N&W Class A

Chase and ride Norfolk & Western 2-6-6-4 #1218 across Virginia. Watch the whole thing so you don't miss the awesome N&W hooter whistle which you hear in many scenes before the train arrives!
For 5 years or so, this incredible machine was brought back to life for the Norfolk Southern excursion program. This video was shot on the 6th and 7th of October 1990. The chase is a trip from Alexandria to Lynchburg and the ride is from Alexandria to Front Royal. On both trips diesels pulled the train to Manassas where the steam locomotive was added. Enjoy this VHS flashback!

[@1MTSRider]

Steam Locomotives, the"Iron Horse", simply the most beautiful machine man ever created.

[@dylanruppert4547]

idc if people hate her whistle I for one love it it's not like the other whistles where its very low pitched and sometimes hard to hear from far away

[@HaleHunterz]

Honestly these videos don't do it justice. I wasn't a fan until I heard one in person on the 765 back in 2012. It's an ear splitter up close but I loved it and it's one of my very favorites now

[@CiriAntares]

I was on both of these excursions on both the dates shown here. I have an audio recording that features the runby from 6:07 - 7-40 minutes in. Still one of my favorites.

[@tylerpike8737]

I just love that hooder on that 1218 wow such a beautiful beast she is I just wish we could see this thing today running like it is in this video man you're so lucky I missed it 😌😊❤️

[@infaredxkingz8786]

It's a he

[@GfwTrains]

I absolutely love the 1218. I wish I could have seen it run.

[@steamfan4014]

That's such an awesome locomotive with a nice sounding whistle. I hope she gets restored again. I'd love to see her out on the rails

[@docholliday5472]

Thanks for posting this. I was ten years old when I saw the 1218 in Manasses, VA accidentally. Saw it on the way to my dad's house in 1990. We pulled up to a RR crossing and a bunch of people were on the sides of the tracks so we pulled over to see what was going on. Less than a minute later the 1218 passed by. It was the biggest steam locomotive I'd ever see up to that point. I wish they would restore her again.

[@Thej611]

+Ryan Shipp Maybe sometime in the next ten years she'll be back. Who knows. At least they got 611 back

[@xmxzooyorkxmx]

Ryan Shipp they have it at the museum of transportation in Virginia in great shape, I'm going there tomorrow to check it out

[@luckyrail23]

Justin Newhall ya that was real work. And the 4014 will take like 3 more year restoration.

[@theextremeanimator4721]

@@luckyrail23 it's 90% finished at this point But 1218? Only money and talent could bring 1218 the same luck as 4014....

[@luckyrail23]

TheExtremeGamer yes, but 1218 has some of its parts same for 2156 in 611. So they would need to make special parts and that would cost ALOT. Along with some of the biggest donations to get her running.

[@MattAttack54]

She is the most beautiful locomotive ever built I hope to see her run again

[@raymondparsley7442]

Frightful delight of mighty-might... with steam and coal... to make her roll... The whistle blows... a loud and lonely sound... as on and on... she rolls... over rails of steel she flows... pulling the cargo... needed to feed... and fuel our world. The mighty steam locomotive.

[@illbehim]

Beautiful locomotive

[@CarolinaCharlie]

Myself, my Dad and one of my Aunts were on the trip from Alexandria to Front Royal. I stayed on board while my Dad got off for the runby. Great video.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Old footage in 1990 back of Norfolk & Western 1218, when it was used in excursion trains.

[@railfanjackson4531]

This footage is simply incredible. I genuinely hope that at some point, 1218 & 2156 will both be restored to run alongside 611 (The VMT is working on a deal with Amtrak to continue her excursions, hopefully everything goes through and 611 will triumph onwards for many decades to come). I absolutely adore that steamboat-style hooter whistle. Amazing job.

[@theextremeanimator4721]

2156 is unlikely

[@theextremeanimator4721]

But maybe 1218

[@roofdriller1537]

I got to see 1218 at Iager Wv back in 88 i think..i'll never forget that beast and that whistle..would love to see it again

[@markusdude1]

6:07-7:38 is the good ol' hooter at its best!

[@MrLunchHour2]

If Union Pacific was able to restore a big boy than I have no doubt this thing can run again. It just comes down to if they’re willing to spend the money and time to get her running

[@Creeperboy099]

I just realized how big and mighty American locomotives are compared to UK locos

[@jacksalvin364]

Norfolk and Western 2-6-6-4 #1218 travels along.

[@StrictlySteam]

I just thought of something... N&W J class A class M class *Norfolk and Western JAM*

[@RobertJohnDavis]

That’s great! :-)

[@brianfalzon6739]

#1218 should maybe wear a N&W Hancock 3 Chime whistle someday!!!!!

[@GevoGenesis92]

The big boy before Big Boy.

