Listen to the SP 4449's old whistle on the 611! Truly spectacular!
@NinjagoGuy4163 жыл бұрын
And just think, not only is she the most beautiful steam locomotive ever built, but under that streamlined casing she’s also the single most powerful 4-8-4 locomotive ever built; no wonder she was able to pull that grade unassisted 😍😍😍
@danielk64853 жыл бұрын
You cannot appreciate the noise of 611’s stack talk until you see her in person working hard! It’s deafening!
@wingco2145 жыл бұрын
As a Brit I love our locos, particularly the A4 streamliners one of which holds the world record for steam, but there is something about these magnificent American locos which I really admire. Of course we dont have the loading gauge to accommodate huge trains like this in the UK, but your engineers took full advantage of the space available to build fantastic locos. Great video, thanks.
@lucifarian933 жыл бұрын
Camelot is up,and running on the Bluebell. Gorgeous .
@garryferrington8112 жыл бұрын
Laws of economics. Americans needed big heavy power: UK needed to move a lot of short trains very quickly and efficiently. And they did.
@TestECull5 жыл бұрын
Oh man, I absolutely love that she was running unassisted here. Glorious chuffing, no diesel brum to drown it out! And real genuine work gettin' done too, she's pullin' hard and runnin' like a swiss watch here.
@garryferrington8112 жыл бұрын
Nice not to have a diesel. And it doesn't even need one.
@BigChuck_1 Жыл бұрын
How many Diesel Electrics would it take… 2, maybe 3.
@daviddryden80885 жыл бұрын
Arguably one of the most beautiful streamlined locomotives ever designed.
@Nathaniellance3 жыл бұрын
Agree and disagree. Daylight Limited looks better.
@garryferrington8112 жыл бұрын
Other railroads had made all of the mistakes by the time they built this.
@glengrandstaff96953 жыл бұрын
Exiting the tunnel shot was fabulous !
@SmokyMtnSteam3 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@andywomack34143 жыл бұрын
Rail tunnels are notorious for gassing crews. My father fired steam through the Mount Airy tunnel on the Old Main Line of the B&O and has a story about stalling in the tunnel and nearly passing out from the locomotive exhaust. He had to wake the engineer out of a gas-induced stupor, cut away from the train, and run light out of the tunnel to escape the gas.
@ddkoda7 жыл бұрын
Poetry in motion. Gorgeous videography, great vantage points, high production values. It all comes together to produce an experience that is the next best thing to being there. I've ridden behind the mighty 611 on quite a few occasions before the current restoration and I'll have to say that she is quite the lady, very refined, elegant and graceful. She's the epitome of modern steam technology when NS built her in their own shop in Roanoke around '50 or '51. She's just a joy to watch with her roller bearings, automatic lubrication and steam operated stoker and from what I hear an engineer's favorite because of her ease of operation. If you get a chance buy a ticket for a ride behind her if she's coming through your area or at least watch her as she passes by. You'll not regret the experience. I'm certainly glad she wasn't scrapped.
@whatsthechannelnamex2 ай бұрын
This was a great day to chase the 611. It was my and hubby's favorite and got hooked on it. The 4501 came down the tracks behind our house and we got some stunning pix. This is a terrific video of the 611.
@jamesa.76047 жыл бұрын
God I Love Steam Locomotives! Bring back such fond memories of my youth and my Grandfather....
@steamman53208 жыл бұрын
Nice video! I am the fella standing on the back of his truck in the first part of the video! I am a crew member and we swap morning and afternoon runs, so I took the opportunity to take a little video of her pulling out.
@tomhughes96395 жыл бұрын
kind of like a busmans holiday.
@larryfisher51983 жыл бұрын
I rode this train on this same route with my girlfriend but it was earlier than 2016. Wish I could remember. Was probably in the 80s. Very cool ride. N&W string band walking through the cars playing bluegrass. I remember feeling the pulsating feeling of power it had...and the small amount of flakes of soot or maybe unburnt coal dust on us. Just stumbled on this video. Really takes me back. We were running late and almost missed it. Glad we made it.
@381singh8 жыл бұрын
How beautiful and majestic! What a terrific whistle!!
