-b-b-a demonstrator. NS just transported 2156 to roanoke & the b unit to st louis. Even though the vmt leased it, the transportation museum in st louis still owns 2156. They would have to get permission to take parts off 2156, which i doubt the museum in st louis would be a fan of. Most of 1218s parts are in the tender anyway, but I don't know if they're any count or not.

[@capitollimitedproductions211]

Even though it could be exspensive NS could by the 1218 from the VMT, get it’s blueprints, and build new parts from scratch. Either that or they could hire the Strasburg Railroad to do it. They worked on UP 4014 Big Boy’s wheels and wheel tires.

[@MrDRUID27]

I love this footage. I live in Thaxton VA, not far from where this was shot. Wish N&W would run 1218 and 611 again.

[@MrDRUID27]

The footage running beside it, where was that filmed?@@LJRailfan-Gamer_07.

[@MrDRUID27]

@@LJRailfan-Gamer_07. Me again ,I recognize the overpass on 460 at Montvale VA! Tell me more of2156!

[@BigUnitBeef]

She is truly missed.......

[@Henriqueleal0609]

Foamer alert 👨‍🦯

[@chester_trainz16]

Now we care about 611

[@JAdg75oo00]

I miss her too, but she's not gone completely where just waiting for the right time 🙂🚂

[@infaredxkingz8786]

He's not a girl

[@johnnycab23513]

That last shot was just fantastic. I would have wrecked my car for sure had I been approaching that underpass at that time.

[@HeyPal75]

Awesome Whistle & engine! Nice WC Hayes Mechanical bell as well.

[@nigelterry9299]

Lovely whistle!!!!

[@thefemboyfamilyvlogs8837]

That's a hooter whistle

[@Henriqueleal0609]

@@thefemboyfamilyvlogs8837 no shit Sherlock

[@TrainsofChicagoland]

This is my favorite steam engine (despite also loving CNW) and also my fav railroad. I love the whistle. It just thinks ( I should tell everyone to get out the way with my beautiful voice) and screams: Hello guys! Get out my way!

[@BR60163tornado]

0:23 best part

[@bound552]

Nice try imposter

[@bound552]

0:23 good part

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

This is the best video of 1218

[@PrimeMoverVideos]

Nice video, I miss chasing her and the "J". Love that hooter whistle.

[@southernrailwayfan1338]

Love that whistle

[@NextTempo]

Always will love her whistle

[@ghosttrain312]

Former C&O 1309 was just restored and had made it's debut with Western Maryland Scenic Railroad just yesterday. She's using 1218's very hooter whistle.

[@southern4501isawesom]

i love that locomotive and i wish i could have seen her in opperation.

[@RailPreserver2K]

I agree I'm 15 and have seen the 1218 at Roanoke but I have hoped that they will bring it back because o Winston Link loved the A class engines and many of them are in his photos and he was delighted to see it running in 1987 and when he heard that Norfolk southern had cancelled the steam program it hit him like a death in the family

[@ArnavKhode]

That’s why steam needs to be preserved

[@infaredxkingz8786]

Don't worry everyone, he'll be back

[@Buynot]

I wish I was around in the age of steam...I've only seen 1 operating steam train in my life.....😳😳😳

[@southwestvirginiarailfan729]

Buynot 😢😢😭😭😭😭😭

[@DrFish-ne7xi]

me too ); and that was UP 4008 and IT WAS NOT RUNNING! ):

[@Consolidation1282]

ive saw 6

[@bhomas_real]

Better than none I still haven’t seen one in person

[@jacoblyman9441]

I feel like I now need to personally drag all of you to some steam railroads to rectify this whole thread... Not to flex but it's never been a problem for me. All five Disneyland locomotives plus several of the Disney World ones, UP 618, UP 119, UP 4014, UP 844, CP Jupiter, Nevada Northern 40, Virginia and Truckee's Robert C. Gray, one of the Durango and Silverton engines, are all ones I know I have seen in steam I can mention off the top of my head. Of course that isn't counting the countless static engine displays I have visited both at home and abroad. I tend to find if it's been to long since I last saw steam in action I end up finding myself on a free day in my car driving across state lines to get to a tourist railroad to catch some steam.

[@Jaidyn228]

(Reads the date this was uploaded) this was 9 days before I was born in June of 2009!

[@Hired_49.-ri]

roblox horn!!

[@Triplex5014]

LOVE THE WHISTLE!!!

[@burncy]

real nice quality for a 1987 video!!!

[@oldtechman10134]

What makes this whistle so powerful is the chirp and squeak. Then, to put the icing on the cake, the note it emanates demands attention, like it’s yelling; “GET OUTTA MY WAY, CHUCKLEFUCKS! THIS COAL WON’T DELIVER ITSELF!”

[@cjstrainsandadventures2124]

I love the hooter whistle its a very nice train to!

[@Jaidyn228]

I like 1218 because of how it looks and the whistle because I like that it’s a bit high pitched and single chimed

[@leatherneck7501]

This is so Awesome. July 28 1987 I joined the Marines .

[@AtlanticPancakes]

probably one of the best whistle's i've ever heard

[@JayTheTrainFan]

0:23 N&W 1218’s Hooter Whistle

[@levicopper94]

One of the coolest things N&W ever did was choose a single chime plain bell for their freight engines.

