For just over a month in late September and October of 2019, Norfolk Western 611 came to Strasburg to hold its first major event since April of 2017, when Amtrak heavily restricted private charter trips on its mainline. Adding to this event, Strasburg’s 475 was returned to its original appearance as it would have been in Norfolk Western revenue service, with a center-mounted headlight and new paint job. With both of these locomotives present as they appeared on the N&W, this event was coined the “Reunion of Steam”.
I was lucky enough to head down and make a weekend out of it. Pulling into the overflow parking lot at 8am, I looked to my right and there it was, in all of its largeness (there is really no other word to describe it). Soon after, we were able to see 611 being given bucketload after bucketload of coal… I lost count after about 7.
My father and I started our day off by jumping into a hostling tour of Strasburg #90, where the engine was prepared for a day of service hauling packed 10-car trains. We got to see it get greased up, blown down, and then got to hop in the cab to go over the hill and back. We were told lots about the 611 during this time, including some mechanical problems, caused primarily by coal. We were told that Strasburg’s coal was very soft compared to the hard Virginian coal that 611 was built for, leading to much more coal consumption than usual, which caused the expected extra buildup in the ash pan and flues.
After this, we went over to hop behind the 611 for a “shuttle” ride half way down the line and back, a push/pull run. The huge cloud of smoke paired with the sounds of the engine were truly something to see.
Later on in the day, I had the experience of climbing up into the engine and blowing its whistle. Who says that you need a 5 or 6 chime, that Hancock 3-chime is beyond amazing to me. The inside of that cab is completely different from anything that you’ve ever seen before, with so many extra moving pieces that you’d never think of. And on top of that, all of it is clean, inside and out. You wouldn’t believe how clean that cab interior, tender, and boiler are, and this thing burns coal!
The next day, we arrived later in the morning and spent the day with the “revamped” 475. Got a chance to get in the cab of this one, and was surprised by what I saw. The controls on 475 were especially spread apart as opposed to other more “modern” engines. Whereas on 90 and 611 the throttle is next to the brakes, which are next to the sanding valve, on the older 475, these controls are relatively spread apart. I had a great experience with this trip!
Always wanted to see 611, so when I heard that it was coming to Strasburg, I was ready. After all the festivities were over, my dad and I went to find a good spot to watch 611 head back to Strasburg for the last time that day. 475 passed first, going off down to “Paradise”, PA. Next came 611, backing down the track until about halfway down the Strasburg mainline. The consist stopped on quite a grade, and 611 yanked it right back up the hill like it was nothing at all. It was really something to see, and a great way to end the weekend.
If you ever have a chance to see this engine, I highly recommend it. It really is something that you will never forget.
I was lucky enough to head down and make a weekend out of it. Pulling into the overflow parking lot at 8am, I looked to my right and there it was, in all of its largeness (there is really no other word to describe it). Soon after, we were able to see 611 being given bucketload after bucketload of coal… I lost count after about 7.
My father and I started our day off by jumping into a hostling tour of Strasburg #90, where the engine was prepared for a day of service hauling packed 10-car trains. We got to see it get greased up, blown down, and then got to hop in the cab to go over the hill and back. We were told lots about the 611 during this time, including some mechanical problems, caused primarily by coal. We were told that Strasburg’s coal was very soft compared to the hard Virginian coal that 611 was built for, leading to much more coal consumption than usual, which caused the expected extra buildup in the ash pan and flues.
After this, we went over to hop behind the 611 for a “shuttle” ride half way down the line and back, a push/pull run. The huge cloud of smoke paired with the sounds of the engine were truly something to see.
Later on in the day, I had the experience of climbing up into the engine and blowing its whistle. Who says that you need a 5 or 6 chime, that Hancock 3-chime is beyond amazing to me. The inside of that cab is completely different from anything that you’ve ever seen before, with so many extra moving pieces that you’d never think of. And on top of that, all of it is clean, inside and out. You wouldn’t believe how clean that cab interior, tender, and boiler are, and this thing burns coal!
The next day, we arrived later in the morning and spent the day with the “revamped” 475. Got a chance to get in the cab of this one, and was surprised by what I saw. The controls on 475 were especially spread apart as opposed to other more “modern” engines. Whereas on 90 and 611 the throttle is next to the brakes, which are next to the sanding valve, on the older 475, these controls are relatively spread apart. I had a great experience with this trip!
Always wanted to see 611, so when I heard that it was coming to Strasburg, I was ready. After all the festivities were over, my dad and I went to find a good spot to watch 611 head back to Strasburg for the last time that day. 475 passed first, going off down to “Paradise”, PA. Next came 611, backing down the track until about halfway down the Strasburg mainline. The consist stopped on quite a grade, and 611 yanked it right back up the hill like it was nothing at all. It was really something to see, and a great way to end the weekend.
If you ever have a chance to see this engine, I highly recommend it. It really is something that you will never forget.
Completed in 1884, this stretch of three-foot narrow-gauge railroad was considered an engineering marvel for its time. In 1973, the Colorado Historical Society began restoring the railroad as of its 978-acre Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park.
These F-7s were originally built for the Chicago and Northwester Railway, numbered 402 and 403 powered by V16 engines with 1500 hp each. The tagline "400 miles in 400 minutes," the distance between Chicago and Minneapolis, was the basis for numbering these locomotives. Photos from Colorado's Royal Gorge.
The Cumbres & Toltec is a National Historic Landmark and runs for a 64- mile day trip you’ll never forget. The coal-fired steam engine carries you through steep mountain canyons, high desert, and lush meadows as you zig zag between the Colorado and New Mexico border. You will see spectacular and rare western scenery which can only be viewed from the train’s unique route.