@MauriceQuirin8 жыл бұрын
Terrific camera work and all locations familiar from my many trips to shoot #611 in the late 1980s and early 90s. Love the shot of the freight meet on the Christiansburg curves! Great video and thanks for posting.
@markdavis35392 жыл бұрын
My uncle was an engineer on the Powhatan Arrow, though he never spoke much of it. I never knew that he drove the mighty J class. Such a beautiful engine.
@edwinspeare7 жыл бұрын
Noted the Northern Pacific Vista Dome passenger car being pulled by 611. Brought back many fond memories riding the southern Montana part of the NP as a youngster. Saw the 611 in Manassas last year, it really stands out with the paint job.
@MikesMovies7 жыл бұрын
7:20 on, that has to be my favorite train video ever, blasting out of that tunnel OMG amazing
@RobertCoulter7 жыл бұрын
the sound rattling in the tunnel is amazing
@arthurmchugh51846 жыл бұрын
Robert Coulter that is the sound of people trying to breathe!!!
@spooon46906 жыл бұрын
They'll manage :)
@haroldwilkes66083 жыл бұрын
Poetry in motion...reminds me of the late 40s and 50s living east of Roanoke, good times.
@jackwinemiller83586 жыл бұрын
my grandad was a train engineer for 35 years, used to take me n my brothers on short rides in the summer when we went to visit, ill never forget those days, thanks grandpa Frank!!!!!!
@JumpingFlapjack5 жыл бұрын
It is amazing to see such a beautyful old steam Train in action! :)
@SteamCrane5 жыл бұрын
Fantastic video, excellent camera work, well scouted locations. 8:02 - Crewman opening the cab window after leaving the tunnel!
@SmokyMtnSteam5 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@sybillovell82845 жыл бұрын
Absolutely beautiful piece of art that is still in use.love the nostalgia.
@withoutnamepeople854 жыл бұрын
Awesome!!! and 2:16 right side there is a old car running on the road, wowwwwww, just feel back to 1920
@vim663 жыл бұрын
Beauty of a Beast. 611 seems to be in pristine condition. Kudos to the maintenance team. Great video, man.
@jeanmarchand22074 жыл бұрын
What a beauty !!!
@rogerstill714 жыл бұрын
Impressive! That's a long train through the mountains and that single steamer is doing it all alone.
@SmokyMtnSteam4 жыл бұрын
611 is a real beast, you could feel her shaking the ground as she went by.
@Neitherherenorthere9705 жыл бұрын
You Yanks certainly have some great locos to admire!
@brianrigsby79003 жыл бұрын
Damn right Brit
@StubProductions3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Glad there’s so many still operational.
@rudycarlson8245 Жыл бұрын
You over in England have some beautiful steam locomotives too!
@leprechaun505 жыл бұрын
That is one gorgeous locomotive!!!!
@Heat0ne7 жыл бұрын
THAT SOUND!! Some absolutely gorgeous shots!! Thanks for sharing!
@Peasmouldia5 жыл бұрын
Excellent footage. Love it when she's "chopping them off" as we say here in the UK. Thank you sir.
@cvcv64135 жыл бұрын
What a thing of beauty ! The times of real men and women and families
@mikechapmanmedia22913 жыл бұрын
Just found this - beautifully done!
@TheBlindAcorn8 жыл бұрын
Cool hadn't seen any footage of the 611 coming out of the tunnel!!
@dannygayler3164 Жыл бұрын
Wow , 611 is and will always be my Favourite American Steam Loco !!
@cumul0n1mbu58 жыл бұрын
16:30 I live right down the road from there! Glad you could join us in watching 611!
@SmokyMtnSteam8 жыл бұрын
Western Virginia is beautiful. I hope to see 611 running through there many more times in the future.
@Eggomania865 жыл бұрын
I just got done watching Up's 844 and I decided to compare, I am noticing 611 has no diesel assistance and is pulling a longer consist up rougher terrain. Those boys at the East end Shops knew how to build a locomotive especially The J class. I had the privilege of riding behind her twice. Once when I was a kid june of 89 to Buffalo NY and in May of 2016 from Manassas to Front Royal. 611 is definitely my favorite engine. She has both grace and power. You definitely feel it when she runs by that she's a living and breathing marvel of human engineering at It's finest. When I was in Great Britain I've also got to ride behind the Flying Scotsman. It's a fine engine and graceful, to me the Flying Scotsman doesn't have the character and soul like J 611 has.
