The Ballad of 611 Official Theme Song

Now's here something that you N&W 611 fans have been waiting for a LONG time. The original song dedicated to the sole surviving J class 4-8-4 #611. It was produced back in 1983 during the production of NS' classic documentary about her 1st excursion career in late summer of 1982. There was also a separate record vinyl that was available of purchase when it came out. Enjoy.

[@tpobrienjr]

My grandfather Luther T. Weeks was one of the men who drove those locomotives. He retired, and steam retired, the same year. He told me that he never failed to bring a locomotive home. RIP, LT.

[@sir.boxyboi]

W man, RIP

[@zachboyd4749]

From days long ago When the country moved by steam Out of the Blue Ridge Mountains Came a streamlined machine. Built by Virginia Craftsman Back in 1950 She was Number 611 She's the finest in steam She's the pride of the N&W And she rolls again today She's the finest steam train ever built The 611 Class J On the run over the mountains Up Christiansburg Way No train could ever pull that hill Like the 611 Class J See the stack belching smoke Feel the rhythm of the wheels She's poetry in motion On the roadway made of steel. She's the pride of the N&W And she rolls again today She's the finest steam train ever built The 611 Class J She served the road with pride Until that mournful day When the diesel came to Roanoke And they put the J away Yea they retired her back in 60 But Norfolk Southern got her running again Under steam she came to Roanoke Say Welcome Home Old Friend She's the pride of the N&W And she rolls again today She's the finest steam train ever built The 611 Class J She's the pride of the N&W And she rolls again today She's the finest steam train ever built The 611 Class J

[@SoonerStateSirens1]

Bob clater not norfolk southern

[@FutureRailProductions]

@@SoonerStateSirens1 not on the end credits of the documentary. But technically Bob Claytor was the head of Norfolk Southern.

[@railroadhistoryarchives]

"Poetry in motion" not "pull a tree in motion"

[@desiazi2045]

I heard both N&W 611 and 475 are sitting in the Sawenhalve Scrap Yard and they will sell to Romania or Ukraine. Is that true? I should restore them and run it on the Holy Horseshoe Curve! This beautifull locomotive are Pride Of America ,N&W, the Holy Horseshoe Curve ,and the whole world !!!! Run them on the main lines and the Holy Horseshoe Curve and pull express trains!

[@zachboyd4749]

@@desiazi2045 I have no idea where you heard that, but 611 and 475 are both still operating in their museum homes, with absolutely zero intention of having them anywhere near a scrapyard.

[@AtkataffTheAlpha]

Lyrics: "From the days long ago, when the country moved by steam, out of the Blue Ridge Mountains came a streamlined machine. Built by Virginia Craftsman, back in 1950, she was Numbered "611" she's the finest in steam. She's the pride of the N&W and she rolls again today! She's the finest steam train ever built the 611 Class J! On the run over the mountains, up Christiansburg Way, no train could ever pull that hill like the 611 Class J! See the stack, belching smoke, feel the rhythm of the wheels, she's poetry in motion on the roadway made of steel. She's the pride of the N&W and she rolls again today! She's the finest steam train ever built the 611 Class J! Well she served the road with pride, until that mournful day, when the diesel came to Roanoke and they put the J away. Yea they retired her back in 60 but Bob Clater got her running again! Under steam she came to Roanoke say "Welcome Home Old Friend". She's the pride of the N&W and she rolls again today! She's the finest steam train ever built The 611 Class J! She's the pride of the N&W and she rolls again today! She's the finest steam train ever built The 611 Class J! Yeah the 611 Class J! All aboard!"

[@jacksalvin364]

🎙🎼🎵🎶🎤

[@TankEngine75]

His name is Bob Claytor, not Bob Clater

[@katerinakittycat3849]

I didn't know #611 had its very own theme Song. That's pretty cool. I saw her at Strasburg 2 weeks ago and got a ride with her. The old j class engine put on quite a show and I was very impressed

[@sovietunion3678]

One can never pass up the 611 to me or the 4449 shes got her own voice. She deserves to have this song. Me up 844 i tip my smoke deflectors to her.

[@christophers.o622]

The Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 streamlined J Class number 611 & the Southern Pacific GS-4 Daylight 4-8-4 number 4449 built by Lima locomotive works are my most favorite steam locomotives and are the most beautiful steam locomotives that were ever built. Number 611 was built by Norfolk & Western in their Roanoke,VA shops.

[@amtrakhiawathafan3609]

Both old ladies have same wheel configuration

[@desiazi2045]

I heard both N&W 611 and 475 are sitting in the Sawenhalve Scrap Yard and they will sell to Romania or Ukraine. Is that true? I should restore them and run it on the Holy Horseshoe Curve! This beautifull locomotives are Pride Of America ,N&W, the Holy Horseshoe Curve ,and the whole world!!!!! Run them on the main lines and the Holy Horseshoe Curve and pull express trains!