[@JaredRouse8465]

Damn that whistle sounds good! 👍😃

[@MisterSquirrelWX]

*”MOVE BOIS! HERE COMES THE BIG NORFOLK!”*

[@dieselteen0770]

I’ve been playing this for the past couple of days at 12:18 pm sharp

[@IKAPPYI1]

@trainmandan05 sometimes they use passenge cars as support cars so that the frieght cars are even with the heavier wieght of the locomotive or else they would topple over.

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

@trainmandan05 , They did that as though not to wear out the bearings of the locomotive. By hauling more weight...less wear & tear on the bearings at speed.

[@RyanRailfan]

Do you mind if I use this video because I am going to ser the 1218 and I would like to put her doing work when she was operational.

[@gordonsnell6735]

Nice catch 😊😊

[@OwlEye2010]

@Triplex5014 It's one of those sounds that just stick with you.

[@Trainguy-cg6ww]

I could listen to the whistle all day long

[@buntik1687]

A sweet but haunting whistle!

[@ribby9644]

It's like old big boy train

[@RailPreserver2K]

This is what 1309s whistle should sound like

[@EngineerDaylight]

1218 operates at 300psi, 1309 operates at 200psi. The mics used to record nowadays are different from the one used here. Both of these factors contribute to a different sound

[@tejasnite]

Iwish they would run more special excursions they are every ones DELIGHT IT JUST MAKES YOUR FAST TOO SEE THAT GIVES EVERY ONE SOMETHING TO REMEMBER

[@Jaidyn228]

I wish the Virginian museum of transportation restored the engine. I mean they got enough money by now to restore the beast

[@ra_redesignautomobiles]

That thing is faster than modern Amtrak trains

[@alishamcdonald7316]

0:33

[@olayinkafadipe2565]

1218 sounds like using 2156 whistle

[@olayinkafadipe2565]

I like how 1218's whistle echos

[@jesseusgrantcanales]

They used this in 'Sometimes They Come Back'.

[@Enzo-n4p7i]

The Origin Of Hubert's Whistle

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

N&w 1218 going to high speeds fast

[@therobloxcrew3552]

Sajdrj the whistle is actually saying OMG A DEER (VOICE CRACK)

[@nyshortline]

@chico4449 And authoritative. Even though it's a single-note when you hear it you know it's a BIG locomotive coming at you. I wish the Reading used these 12" whistles on their larger freight power instead of the tiny European-type whistles they had.

[@amtrakproductions-mx9ib]

I like that whistle

[@trainmandan05]

Never seen the 1218 pull a passenger freight train before.

[@kawazy9528]

I miss the 1218 in excursion service.

[@EngineerDaylight]

Can you imagine the 1218 with 475s Virginia Creeper?

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

N&w 1218

[@benjaminvaz5718]

when the train comes it's epic

[@DMIRyellowstoneFan]

'The King Of Roanoke'

[@greenturtlgaming2554]

That tall skinny kid blowing his nose in the back of the classroom be like:

[@jontoscano9734]

idk if 1218 or 2156 will be alive, like it was tricky bring 4014 alive it will be tricky bringing 1218 and 2156 alive.

[@Irapekidskibidi]

Yooo the bite of 87 happened this day

[@DMIRyellowstoneFan]

Who is better? N&W class A or C&O Allegheny? In my opinion, the class A hands down 😎

[@RetinazerProductionsOfficial]

1218 charging towards tidmoth sheds with guns in his boiler sides be like

[@AF1.Records]

We heard N&W 1218 has a hooter whistle but why not change the N&W 611 with a hooter whistle that will sound cool

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

N&w 1218 hooter whistle

[@juanherbie4011]

has anny one heard this whistle in films and commercials and also series and cartoons?

[@Gabethenwr77]

No one: 1218: GET OUT OF MY WAY

[@FabioSilva-mt9wr]

Mabel as n&w 1218

[@nabihahfitrah8524]

N&W 1218 trains!!!!

[@olayinkafadipe2565]

Sounds like a southern 5 chime

[@olayinkafadipe2565]

More like AAAA HELP

[@tejasnite]

Typo error IT MAKES EVERY ONES DAY TOO SEE A STEAM TRAIN

[@beatdownups]

Bj is a conductor

[@NW-gi1cp]

I remember this

[@joenayrikafletcher738]

1218, what was it like?

[@joenayrikafletcher738]

I 1218, I wish you could run again

[@joenayrikafletcher738]

@@NW-gi1cp maybe my son can restore you. He is 11

[@joenayrikafletcher738]

@@NW-gi1cp he could. He's a huge fan of n&w

[@joenayrikafletcher738]

@@NW-gi1cp you don't belive me?

[@ThatOneMichiganRailfan]

Steam engine engineers were always nice, I dont understand why the crews nowadays aren’t 🙁

[@voidjavelin23]

they cant even see you from their tight window cabs

[@randomkid7164]

Get a 1218 comment cuz this big guy number is 1218

[@olayinkafadipe2565]

Sounds like N&W 1200

[@olayinkafadipe2565]

Kinda

[@reeganvargas7822]

Karen The Norfolk And Western 1218

[@DMIRyellowstoneFan]

Anderson the N&W 1218

[@sorshiaemms5959]

STEAM RUELS

[@Kayykayy637]

I like the train but that whistle is horrid

[@twanaspruill2206]

:12

[@DrFish-ne7xi]

ow my ears erape ):

[@twanaspruill2206]

0:12