@jasongartner52675 жыл бұрын
East coast engines, there were a lot more powerful than west, of course coal was big part of that
@xgi366 жыл бұрын
My hometown, great railroad town with a museum , come on down you'all.
@daniellaubach75445 жыл бұрын
Luv the sound of the rails sing as the 611 passes by!
@Romans--bo7br4 жыл бұрын
Great Video of "her"!!... and great camera angles & video capture. Personally, I think the best "stack talk" I ever heard from the 611 was the day she stalled on Saluda with 22 heavies.... was a Masterful "touch" on the throttle to get her started again on the grade... though that had to cut the train and bring the trailing end up with diesels.... but Hey!... it was on Saluda, and she did "good". If you haven't seen that video.. just search for N&W 611 stalls on Saluda (Oct. 1992). Seems to me that the whistle is not as "clean" and stout sounding as it did "back in the years" before she was static and then the rebuild.... or, maybe it's the engineer(?). It sounds like it's just "waking up" from a sleep, with wet steam not yet cleared out of her "throat" and the boiler is only at about 70 or 75 percent of operating pressure (300psi.. after 1950).
@JonsGarage894 жыл бұрын
I believe there was some fiasco involving the original engineer and HIS whistle from her last excursion service back then. The one she has now is either a repop or the closest they could get. Its still amazing, and to hear it echo through danville va as she was coming through, sent chills up my spine and tears in my eyes. Its the most sorrowful, lonely sounding noise Ive ever heard. But with her in view, its kinda cheerful in a way.
@espeescotty8 жыл бұрын
What an amazing machine! Any railroad running that train as an OCS would have 2 of their newest high horsepower diesels on it. 611 took care of business!
@manga128 жыл бұрын
diesles can start up a train, high power low end torque, but a steamer works better when it has a good speed on it or worked hard makes the fire burn hotter and the steam expands more taking less of it to push the piston and once gets going the steam admission valve can be cut shorter saving steam, and that is where it makes its most power when its running hard the boiler does its job the best. that is where with the more modern steamers built late in the era like 611 make their peak hp at speed.
@jamiethedinosaur8698 жыл бұрын
Actually, early diesels weren't good on slopes, the Santa Fe actually had steam engines on standby in certain areas as helpers for that reason.
@manga128 жыл бұрын
They still aren't as good they can also overheat the motors on a hard hill as it were like the problem with ashbula hill that 765 climbed unaided last year on the way over though ohio about this time she needed everything she had and they thought she would slip but she made it , also, just listen to the hill story by Rich Melvin when he ran up attica hill, during the conrail years a yard foreman doubted that any train could make the hill since the diesles needed help, but then got a shock when Mr Melvin had 775 accellerating up the hill, the thing is the harder you work the pressure on the pistons as it goes up the stack the harder the draw on the fire like puffing a cigar when you smoke or a set of bellows in a blacksmith shop the the harder you draw the more it glows and more heat it gives off, the hotter the fire the more the steam expands and takes up more volume with less gas to push the piston in the cylinder, also the more easy it makes steam in the boiler.
@ddkoda7 жыл бұрын
That yard foreman must have had the shock of his life as he witnessed 765 climb Ashbula Hill by itself. Amazing information on how a steam locomotive seems to become more efficient and powerful the harder the engineer works her; just the opposite for a diesel. You just can't beat a steam locomotive for sheer power and torque.
@baritonebynight6 жыл бұрын
And you can't beat a steam locomotive for sheer beauty.
@johnfronza29835 жыл бұрын
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to shoot it, edit it, and post it.
@railpast7 жыл бұрын
I bet the engine crews were gasping for air. Nice video.
@MikesMovies7 жыл бұрын
Stunning, what an impressive beast and I love the whistle
@The.Real.Timmii5 жыл бұрын
I live in Christiansburg, the sound is amazing in person
@justinratcliffe9472 жыл бұрын
I live in Radford
@TIMMEH199915 жыл бұрын
Love to see that Milwaukee Road coach (car). America's Somerset and Dorset? We all seem to have lost fantastic lines.
@FBU328048 жыл бұрын
Excellent work, especially at Montgomery!
