Steam & Excursion > A suggestion for J #611 during its return from PA to Roanoke

The Union Pacific recently discovered the interest their employees had in showing their families the engines which pulled George HW Bush funeral train, and wonder if the Norfolk & Western Ry and Southern RR would respect the interest of their employees and families in seeing and riding behind the N&W 4-8-4 J #611 on it return to Roanoke?

Just for NS employees and families, a train of SR R coaches could be filled at Strasburg Station on a morning following it service at the Strasburg R R and run under its steam power to Enola Yard where the NS #8102 (or Levins’s E-8s) would take the train back to Strasburg via Rockville Bridge and the Royalton Br.. Everyone will picnic at Enola Yard.
 
Not too long a day ride but mostly river running and a scenic trip for the family.  I would think most of the area’s railroad employees would be very proud to have their families ride that steam train, as an event of a life time.  That would cross the Shocks Mills Bridge shown in photo in my post, see:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4754410

This would be a company’s private train and not open the the public and covered by different liabilities rules, just like when the company sponsors private picnic events.
 



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/19 05:22 by PlyWoody.

I imagine someone would take great exception to the Strasburg's beautiful fleet on wooden coaches running on Amtrak's mainline.

Cool idea though....

While its in PA, fulfill Claytors promise to take 611 around the curve if NS were to get Conrail.

Not a complaint or a rant, I just lurk on websites and pop up occasionally.

Off-pending Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> While its in PA, fulfill Claytors promise to take
> 611 around the curve if NS were to get Conrail.
>
> Not a complaint or a rant, I just lurk on websites
> and pop up occasionally.

Nobody on NS now remembers who he (or they) were...

Keep dreaming. The lack of cab signals alone makes this a non-starter, before it even gets an inch off Strasburg property.

Posted from Android

It would most definitely not happen with Strasburg's own coaches, but the idea you present is interesting.  Unfortunately late October is a bad time of the year to be running any sort of "special trip" in eastern/central PA.  NS will be far more focused on the fall intermodal rush, and Harrisburg is one of three largest hubs on the NS system, both for general merchandise and intermodal.  I think we should all be glad we will get to see 611 on the railroad is some capacity this year.  IF everything goes smoothly to and from Strasburg, perhaps NS will be amicable to similar moves in the future to places where the 611 can operate. 

The Reading & Northern presents a great opportunity for the 611, (especially with a certain T1 soon to be back in service and their currently in service Pacific 425) but as far as I know their owner/CEO does not have any interest in hosting the 611 at this time.  Perhaps what Chris Bost (R&N Steam/Diesel Engineer & TO member) has suggested of a grass roots effort of letters/emails to the R&N expressing interest will be able to change his mind.  Specifically in BUYING tickets to ride and photograph the engine on their system.  Myself and many others have done so.  As Chris said, It may not work but it definitely won't if you don't try.  

Tehachapi-TJ Over & Out.  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/19 11:03 by tehachapi-dave.

This post leaves me to wonder why the owner/CEO  “does not have any interest in hosting the 611”.  The obvious reason of having his own steam program,with the 2102 to joining,could be the over riding factor,but the way that statement was posted makes me w dear if there’s more below the surface? 

   Tom


tehachapi-dave Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It would most definitely not happen with
> Strasburg's own coaches, but the idea you present
> is interesting.  Unfortunately late October is a
> bad time of the year to be running any sort of
> "special trip" in eastern/central PA.  NS will be
> far more focused on the fall intermodal rush, and
> Harrisburg is one of three largest hubs on the NS
> system, both for general merchandise and
> intermodal.  I think we should all be glad we
> will get to see 611 on the railroad is some
> capacity this year.  IF everything goes smoothly
> to and from Strasburg, perhaps NS will be amicable
> to similar moves in the future to places where the
> 611 can operate. 
>
> The Reading & Northern presents a great
> opportunity for the 611, (especially with a
> certain T1 soon to be back in service and their
> currently in service Pacific 425) but as far as I
> know their owner/CEO does not have any interest in
> hosting the 611 at this time.  Perhaps what Chris
> Bost (R&N Steam/Diesel Engineer & TO member) has
> suggested of a grass roots effort of
> letters/emails to the R&N expressing interest will
> be able to change his mind.  Specifically in
> BUYING tickets to ride and photograph the engine
> on their system.  Myself and many others have
> done so.  As Chris said, It may not work but it
> definitely won't if you don't try.  
>
> Tehachapi-TJ Over & Out.  

611 will be pulling trains during Columbus Day weekend Oct. 12-14.
Strasburg has added short, 15 minute round trips for $10.00/adult
611 will pull open-window coaches and an open-air car.

PlyWoody,  Sorry to break it to you but NS cancelled the 21st Century Steam program two years ago.  The company has its hands completely full trying to meet stockholder and finanacial anaylists expectations.  Praise to NS for at least being willing to move the 765 and 611 around on deadheads!

It says SRR equipment to be used, nothing was said about Stasburg equipment.

But yes, I agree its a pipe dream.

How about having the locomotive on Display at terminals, where employees and family can see it.   This is what the UP did.

mundo Wrote:
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> It says SRR equipment to be used, nothing was said
> about Stasburg equipment.

Doesn't "SRR" stand for Strasburg Rail Road???


> But yes, I agree its a pipe dream.
>
> How about having the locomotive on Display at
> terminals, where employees and family can see
> it.   This is what the UP did.

Well, yes the UP did that with the 4141 George Bush diesel unit, but that was also prior to the current UP melt-down due to sever weather disasters and also trying to implement Preseason Scheduled Railroading policies.

Sorry Hot Water on the SSR. Guess I am from the old Southern RR dreaming. 

Guess at 86, I better just hang up trying to keep up with the TO folks.

Let's remember NS had a whole steam program just a few years ago specifically for their employees, exactly what was proposed here. I doubt they're looking to start that up again. 

Also, and yes it's being nitpicky, but it's the "Norfolk Southern Railway" not the "Norfolk And Southern Railroad". 

Emmo213 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Let's remember NS had a whole steam program just a
> few years ago specifically for their employees,
> exactly what was proposed here. I doubt they're
> looking to start that up again. 
>
> Also, and yes it's being nitpicky, but it's the
> "Norfolk Southern Railway" not the "Norfolk And
> Southern Railroad". 

I believe the 21st Century Steam on the Norfolk Southern was from 2011 with Southern 630,
and ended in 2015.  That was the last year 4501 ran on NS mainline trackage, but was the start
of the 611 excursions which lasted 3 years on the Norfolk Southern Trackage(2015-2017).
Greg Scholl

will the 611 travel by it own power to Strasbourg  in Sept ????