Norfolk & Western Class J 611 - Test Run - Spencer, NC to Greensboro, NC - May 21, 2015

[@ddkoda]

How she shines and gleams! A thoroughbred put through the paces and she succeeds admirably. Designed to run at around 100 mph this is just a taste of what she's capable of achieving. She is probably the best ambassador for good public relations that NS could hope for. This video captures the essence of what this great Northern J class is all about but there's nothing quite like being there in person during a photo run by seeing the sights and sounds and the shuddering of the ground as 611 thunders by.

[@jslasher1]

What a beauty. It's obvious that a great amount of love and care has gone into the restoration of this classic locomotive. I recall it from my youth -- all the way back to 1952, visiting relatives in Cincinnati. Greetings from Australia.

[@NSTrainFan]

Thanks for viewing!

[@Rescue294]

Very nice! I was 12 years old the last time I saw her. I remember she use to come through eastern Virginia (Suffolk,Va) at least once a year. Great job on the rebuild!

[@artmay9088]

Beautiful beast. Especially at speed

[@creepy013]

One word can describe this loco. "Beautiful" Great video. Gary

[@NSTrainFan]

***** Thanks Gary.

[@1940limited]

What an amazing accomplishment and in a relatively short period of time, too. Thank you to everyone who made this possible and for the wonderful gift to the rail community. It's so nice to see 611 up and running again. I'm sure it will become the pride of the NS Railway! Nice to hear that whistle again. I like "Pride Of Roanoke" under the cab windows, too. Very nice touch!

[@1940limited]

What original whistle. The one on there sounds the same to me as they were using in the 80s. Maybe I missed something? Who's later? Do you mean Claytor?

[@thenorgalofthehills5688]

Fantastic Whistle!

[@RodimusPrime]

Amazing footage! this is a dream come true

[@BNSF798]

I would love to see her run in Indiana again! Last time she came through was '84.

[@baddogengineering]

Thanks Ben! You made my night! I figured this girl was long mothballed.

[@RailJoyProductions]

Those are some nice shots of her on the NCTM grounds in Spencer!

[@NSTrainFan]

Jeremy C. Schultz Thanks Jeremy.

[@PeterCPRail8748]

Amazing bid, Ben. Great shots of the beauty, she is beast but yet elegant. Looking forward to future vids, don't be a stranger.

[@Neno8403]

All is right with the world with J 611 back in action. I missed this beautiful old girl! My favorite 4-8-4 next to SP Daylight.

[@NSTrainFan]

Khemistry thank man.

[@vettebecker1]

Great job, would have been nice to catch a ride on that trip

[@axeandrail]

Thank you so much for posting!

[@NSTrainFan]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@DGModelworks]

Amazing footage Ben! Wow she is a beauty. Those people in High Point sure got blasted, hahaha. Thanks for the awesome video!

[@NSTrainFan]

Thanks Dereyk!

[@CastleGraphics]

Great video, nice setup and composition!

[@NSTrainFan]

Thank you!

[@trainroomgary]

Very cool classic steam power, from NC. • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway

[@NSTrainFan]

***** thanks man

[@PennRailVideos]

Great video Ben!!

[@NSTrainFan]

Thanks Penn! :)

[@bobbydale1938]

Saw her Oct 2017 ,a must see up close ))

[@MultiMusicianman]

Great sighting you caught of the J611

[@NSTrainFan]

MultiMusicianman thanks man.

[@trainpixsnet]

It was great meeting you Ben, at the 611 Photo Charter, Thursday .

[@NSTrainFan]

It was nice meeting you as well! (sorry for the late comment back)

[@atlittle1]

Awesome video Ben! Thanks for sharing!

[@NSTrainFan]

Steven Johnson Thanks for watching Steven. You going to come out next weekend and chase it?

[@atlittle1]

NSTrainFan Probably not. That Saturday is getting pretty full with family stuff. If anything, I would just see it north of Salisbury and that would be it.

[@spamcan9208]

Damn that thing looks good.

[@Gavs_rc_hobbies]

@ 5:45 I thought "Damn that guy better get off the tracks!" Then i realised it was a water mark........ :/

[@NSTrainFan]

xrayracer1 I laughed out loud at this actually. lol.