[@rudycarlson8245]

@@desiazi2045 totally false! The 611 is owned by the Virginia museum of transportation she is currently at Strasburg railroad in Pennsylvania and the 475 is owned by the Strasburg RailRoad both of these beautiful steam locomotives are currently running!

[@Ceotoneb1]

im a N&W 611 fan l like her and i like her whistle as her voice

[@trainmaster90productions]

This is gonna be in my head when the 611 comes to Strasburg

[@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast]

trainmaster90 productions it was in my head as I was getting a cab ride in her. I will also be going to Strasburg to see her lol

[@trainmaster90productions]

@@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast nice I missed seeing 765 I'm not missing 611 lol

[@desiazi2045]

I heard both N&W 611 and 475 are sitting in the Sawenhalve Scrap Yard and they will sell to Romania or Ukraine. Is that true? I should restore them and run it on the Holy Horseshoe Curve! This beautifull locomotives are Pride Of America ,N&W, the Holy Horseshoe Curve ,and the whole world !!!! Run them on the main lines and the Holy Horseshoe Curve and pull express trains!!!

[@Redwagon2012]

​@@desiazi2045 STOP

[@christophers.o622]

The streamlined J Class 4-8-4 Steam locomotive built by the Norfolk & Western railroad and the other J Class streamlined 4-8-4’s that were built in the Norfolk & Westerns Roanoke shops are the most beautiful steam locomotives of all time. The Norfolk & Western also streamlined their K Class locomotives in the number 100 series and they named then K2’s and they were also very beautiful. Norfolk & Western was the king of steam locomotives and their locomotives had the very best whistles. The number 611 is my most favorite steam locomotive.

[@jonathantwohig5229]

Some people might have a different option to to this engine. I have heard the Southern Pacific GS-4 Northern 4449 pulled the most beautiful train in the world.

[@bra5187]

AWESOME thank you 4 sharing

[@memoriesforever4776]

I rode on the train

[@AManAndACar]

God I wish this was on Spotify

[@thememegenerator7993]

she is known as the spirit of roanoke

[@SoonerStateSirens1]

Make me a meme

[@amtrakhiawathafan3609]

She's known as the queen of steam

[@Dakota3988-s7v]

@@amtrakhiawathafan3609 not known, she is.

[@HeavyTanker-vx4oq]

I AM THE 611th LIKE I AM HAPPY

[@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast]

Happy birthday to the queen!

[@freighttrainsahpassing9790]

very nice song !

[@Cessna-er4je]

"She's the pride of the N&W and she rolls again today, She's the finest steam train ever built, The 611 class J!"

[@jabolognese]

I LOVE IT

[@RXRMidwest]

Rip N&W y6b's

[@richhood9934]

Great song! I hope UP makes a documentary and song about 4014's return, esp. if it coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike.

[@AtkataffTheAlpha]

Ballad of Big Boy

[@BarryH1701]

Nothing can compare to the days of steam locomotives. There is just something special about the sound of a steam locomotive makes at a full head of steam. I am thrilled with those who are keeping some of these great historical machines running.

[@terrier_productions]

Fair enough, 4472 starred in the 1927 film “The Flying Scotsman” but it doesn’t beat this! Another example of why 611 / N&W J Class is one of my favourite American locomotives Hello from the UK!

[@aplane9625]

This is why I don’t have a girlfriend 😭🚂

[@GageTucker-of2wd]

The u.p big girl can possibly help with that 😂

[@Conrail76]

Real

[@trainchaser17b91]

I listened to this song while riding my bike in 15. Or early 16 Wait or early 15

[@BMMEC6000]

There were 119 comments. If you turn that number upside down you get 611. Just a thought

[@josephgartler447]

run 611 run

[@unionpacificsd70ace19]

Legendary steamer

[@CENsystem]

Who the hell disliked!?

[@NSWSteamFan]

2816 Productions maybe Dave YTTP the idiotic creator of Fails of CP Failway.

[@mattjohnston7686]

AMTRAK Executive. Lol

[@SoonerStateSirens1]

An uncultured swine

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Angus Paul most likely.

[@rail-ryder7135]

Healfan1234 I guess.

[@azhrelplays753]

Nice one N&W Song

[@nathancorcoran5347]

The story of 611 the sole survivor of the N&W J class.

[@miedziak69]

nice song

[@amtrakhiawathafan3609]

The queen of steam is j611

[@steamfanatic4464]

Who ever disliked the video you’re dead af to me

[@NSWSteamFan]

Steam Fanatic probably Daliah YTTP.

[@hollyweaver1655]

steam haters that who

[@NSWSteamFan]

holly weaver Dave YTTP is a KZbin user who has become really infamous among Railfans. He makes GoAnimate Videos where innocent users like CottonBeltSD40T and Benthetrainkid get grounded as well as fictional characters that don’t deserve it, and he also does this cringy slideshow series Tales on CP Railway, which does the exact same thing and rips of Rails of Highland Valley and other series. Daliah YTTP KZbin rules so often that his previous accounts get terminated and he restarts with stupid names like Dave YTTP Returns Again Returns Again Comes Back.