@Lucius_Chiaraviglio5 жыл бұрын
Great work indeed, but I feel sorry for anyone following through the tunnel . . . and diesels going through a tunnel are already bad enough.
@pearlwhitewing4 жыл бұрын
Music to my ears!
@southernoregoncatmom65195 жыл бұрын
What a great looking and sounding train!
@doubledee96755 жыл бұрын
Look at how easily it draws such a heavy train
@e-train7653 жыл бұрын
NEVER underestimate the power of steam
@e-train7653 жыл бұрын
Fun story: In July 1988 NKP 765 was tucked behing two SD40-2's and a U33C which were pulling a 60 car freight train. They were heading up to Gulf Summit on the former Erie, and at first they were rolling at 40 mph but once they hit the hill at Gulf Summit their speed began to drop to 25 mph and was was continuing to drop. The fireman on 765 that day wanted to test a new load of coal they just aquired (765 had been "idling" this whole time on this 60 car freight train) 765's engineer radioed the diesels and asked if they wanted some "help" up the hill. Eventually after easing 765 into the load the throttle was to the roof with a steady 245 psi boiler pressure with the 765 making SO much noise it drowned out the diesels ahead of it. After several minutes they were back up at 32 and accelerating slowly (still going up this hill mind you) Satisfied with the performance of the coal, 765's engineer radioed to the diesels informing them they would be backing off now. The response he got was: "It's a good thing you let me know. I'll start notching up again. You guys have had the whole train all by yourselves for the last 3 miles." 765 pulled a 60 car freight train BY HERSELF up Gulf Summit Grade at 32 mph, and three diesels couldn't match her power.
@graemedurie90943 жыл бұрын
@@e-train765 They were great locos, operated by a company that understood steam and what it could achieve.
@daleeasternbrat8165 жыл бұрын
There is a lot of very good steam locomotive vidos. This is among the best. Thanks!
@TrainWizardProductions8 жыл бұрын
I rode 611 last July on this same route. I caught it the next day at various locations including the Friendship Rd crossing.
@sybillovell82845 жыл бұрын
Would love to ride on her.
@RobertBOUSKILL5 жыл бұрын
Winston Link would have loved this video
@davidhamilton5065 жыл бұрын
Pulling 21 carriages including it's own weight is an incredible feat, such is the power of steam...
@peterwilson31612 жыл бұрын
A most excellent video. Thank you.
@SmokyMtnSteam2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@stevesmith88546 жыл бұрын
Great video skills... thanks for posting!!
@SmokyMtnSteam6 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@nomon956 жыл бұрын
Good speed and good power to pull 20 coaches in flat and a gradients.
@balsumfractus4 жыл бұрын
Great video work! Thanks for sharing!!
@MarcABrown-tt1fp5 жыл бұрын
Ahh, my home city. What a pretty sight.
@The.Real.Timmii5 жыл бұрын
great shots!
@SteamCrane5 жыл бұрын
Great camera work! Sorry I missed this!
@opecno81086 жыл бұрын
I'd hate to be in that cab going through the tunnel. NS speed restrictions not allowing the ole girl to get some speed hitting the grade meaning you really have to let the engine work to maintain your speed. Which means holding your breath and closing your eyes going through the tunnel lol
@hilham895 жыл бұрын
Amazing video. Thank you for sharing.
@waynewilliams33397 жыл бұрын
Steam locomotives gain horse-power the faster they travel; diesels loose horse-power as they gain speed. That's why a heavy consist requires 3 to 4 diesels to pull it.
@yugiyugi1779 Жыл бұрын
great job thank you
@jackp91225 жыл бұрын
Got to ride behind the 611 at least once, maybe twice in the mid 80s in the Ohio-Kentucky area.
@deloresjimenez792 жыл бұрын
I miss the 611 it use to run by myhouse when I was a teen.
@BigChuck_1 Жыл бұрын
What a beast; How Many Diesel Electrics would it take to pull all those cars up that mountain?? Just curious; Anyone know?
@valeriewilliams71044 жыл бұрын
So magestic. !!!
@robertgift5 жыл бұрын
7:45 Do they stop adding coal beforentering a tunnel? I would. Well done video with information. Thank you.
@sorrenpeak48705 жыл бұрын
No they do not.