[@gordonsnell6735]

I love that deep whistle she has 😊😊

[@chasehudson7063]

I would go to the museum every year and just love then at a n scale model train show I saw the poster and was hyped up and now my church friend bought me a ticket for the Lynchburg to Roanoke ride yay

[@HURRICANEWILMA]

so cool ! excellent video !!!!

[@NSTrainFan]

James Lewis Thanks James.

[@jasonoliver8416]

very good Video

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Trains give us the Brightness Days.

[@buijs1967]

Wow, that is great, that is something will never be able to withness in Europe. Lucky american and you big steam!

[@BNSFmodelrailroad]

Awesome!

[@NSTrainFan]

BNSF model railroad Thanks man.

[@seththomas9105]

nice vests.

[@NSTrainFan]

Safety First

[@clrphotography7448]

That's really cool!

[@NSTrainFan]

Chicago Line Railfan it was really cool to see.

[@WigWagWorkshop]

That was neat! What happen to the catchy tune, at the end of your videos :-)

[@NSTrainFan]

WigWagWorkshop this one needed to be sharable on my photography website and I didn't want to have the click on this video page at the end of the video.

[@BCSchmerker]

From the smokebox build plate, #611 must be an in-house build of the Norfolk & Western. However, its general plan could have been replicated by American Locomotive for the New York Central as Class S3a (starting with road number 6031); Class S1a, except for its new firebox liner, was essentially a port of Union Pacific Class FEF-3.

[@davidhyer3404]

Since tracks are private property, what is the going rate for someone like VMTX to get a engine on the mainline? I would assume that NS has some sort of rate structure similar to how you can pay AMTRAK to take your private coach on the mainline.

[@rwamchubb7977]

does 611 still burn coal or was she converted over to burn oil?

[@phillonly]

ITS ALIIIIIIIVVVEEE

[@thenorgalofthehills5688]

How come she's not going as this fast on the regular excursions?

[@NSTrainFan]

The Creepernator from what I understand because this was not a revenue run, meaning no passengers that were not on for official business.

[@thenorgalofthehills5688]

NSTrainFan Oh. That makes sense.

[@TheDodgedude71]

lol lady j rolled coal at 10:09

[@walkerbelle]

I asked another gentleman (hasn't responded yet) who has another video of 611, is there any truth to the rumor that the coal we see on top of the tender is strictly cosmetic, as 611 has been converted to an oil burner? Thanks great video!

[@NSTrainFan]

That's false, I can confirm that it is all real coal.

[@jacksalvin364]

May 21st, 2015.

[@shawnwaddilove3776]

Hi Guys, I'm an airplane nut and I'm wondering what does she use for fuel? Oil or coal? Smoke.

[@Rebel9668]

+Shawn Waddilove Coal. N&W got most of their revenue hauling coal and that's why they held on to steam locomotives longer than the other major railroads of the time. They also had their own shops and built their own locomotives in Roanoke, VA. 611 is one of the most technologically advanced steam locomotives ever built during the 20th century.

[@suevosloo2008]

why do they have to keep ringing that damn bell

[@Longshadowsmodeltrees]

It's nice to see J Class 611 and you back in action. Hope to see more of you doing Train videos Ben. Keep them coming. Bob, Longshadowsmodeltrees.com

[@NSTrainFan]

Widi1956 Thanks Bob.

[@richardfooshee7709]

What is the difference between a Steam Locomotive and a Diesel Engine. To my way of thinking a Steam Engine has character and life. A Diesel is a slug designed by slugs to plug along. Nothing beats the sound of a steam engine at throttle, but I will have to say a few Modern EMD's pulling at full throttle make a fairly powerful sound from a distance...

[@trainsnmorebuffalo]

Haulin' Ass!

[@NSTrainFan]

trainsnmorebuffalo that they were!

[@southern207hobbies]

there is no way shes doing 40 more like 60 or 79 mph

[@NSTrainFan]

James Dunlap there was no passengers, so it was none revenue. They got close to 60.

[@southern207hobbies]

I think it's a safety issue / insurance company keeping the steam program limited on speed of under 40

[@NSTrainFan]

James Dunlap it is only 40 when its a revenue/passenger run. As this wasn't they let it out a bit and it was awesome!

[@southern207hobbies]

I really wish they let the full steam program run at track ( freight ) speeds as ns has the best maintain mainlines on the east coast