[@hollyweaver1655]

i was just really trying to joke by saying "steam haters" but ok

[@amtrak713productions8]

holly weaver lol think someone got triggered steam for life

[@redsignal3866]

It has 611 likes.

[@mattjohnston7686]

Best thing to come out of Virginia.

[@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast]

Matt Johnston the best modern thing to come out of Virginia. The best thing would be George Washington.

[@mattjohnston7686]

Wish she would come through Stuart's Draft, Staunton or Waynesboro Virginia

[@khinmoo3398]

Gordon was very embarrassed his face was as red as Bertie the Bus but Edward soon pulled him out of the snowdrift.

[@beckyjohnson6798]

Some of the few N&W steam engines still runing are 611 & 1218 and I can no remember if there are more.

[@09JDCTrainMan]

1218 hasn't run since 1991 sadly. 475 is the other N&W steamer still running.

[@fabriciobengozi9650]

The Little Engine That Cool Magic Railroad

[@HustleMuscleGhias]

You wouldn't happen to have the song that was played at the end of 1218's "Steam People" would you?

[@DLTBerkshire]

Sorry but there's no vinyl record of that song available right now.

[@trainman5552]

I wish the piano music from memories of n&w 611 by greg scholl was available (I've watched that video five times I think the top two favorite 611 videos I have are that and reborn vol.3 by steam train videos cause that was my first time seeing the 611 on the Ashville segment) i swear that piano music at the start of the video is defiantly worth releasing

[@77PacerStudios]

@@trainman5552 Hey, even though I never found the song you speak of, it's titled "Fading Smoke", and it's performed by Jane Gabrielle Hicks.

[@trainman5552]

77Pacer thanks for finding that out i'm going to have to look into that

[@77PacerStudios]

@@trainman5552 Good luck with that man, I tried countless times to find the song, as well as the lyrics to it, but despite my efforts, I had no luck. Hopefully someone does find it and upload it soon. But still, I'm glad to provide you with this information. If I do find a link, I'll add another reply here with it. Doctor Danno of 77Pacer Studios at your service!

[@7kslair153]

Hey quick question what's the photo?

[@af9459]

Sure would like to share this with the Facebook group, "trCKING THE 611 GROUP".

[@trainman5552]

is this song available for download I've looked on iTunes but it's not there i really like this song i'm also confused why they changed the lyrics from the film (when they said Norfolk southern got her running again to bob claytor) to this one

[@DLTBerkshire]

I'm afraid not.

[@trainman5552]

that's alright thank you anyway

[@boomy776]

Exactly

[@NortheastTrains]

#Norfolk and western 2156

[@NortheastTrains]

#Norfolkandwestern611

[@santafewarbonnetproductions]

1:33 it says Bob Claytor but the guys name is Rob claytor

[@southeastparails8300]

Anyone knows where this photo was taken?

[@Bittern19]

Hello

[@docholliday5472]

Who sings the song?

[@DLTBerkshire]

+Ryan Shipp That would be David Kiblock & his band of course. It says so at the credits scene of NS' 1983 steam film documentary: Going Home.

[@shannawfisher]

RYAN

[@shannawfisher]

Ryan 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚋🚋🚋🚃🚃🚋🚋🚃🚃🚋🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚋🚃🚃🚋🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃

[@shannawfisher]

Ryan 🚂🚂🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋🚃🚃

[@shannawfisher]

Ryan

[@NortheastTrains]

#norfolkandwestern1218

[@artemisdgamer4801]

i like 611 class j

[@zachboyd4749]

Anyone know where I can find the lyrics?

[@union_4014]

just look in the comments xd, also the lyrics are pretty obvious

[@fabriciobengozi9650]

The N&W 611 Names Madison

[@amtrakhiawathafan3609]

Norfolk and western made good choice by not scrapping j611

[@NortheastTrains]

#norfolkandwestern475#382

[@thomasliptak9469]

En and doubya

[@easternncrailfan7594]

Why does it sound like john denver sang this song

[@azhrelplays753]

No eyes

[@azhrelplays753]

No train boy and girl

[@NortheastTrains]

#norfolkandwestern2156

[@NortheastTrains]

#strasburgroblox

[@NortheastTrains]

@strasburgroblox

[@WoodJack99]

I just can’t stand the “Roanoke home” stuff in regard to the 611. Who cares where the engine was built? Great song otherwise though.

[@sterlingbrummer2413]

Lots of people, like me, care for where it was built

[@WoodJack99]

@@sterlingbrummer2413 why?

[@sotomanuel3]

The ballad of gay 611

[@shannawfisher]

Ryan

[@SoonerStateSirens1]

Shanna

[@SoonerStateSirens1]

Ron

[@SoonerStateSirens1]

Julio

[@SoonerStateSirens1]

Carlos

[@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast]

Sirens