N&W 611 in Lynchburg, Va. - April 25, 1992

[@electrik_loss]

For me, this is 611's true voice. It's proud, robust, and commands attention and respect. I really do hope she gets it back one day.

[@MasenMonster]

Supposedly it’s from her sister locomotive 612. Whistle is now privately owned by someone (I forgot his name), so it most likely will never be heard on 611 again.

[@electrik_loss]

@@MasenMonster ugh that sucks. But, ya never know

[@dylanwatson1287]

@@MasenMonster The Whistle and bell was off the 602 and it is with Robert Claytor's son Preston.

[@wettfeat]

That whistle sends chills down my back... Literally

[@electrik_loss]

Oh agreed. To me, this one is her voice to a T.

[@Robofish12]

I remember seeing this engine as a kid in 1993 or so and absolutely loving it. I sat on my dad's shoulders and watched as it blasted though railroad crossings and the like. I miss those days, bring back the 611!

[@09JDCTrainMan]

Best whistle on 611, hands down. A shame it'll likely never be heard on her again.

[@sargentrowell81]

That sure is one hell of a beautiful loco.

[@elzandr]

Wow, the 611 probably has the most awesomely aggressive whistle I have ever heard before! What a beauty!!

[@rusttrail3]

Best whistle on a steam engine ever ....I think I saw where it was taken off the engine I hope they can find it...

[@deloreanman14]

I have to say, 611's whistle never fails to give me goosebumps. I can't imagine what it sounded like in person. Hopefully someday I'll be able to find out.

[@ktankers]

The James River Special with 696 passengers from Alexandria and Manassas VA--- cosponsored by the Washington, DC and Potomac Chapters NRHS and the Chesapeake Division, Railroad Enthusiasts. I was onboard, thanks for posting.

[@03dktart]

That first shot over the bridge is just absolutely awesome. That whistle sounds so beautiful and sends chills down my spine. Thanks for sharing a great video.

[@LeamingtonSteve]

that loco is HUGE

[@MackeyBigBoy4014]

It’s the largest and most powerful 4-8-4 operational steam locomotive at the moment.

[@LNERMallard]

The old whistle is so beautiful... hopefully with time the one on her now will begin to sound like that as well

[@PrimeMoverVideos]

A very sad time when NS ended the steam program. I got to see her many times and can tell you that is an extremely powerful engine, with great lines and a whistle that just ooozes power and authority. Someday we will get back our "J".

[@shanemyoutubeshit]

O Scale Chris well she’s back now!

[@meccaturbo]

love that Nathan P5 horn on that ex Southern SD40-2....the second SD40-2 is ex N&W

[@dylanwatson9300]

Welcome back 611! But rest in peace to that wonderful voice you had in the 90's. I pray and hope to God that the VMT will finally put a real N&W J Class voice like that on 611 again. Claytor or no Claytor, the ole girl needs to sing her famous call again for future generations like myself to enjoy. Maybe the one the SOU. 630 had in March 2013 when she ran in Virginia and ferry move to Spencer,NC that TVRM owns. If you can get the boiler pressure all the up to 300 PSI and the proper turning mounted on the boiler, may long live 611 sing her call through the Blue Ridge Mountains and other places across the south and country again.

[@radforddivisionrailfan]

As of this year, they have 610's whistle on her. Her voice has returned.

[@RailJoyProductions]

A MUCH better voice than that "crying duck" UP Hancock of 2015, but still not her BEST voice like in the early 90s. Oh well... We can't get EVERYTHING we wish for! :)

[@DrFish-ne7xi]

those are some great words'cries' ;-;

[@infaredxkingz8786]

630 is a boy, get your locomotive genders right

[@kremestation80]

The 1992 whistle is her true Hancock.

[@boberttrain831]

Oh wow, what a beautiful machine and a beautiful whistle. I was born way too late. Really a shame NS cut the steam program.

[@RobDog65]

@Rtchugg There's something incredibly romantic about the sounds of a 50's era steam engine...back when travel came with a personal touch--club car get-acquainted drinks, a snug berth, and all of the sightseeing your senses can handle. We've lost something here in this country, unfortunately.

[@susanlary6968]

I first heard 611's soulful whistle blow from 1225 Pere Marquette firings of it, as I rode behind it last year June 20th 2014, up in Owosso Michigan at Train Expo there, the Fort Wayne Historical Society sponsored half day excursion I became a dedicated fan of that whistle, that will soon blow in my soul again, when I ride behind her rightful owner MIss Southern 611, June 13, 2015, there in Lynchburg, VA where this footage of her here April 25, 1992 was captured! My uncle Herbert Jones of Kirkwood, Missouri loved steam trains, too, and he was Mayor of Kirkwood Missouri 1984-1992 back then on April 25, 1992, when this footage of 611 was shot that day, sadly, Uncle Jerb just passed away ironically, almost two weeks ago now last Saturday morning April 25, 2015. The good Lord called a god one home and made sure I'll hear him in the 611's whistle singin to my heart, again! I am reallly tearing up now friends...

[@NCXDesigns]

Susan Lary i'm sorry but the whistle you heard being "tested" on 1225 was not her original, its a replica that has not been fully tuned to her original sound. the sound of 611's old whistle was much smoother and deeper. the new one is too high in pitch and not as smooth, everyone that watched the test run videos last month were noticing the same thing and I did some research and found that 611's whistle was tampered with in the past and was damaged beyond repair. The new whistle was built the Whistle Shop and was donated to the FireUp 611 campaign for VMT's support on making the whistle to add to their collection. They made a copy for 611 and their collection. its a shame that the original whistle was damaged, however Preston Claytor owns the original now one of the FireUp611 committee chairmen.