[@raptorproductions1639]

1218 is my favorite articulated engine 1225 is my favorite Berkshire engine 844 is my favorite northern engine The C&O t-1 is my favorite Texas type 3254 is my favorite wide gauge engine The d&rgw k-37 is my favorite narrow gauge engine 1522 is my favorite mountain type engine And my number one favorite engine of all is the ATSF Berkshire 4197 because it was the only Berkshire to have walschearts valve gear

[@billsargent3407]

That sounds like a pissed t-rex.....But how was it to live in those hollers and holes and here that all day long

[@Winchthewolfdog]

I have a working Model train of this so awesome neat!

[@TheTalemaster]

400th like! Never forget the articulated Mallets!

[@theextremeanimator4721]

He needs to be restored back to steam We need competition for big boy that isn't the (soon to be made) T1

[@blackpanther1013]

I agree the 1218 needs to get restored because all the Norfolk and western locomotives are pretty much extinct except 475 and 611 they finished the boy pretty quick so I don't see why they cant restore the 1218

[@wobblinwheel]

Never happen. Remember, the 611 is not even allowed to run on mainline rails anymore! 611 is mostly nothing more than a poor "museum piece" now. Just like the 1218 already is... that in mind, NOBODY would donate!

[@theextremeanimator4721]

@@wobblinwheel ...some would, but not everyone for it to happen I hope Amtrak changes it's mind on allowing steam locos on its railway lines

[@kevp9601]

I LOVE I LOVE I LOVE THAT STEAM LOCOMOTIVE!!!!! :-D

[@sakami1179]

アメリカ人の蒸気機関車に対する思いに感銘します。

[@Thomasthestreamliner]

It would be great if this locomotive had a second restoration and would run again

[@JohnDoe-yv2ox]

It's too bad they retired her

[@wobblinwheel]

I wonder why the front number plate seems to be "blurred out" on many of the shots? Doesn't make any sense at all...!

[@RobertJohnDavis]

wobblinwheel it’s not blurred out. The numbers are small and good old watery VHS doesn’t do a great job with fine details.

[@john72ss]

wanna bet the 5 haters all drive priuses?

[@War1109]

Dang she’s low on coal

[@gregrowe1168]

Is that a jackhammer or something at the beginning of the video? Something is making an awful racket. I thought at first it was 1218 but I assume maybe some work was being done just out of the view of the camera perhaps? Great shots of the 1218. I am a big fan of that whistle.

[@RobertJohnDavis]

It was the generator in the power car behind #1218. Not a very healthy sounding generator, eh?

[@gregrowe1168]

That makes sense, I think I heard it again later too. Yeah, it sounded pretty rough. UP uses a diesel in most of their excursions so the diesel acts as a generator and doubles as backup in case something goes wrong. I have seen the 844 run without a diesel though.

[@larrywiggins672]

Greg Rowe I

[@ziiofswe]

Huh.. for a moment I thought the rock formations at 4:20 were the same as 10:58.....

[@liamjason8384]

Make a video of n&w 1218

[@aal2002]

❤❤

[@Thej611]

Why does she have a double exhaust sometimes, but other times she has a normal exhaust? Good film work btw.

[@paulsadowski7504]

1218 only has one smoke stack. I think the second exhaust you might be referring to is the steam coming our of the dynamo which powers the lights.

[@Thej611]

That could be. I also thought that it could be the two sets of cylinder working out of sync.

[@RobertJohnDavis]

She's a simple articulated so you are actually hearing both engines going in and out of sync.

[@Thej611]

Ok. That's kinda what I thought but I wasn't sure. Thank you!

[@thenorgalofthehills5688]

A malee has 2 engine units. Doubling the exhaust.

[@wobblinwheel]

I have a lot of videos of the 1218, and it seems they blew the whistle way too much. It actually can get tiresome after a while....

[@tyreekmurillo4524]

why is the engineer blowing the horn so much

[@RobertJohnDavis]

Special excursion.

[@joaoricardoaraujogranzoto3050]

SOMEONE ANSWERS ME: THE Y6 WILL GET A RESTORATION???

[@billsargent3407]

Not likely.. and that's sad...a tone of her guts were sold when the steam program shut down. It comes down to $$$

[@joaoricardoaraujogranzoto3050]

@@billsargent3407 sad

[@RobertJohnDavis]

Unlikely for the Y6. Probably just as unlikely for the A.

[@SupahStar247]

She sure is a noisy one.

[@dominiquedouglas6282]

When was the 1218 built?

[@charlieharper886]

At the Roanoke Shops in 1943.

[@nigelmitchell351]

Charlie Harper, How much of this loco was made in house or was Roanoke an assembly shop.

[@angrodNumenesse]

Norfolk and Western designed and built their locomotives in house.

[@maryeller1925]

Where is the 1218 now

[@09JDCTrainMan]

+Mary Eller At the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA

[@z.w.astudios8266]

Is this a y6a?

[@railfanjackson4531]

No she’s a Class A. The Y6a’s were 2-8-8-2’s. This is a 2-6-6-4.

[@theextremeanimator4721]

One Y6a, 2156, survives. No other Y6s got the same fate

[@railfanjackson4531]

2156. 2157 was scrapped.

[@theextremeanimator4721]

@@railfanjackson4531 my bad