Steam & Excursion > Southern 630 Returns!

Over on the TVRM Facebook page, they just posted the Southern 630 is headed to Bristol, VA today for this weekend's 21st Century Steam excursions. The train is being pulled currently by the NS SD40-2 helpers and 630 should be the on the point for the Saturday & Sunday trips.

I'll bet there's some wore out boys in Chattanooga. Sounds like they knocked out a lot of work the last few weeks.
Way to go guys.

Way to go!!!! I eagerly await the story of what they did and how they did it. Nice going.

Lots of pictures this weekend please.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> I'll bet there's some wore out boys in
> Chattanooga. Sounds like they knocked out a lot
> of work the last few weeks.
> Way to go guys.

What he said. Kudos to all the workers at TVRM.

And now to hog them on when 4501'll be ready.

Keep on steamin', NS and TVRM!
Mark H.

Posted from iPhone

DRGWMark Wrote:
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> Frisco1522 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'll bet there's some wore out boys in
> > Chattanooga. Sounds like they knocked out a
> lot
> > of work the last few weeks.
> > Way to go guys.
>
> What he said. Kudos to all the workers at TVRM.
>
> And now to hog them on when 4501'll be ready.
>
> Keep on steamin', NS and TVRM!
> Mark H.
>
> Posted from iPhone


I say we at least give them a 3-day weekend before we request they return their attention to 4501. :)

Was out trainwatchin at Clinton this evening... About 7:00 pm i heard the West End Dispatcher mention that the 630 and coaches were commin toward Knoxville at about Craig... They will roll in by dark i would suppose....

leroy

What they need is a back up engine. Say... a Mikado! (Black or course).

Vanakatherock Wrote:
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> Over on the TVRM Facebook page, they just posted
> the Southern 630 is headed to Bristol, VA today
> for this weekend's 21st Century Steam excursions.
> The train is being pulled currently by the NS
> SD40-2 helpers and 630 should be the on the point
> for the Saturday & Sunday trips.


Out of curiosity, why does the 630 need to be towed there? If she is ready to go then why not let her steam there under he own power? The NS always lets the 765 get from point A to point B under her own power, even without dismals. And my soul will burn in hell before they ever pull the 611 anywhere if she is ready to go. Just seems insulting to the 630.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/14 01:36 by Xander24.

Xander24 Wrote:
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> The NS always lets the 765 get from point A to point B
> under her own power, even without dismals.

It's more common now with out diesels, yes, but not always: http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,2592445,2592466#2592466


Xander24 Wrote:
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> And my soul will burn in hell before they ever pull the
> 611 anywhere if she is ready to go.

Even 611 had diesel helpers sometimes back during the old steam program.

Emmo213 Wrote:
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> Xander24 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Out of curiosity, why does the 630 need to be towed there? If she is ready to go then why not let her steam there under he own power? The NS always lets the 765 get from point A to point B under her own power, even without dismals. And my soul will burn in hell before they ever pull the 611 anywhere if she is ready to go.

Since 630 is fresh off of repair work, I think it's fine to have her towed there. This weekend would be a test for her, with diesel escorts, to see if she can stretch her legs without diesel assistance. The two SD40-2's will be along for the ride as they usually are for the 630's trips since they are in the mountainous territories down here running.


> It's more common now with out diesels, yes, but
> not always:
> http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,
> 2592445,2592466#2592466
>
>
> Xander24 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > And my soul will burn in hell before they ever
> pull the
> > 611 anywhere if she is ready to go.
>
> Even 611 had diesel helpers sometimes back during
> the old steam program.

And, yes, 611 did have diesel helpers. Having seen the videos over on YoooTooobe, she needed some help to climb the Saluda Grade.

Vanakatherock Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Emmo213 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Xander24 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----

>
> Since 630 is fresh off of repair work, I think
> it's fine to have her towed there. This weekend
> would be a test for her, with diesel escorts, to
> see if she can stretch her legs without diesel
> assistance. The two SD40-2's will be along for the
> ride as they usually are for the 630's trips since
> they are in the mountainous territories down here
> running.
>


The SD40-2's were leading because NS didn't call a second engineer for the move. The moves always have an NS road foreman AND engineer in the cab of the steam engine when it's leading, along with the TVRM engineer and 2 firemen, as well as the engineer on the trailing diesel (no diesel control box in 630). Since they typically drift 630, for the most part, on ferry moves, it didn't really matter that it wasn't leading. She was under steam and being "drifted" to keep steam in the cylinders.

>
> And, yes, 611 did have diesel helpers. Having seen
> the videos over on YoooTooobe, she needed some
> help to climb the Saluda Grade.


Helpers are one thing. But getting towed. Nope, not the 611.