Steam & Excursion > N&W J class engines on passenger trains - 50's

A few Audio-Visual slides I had of the N&W 600's.

(1)
Starting off with the one that survived.
611 is on the Powhatan Arrow in Villamont,Va.
11-17-57 Robert F Collins

(2)
602 is in Christiansburg,Va.
7-19-54 - Richard R Wallin

(3)
603 is on the Cavalier in the Bluefield,Va area.
7-19-55 - Richard R Wallin

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(4)
606 is on the Cavalier in the Bluefield,Va area.
 7-20-55 - Richard R Wallin

(5)
613 on the Tennessean in Vickers,Va.
7-21-55 - Richard R Wallin

Did anyone know Robert F Collins or Richard R Wallin ?
Excellent photographers !

Gary

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How was that nose cone fastened? I don't see any bolts or hinges.

-LD



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/20 11:12 by LarryDoyle.

gcm Wrote:
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> Did anyone know Robert F Collins or Richard R
> Wallin ?
> Excellent photographers !
>
> Gary

Yes - Bob Collins worked for the Erie and was well known for documenting the railroads of Northern NJ and southern NY.  I met him multiple times when he was photgraphing the NYS&W as it was rebuilding its line and operating stack trains.

LarryDoyle Wrote:
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> How was that nose conbnbe fastened? I don't see
> any bolts or hinges.

Good question. All pictures I have seen look like it was welded on.

I have seen a picture of an inspector looking out the hole where the headlight had been removed.
 

 A skinny crew member has to slide in through the headlight housing. Inside the nose, there are screws ans bolts that secure the nose to the smokebox door. 

That doesn't sound like one of N&W's better ideas. It was nice looking, though. What kind of front end did those boilers have?

;-) LD

njmidland Wrote:
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> gcm Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Did anyone know Robert F Collins or Richard R
> > Wallin ?
> > Excellent photographers !
> >
> > Gary
>
> Yes - Bob Collins worked for the Erie and was well
> known for documenting the railroads of Northern NJ
> and southern NY.  I met him multiple times when
> he was photgraphing the NYS&W as it was rebuilding
> its line and operating stack trains.

Thanks for the info on Mr.Collins.
Gary

Master Mechanic's Front End

NW611 Wrote:
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> Master Mechanic's Front End


Interesting that it's not a cyclone. Thanks.

- LD

Great set of photos and note that you do not see large amounts of smoke as the firemen knew what they were doing.  Richard Wallin was a long time photographer and used to collect builder's plates.  When I knew him he was from Illinois.  I know that Robert Collins has passed, but I believe that R.R. Wallin is still with us.

Thanks for sharing these photos of late steam!

Ron

I'm glad to have been able to shoot 611 at Villamont myself in 2016!

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

LarryDoyle Wrote:
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> How was that nose cone fastened? I don't see any
> bolts or hinges.

The nose-cone was one piece with the body, the running gear and the tender. They were born as one single being from the loins of the She-Goddess of Railways "ROANOKE". ON YOUR KNEES diesel Philistines!



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/20 16:09 by RRBaron.

And to think we can still see sights like these wonderful slides whenever 611 steams up--lucky us! BTW, this is the first time I have ever seen the Powhatan Arrow operating with a baggage RPO, is it in service or operating as buffer car for the two, perhaps "Jim Crow", coaches behind the tender. Or am I thinking of the Pocahontas that ran without a baggage car?  Yes indeed, the 1950s was a wonderful time to grow up, if you were white and didn't get Polio. 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/20 16:06 by RRBaron.

RRBaron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> LarryDoyle Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > How was that nose cone fastened? I don't see
> any
> > bolts or hinges.
>
> The nose-cone is one piece with the body, the
> running gear and the tender. They were born as one
> being from the loins of the She-Goddess of
> Railways. ON YOUR KNEES diesel sinner!

Hey, your eminence, I only run diesels to keep up my skills when an 0-4-0, 0-4-4,  2-8-0, 2-8-2, 4-6-0, 4-6-2, or Shay isn't available.

-LD

> Hey, your eminence, I only run diesels to keep up
> my skills when an 0-4-0, 0-4-4,  2-8-0, 2-8-2,
> 4-6-0, 4-6-2, or Shay isn't available.

You are granted a Special Dispensation due to your forthrightness. Sing six verses of Wabash Cannonball and drop 6 packs of Kadee #5 couplers in the Poor Box, for your penance, my son.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/20 16:18 by RRBaron.

Each and every one is a historic treasure.  Definitely super like them all.
Thanks for your most excellent posting.
ALLEN

Just fabulous!!!

RRBaron Wrote:
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> And to think we can still see sights like these
> wonderful slides whenever 611 steams up--lucky us!

No mainline trips since 2017, so hopefully we get to see it again!!!

> BTW, this is the first time I have ever seen the
> Powhatan Arrow operating with a baggage RPO, is it
> in service or operating as buffer car for the two,
> perhaps "Jim Crow", coaches behind the tender. Or
> am I thinking of the Pocahontas that ran without a
> baggage car?  Yes indeed, the 1950s was a
> wonderful time to grow up, if you were white and
> didn't get Polio. 

This photo was taken late in 1957.  In the Summer of 1957, the "Cavalier" was withdrawn from service from Cincinnati to Roanoke.  It carried tons of baggage and mail cars, and an RPO, a combine, and usually a coach or two for local passengers.  After it was withdrawn, the Arrow became a catch-all train, handling baggage cars, mail, and yes an RPO.  I do not know about the two coaches up front ahead of the RPO car.  They may have been there to make it easier to switch them in or out during the journey.

By the way, my dad shot the day after the last run of the Cavailier into Cincinnati, the eastbound Arrow (Train 26), was huge as they were deadheading the Cavalier cars, and engine back east.  The power was a streamlined K class 4-8-2 with a class J leading.  Not many film clips of two streamliners on the same N&W train out there!!!  Kudos to dad as he climbed up a steep embankment to get the shot rounding a curving and pounding up grade out of Batavia.  Ah....the memories!!!!

Greg Scholl
http://www.gregschollvideo.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/20 06:13 by gregscholl.

Beautiful! here are two scenes from 1958 at Bluefield, WV of J's in storage near the coal tower, and 611 just happens to be in front, as diesels encroach and big steam articulateds run off their last miles. I believe these were taken from a several-story hotel that was across the street which has been gone for several years. A parking garage was next to it that is also gone, where one could get a similar photo angle nearer to the coaling tower. Photos by Harold Goltry of Merino, CO. === === = === JLH



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/20 13:35 by highgreengraphics.

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