@faerieSAALE5 жыл бұрын
What a glorious way to travel.
@TheCreativeMind5 жыл бұрын
From what I noticed, the Great Northern passenger cars have been split up and bought by others. I would love to see the F7 units and all the cars together running again
@KevinBenecke5 жыл бұрын
How many noticed the antique car passing through at 2:15? Then the sports car behind it?
@teredude7 жыл бұрын
I think you could do so some modifications to use some type of state of the art "Clean Efficient Coal"system. I Believe these beauties could see more service especially in coal country. I think these J-Class are roller bearing chassis and rods. With a few mods these locos could be a testament to efficient use of AMERICAN Energy. These were put out of service way before their time. These Steam Beauties are a huge part of our AMERICAN Heritage. Just my opinion. Cheers
@Greatdome996 жыл бұрын
Everything moving part on that loco was mounted on roller or needle bearings. Two men could pull it with a rope. The trouble with coal power is the amount of carbon dioxide it puts into to the air (far less efficient than diesel so more CO2) and the contaminants in the firebox ("cliinkers") that are poisonous. Plus they use coal from mines that destroy the environment (mountain topping, pouring coal wash water into local streams, etc.) Diesels are far more reliable, too.
@erikdevries92085 жыл бұрын
If I were a member of the top 10% or the 1% I would own a train like this and travel in no other manner.
@railfancannon93217 жыл бұрын
Nice video dude
@sonnydean31877 жыл бұрын
That's a great looking consist!
@thatvintageguyXD7 жыл бұрын
7:48 THAT LOOK AWESOME!
@airailimages5 жыл бұрын
Some great vantage points and crisp audio. Thumbs up! I'm guessing you use a directional shotgun mic?
@SmokyMtnSteam5 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Actually at the time this was filmed I was using the Sony ECM-XYST1M stereo mic. I now use the Azden SMX-30 which can be switched between shotgun and stereo as the situation requires.
@M0T094 жыл бұрын
Attention! 2:11 The Cars to accompany!
@Xantec8 жыл бұрын
10:24 was the sound waves from the trains horn causing the picture wobble?
@SmokyMtnSteam8 жыл бұрын
No, I got there at the same time the train did so I didn't have time to set up my tripod. The wobble is the camera trying to compensate for the unsteadiness of my hands.
@robbleeker47775 жыл бұрын
The 1st tender is obviously for coal.....Is the 2nd one for water?
@SmokyMtnSteam5 жыл бұрын
The tender attached to the locomotive holds both coal and water. The second tender is usually referred to as an auxiliary tender or canteen and holds just water. Canteens weren't very common in the days of steam because trains could just stop at water towers on their route, but these days they are a necessity for any mainline steam operation.
@SantaFe194845 жыл бұрын
Totally awesome! I can't wait to see the 611 at Strasburg this fall. Does it have a cables diesel engine?
@SmokyMtnSteam5 жыл бұрын
611 almost never runs with any kind of diesel, it can handle the excursions on its own.
@SantaFe194845 жыл бұрын
@@SmokyMtnSteam So what is the car right behind the coal bunker for?
@SmokyMtnSteam5 жыл бұрын
@@SantaFe19484 It's a canteen for extra water capacity.
@weatherboy51863 жыл бұрын
@@SantaFe19484 Also just as a FYI, the second car after the canteen car, the one with the smoke stack at 14:33 , was the generator car providing power for the consist.
@visekual62484 жыл бұрын
When the train enters the tunnel shouldn't the doors and windows be closed, otherwise the train wouldn't fill up with smoke?
@SmokyMtnSteam4 жыл бұрын
Yes, all of the windows and most of the doors were closed.
@Willysmb445 жыл бұрын
AMAZING stack talk. Great video, excellent work!
@doubledee96755 жыл бұрын
These were great locos
@ngauruhoezodiac31433 жыл бұрын
OMG what a cloud of smoke when it exited the tunnel.
@nancyharman4795 Жыл бұрын
And by the time the end of the train finally exited, the smoke was STILL trailing out of the tunnel!!! 😺💕🐾
@manga128 жыл бұрын
wish they would take her out to the test track in colorado, and let her thunder the rails at top speed to show she still got it, or at least let her run at speed she is not designed for 40 mph she is made for going 80 +
@jamiethedinosaur8698 жыл бұрын
I heard either 611 or one of her sister engines had gotten up to 110 when the PRR had her pulling the Broadway Limited once. That would really be a sight to see.
