Steam & Excursion > 610, 630, 4501

None of these locos is big super power but I suppose it doesn't matter as they'll be escorted by a diesel or diesels...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/10 19:18 by wabash2800.

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> None of these locos are big super power but I
> suppose it doesn't matter as they'll escorted by a
> diesel or diesels...

I would say that depends on the size of the trainset, and where the train is running.
If its a long train, or has to deal with a lot of grades, then I suspect a diesel assist will be used.
Contrary to what you might think even the 611 had diesel assist the last several years. This is because
they had some problems with sanders, and overloaded trainsets(too many coaches). I personally witnessed
611 stalling on a steep grade, but it was because of sanding problems and a rain storm hit twice during the climb.
On the return trip a diesel was used from Portsmouth to Cincinnati behind 611, and on most of the trips after that
until 1994 when they stopped the program. I have also seen 611 pull this same grade with 25 coaches and over 1300
people(1986) without diesel help.

4501 is a great engine and can probably go a few more places the bigger engines couldn't go since its a 2-8-2. Last time
I saw it run was 1991, which was the first time it had run in a few years. 630 is a nicec engine as well, and I first rode behind
it on the Georgia Peach Special in 1969, and saw it at the NRHS convention in Charleston in 1970. These two would make a nice
doubleheader when 4501 is done.

Here is one of our video previews(sorry for the commercial), that has 4501 during 1991. Maybe this will make some want to see this
engine even more.

http://www.youtube.com/user/GregSchollVideo#p/u/67/x9i9_oHR1HU

Greg Scholl
PS 4501 first ran in 1966, and I saw it in Cincinnati the next year. When it ran east from Cincinnati over the N&W in 1972 it was the first steam
on this line since the last 600 ran in 1958. In the east 4501 is a legendary locomotive no matter what the color, but I hoping for Black this time.

I came a bit late to the Southern steam party, riding my first trip Alexandria to Front Royal behind 4501 in 1976. What a wonderful trip! I still remember the smell of honeysuckle along the "B" line west of Manassas. The then 30 mph railroad was perfect for 4501. I was hooked on Southern steam specials, and used to wait breathlessly for the first edition of the "Southern Steam Calendar" every year.

In 1978 630 and 722 teamed on a Front Royal trip, and that was even better. And it just went on from there. I spent nearly 20 happy years chasing those trips all over the South, missing more than I rode. I'm sorriest that I didn't ride the one-way move of 4501 from Chicago to Baltimore in 1974 via the Nickel Plate, W&LE, P&WV, and Western Maryland. Now THAT would have been a trip, but I was working as a trackworker for ICG and would have lost my job had I taken the time.

But thanks for the memories, and I hope for many more in the future.

Greg:

I'm still skeptical that even the 4501 won't be escorted in this era. But let's hope I'm wrong.

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> Greg:
>
> I'm still skeptical that even the 4501 won't be
> escorted in this era. But let's hope I'm wrong.

You may well be correct. But if so, at least it won't be an AMTRAK diesel and tin cans!!!
I remember our Cincinnati Railroad Club trips with 2839 in 1979. We had a Southern FP7 behind
the Hudson cause it had trouble with things like Erlanger Hill. The engine could run fast, but was
not the puller that some of the other engines were, cause it was not designed for pulling 20-25 coaches on
rolling territory. That engine always sounded good though I thought. Anyway, the smell of coal smoke in
the morning will be a welcome one. Is 630 even operational.? Thats a nice looking 2-8-0.
Greg

doubleheader Wrote:
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> Is 630 even operational.?

No, but it's getting closer all the time. When I saw it in April, the stack and most of the valve gear were in place and the flues were ready to be fitted. I don't know where it stands now, since I haven't seen any recent pix of it, but I'm willing to bet that 630 could be made ready by the end of the year, or maybe the year after.

This was the best I could manage from the angle my camcorder was shooting from.

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