[@susanlary6968]

Thank you for researching the real 611's whistle stopper for me here Dustin! I didn.t want to hear it but the right whistle I am sure will pierce my ears and soul with a,new Soulful sound! Thanks! I appreciate your efforts for keeping Steam historic and to exactness if at sll possible! I still will fall for the whistle blow! I always do! Lol. lol!

[@michaelhollingsworth4688]

Blow that awesome whistle

[@meccaturbo]

that "Woodall Road, former passenger station" area must be former N&W track....those telegraph lines to the left are unquestionably N&W style, with the line power running at the very top of the poles.

[@JimStarluck]

@Fischer0Dude She and 1218 are on display in the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA, their hometown.

[@Alwaystrains]

They might just do that. Current NS CEO Wick Moorman supports the operation of steam engines and organized excursions with both SOU 630 and NKP 765. Provided that the excursions went well, the only thing that would be in the way of 611's restoration would be money, of course. If NS can find the money to do it, they would simply have to convert her to burn oil and make a few quick fixes. Once all that's done, she'll be ready to storm the rails again.

[@haonmar]

The N&W was the larger of the two railways, both milage and tonage. The N&W merged with Southern in 1987 to form the Norfolk Southern Corporation. They were competing against CSX, another conglomeration so it made sense to expand services and combine companys. A few years later, the Burlington Northern would combine with the Sante Fe to form the BNSF. NS just saw the potential early on.

[@MackeyBigBoy4014]

Norfolk & Western and Southern merged in 1982, and at the time, CSX would’ve been Chessie System.

[@SteamKing2160]

The Southern had more track mileage than the N&W during the 1950s Southern: 6,026 Miles N&W: 2,132 Miles by the 1970s then yes the N&W would have more track mileage than the Southern when the N&W acquired the Wabash, Nickel Plate Road, and the Virginian ending up with over 7,500 miles of track.

[@elzandr]

@boberttrain831 N&W really wasn't bought out. They merged with Southern and thus became Norfolk Southern, which the 611 then belonged to NS and they ran her on excursions for quite some time until 1994.

[@Xwingpilot]

I have an old electric model of this exact engine. And still works just fine. I also have a few passenger cars, that also match with it.

[@SP5387]

611 will never be an oil burning locomotive

[@MackeyBigBoy4014]

It is possible.

[@SteamKing2160]

@@MackeyBigBoy4014 It isn't the J's were made with N&W coal in mind

[@jtq69]

It is coming back in 2014. Fire Up 611!!!

[@WhyAyeMann]

@SpeedbeetleV2 very ture, video never fully captures how big these trains really are.

[@raptorproductions1639]

Best whistle

[@thenorgalofthehills5688]

What's the whistle used on 611 today?

[@SteamKing2160]

I have no idea but this whistle heard in the video used to belong to J 600.

[@shanemyoutubeshit]

The Creepernator The 2015 whistle is an EX UP whistle, 2016 and 2017 belonged to her sister 610

[@boberttrain831]

Sorry, she's not a machine. SHE'S A BEAST!

[@meccaturbo]

@boberttrain831 you are wrong about that. N&W wasn't bought out. N&W merged with Southern, to make NS....they were not bought out.

[@RyanChugg]

Beautiful Sounds!

[@Fischer0Dude]

What a beast of a Locomotive! Does any one know where she lives? I would like to see her, even if it is just in a shed. If the Local museum ever gets their rear in gear and start restoring our 2-6-0 I will quit my Job to remake a new boiler. Just so I can see the old girl move on her own again......and not being towed by a dozer..... P.S You should edit out that racket that the diesel makes.

[@WhyAyeMann]

@PereMarquette1223 nahh, its been around for a while, dude. Im just usin' it.

[@WhyAyeMann]

God bless the lady J. Thanks for posting and by the way, do you know who the people were yelling at to, "Get-outta-the-way"?

[@LMatters1]

How many USA steam video's have I seen that are ruined by excessive whislting? Nearly all (answers own question).

[@shanemyoutubeshit]

LMatters1 dude. THE WHISTLES ARE AMAZING. WHY WOULD THEY BE RUINED. AWNSER: THEY WERENT THEY GOT 10 TIMES BETTER!!!!

[@PereMarquette1223]

Man, when I said that I never heard about the nickname Lady J I never knew it would generate so much negativity. I was born after the J's last 1994 run (born in 1996) so I had no idea.

[@infaredxkingz8786]

3:57 NS diesel: catch me if you can, 611!

[@nadaydradavis9285]

N&W 611: but I’m resting

[@irish89055]

@LMatters1 you're whistling Dixie...

[@PrimeMoverVideos]

They would never convert her to burn oil, there is no reason. And in 94 when the program ended her flue time was almost up, so she will need a boiler ultra sound, new flues/tubes ect....it will need to be a complete rebuild...again. She has sat almost as long as she did the first time.

[@SepticMonkey42]

a steam engine is like a human, they "drink" water, they burn fuel, we eat, and inhale and exhale, good enough for me.

[@adfgfds]

"I like trains"

[@boberttrain831]

@meccaturbo Oh, ok. Well, thanks for the info.

[@trainmandan05]

Oh if only 611 was running again. I never got to ride behind her or even see her.

[@shanemyoutubeshit]

Daniel Arnold well she is now

[@infaredxkingz8786]

Well good news, she was restored in 2015

[@aurearobles5711]

Traion

[@aurearobles5711]

Traion