@manga128 жыл бұрын
611? that was a differant railroad that had that the Broadway was a PRR train, unless this was in the excursion days post steam when N&S had her, but speedwise yea 100 would be pushing her, but I know she is known to do 100 mph, but there were faster locos of course, though some would say she is the most technological advanced loco left from the steam era due to her fine craftsmanship, and balanceing as well as her roller bearings, and being one of the last locomotives built in the united states at a point where many were already bringing on diesles. I hope the t1 does get done and cant wait for that day that we can get some miles on her and find out once and for all what one can do the people building her or rather the crew that is spearheading the effort like gary bensman and wayne york come from the Fort Wayne Historical Railroad, so they know what steamers can do and how to put them togather, they have been at it for a very long time, Fort Wayne was the first all volunteer and non profit know in the world to be the first to get an engine back to running order in steam took them a few years but they were the first recorded to do it, others did as rail companies and so forth but Fort Wayne was all volunteer, I do hope the use some better metal though for the poppits that were one of the mechanical downfalls of the metal at the time, when they ran them as hard as they did on the crestline to chicago division via fort wayne the Altoona of the PRR West lol though they look like they are trying to make her as much as they could in the origional fashion so far.
@travelingman4848 жыл бұрын
+Jamie Stearns ;))
@09JDCTrainMan8 жыл бұрын
It was 610.
@jamiethedinosaur8698 жыл бұрын
manga12 I think PRR had a controlling interest in NW at the time.
@ticatica62083 жыл бұрын
The speed of this steam train is mind blowing:110 km per hour
@weatherboy51863 жыл бұрын
Just to let you know, the 611 was speed restricted to 45 MPH for the july 2015 trips. During the production of the locomotive, while pulling 15 cars was able to get up to 110 MPH or 177 Km/h. The engineer started to get nervous with vibrations to push it any faster, therefor the true power and speed of that locomotive is not known.
@regmason23295 жыл бұрын
Twenty cars + a heavy canteen car, that is some weight, I dare say no other American 4-8-4 had the power to handle that train, in that terrain.
@HeavyTanker-vx4oq3 жыл бұрын
They didn't struggle so much when they were able to break 70mph. Now it's limited to 40, and struggles up the mountain.
@SmokyMtnSteam3 жыл бұрын
To be fair to 611, this excursion was much longer and heavier than a typical passenger train of the 50s.
@HeavyTanker-vx4oq3 жыл бұрын
Yeah, and it's all random cars. They special built light weight cars for the J class. Sadly not many of them survive
@daniellaubach75445 жыл бұрын
What's with the 26 giving this video a thumbs down?
@SargeOfTheGuard4 жыл бұрын
In only a couple of shots did it show that the Fireman was earning his keep because "Black Smoke Wastes Fuel" is printed in Large White Letters on the face of every Tender where it's coupled to a Norfolk and Western Steam Locomotive!
@1956tmo8 жыл бұрын
really nice work here..... Subbed your channel
@mwand894 жыл бұрын
Do signal lights change whenever steam trains of today passed them?
@SmokyMtnSteam4 жыл бұрын
Yes, the signals see it the same as a normal train
@clonecommandoCX-T5 жыл бұрын
I don't know why we never stuck with those trains you look pretty cool I wonder why the nose of the train was a lot longer and bigger.
@charlesbissey99015 жыл бұрын
7:30 damn that sound!!!!
@SteamEnthusiastProductions5 жыл бұрын
1 great video2 are you coming to strasburg railroad 3 why the pink flag?
@SmokyMtnSteam5 жыл бұрын
Thanks! The pink flags were for Mother's Day and yes I will be going to see 611 in Strasburg this fall.
@johnr5252 Жыл бұрын
Did many engineers of these trains have lung damage from long term exposure to the smoke?
@SmokyMtnSteam Жыл бұрын
That can be a concern. Railways with many tunnels would often issue gas masks for their engine crews.
@surajravi58063 жыл бұрын
Pulling around 20 carriages without diesel loco support...great