Steam & Excursion > 611 consist without gallery cars

Videos show 611 in Virginia yesterday with a 13-car consist much different than two years ago.  What happened to the high-capacity gallery cars that had been repainted in N&W-inspired colors?.  

Most of the cars this year are from the Steam Railroading Institute in Michigan, with two cars from the Buckingham Branch.  The tool car is former N&W, former Roanoke Chapter NRHS 1407.  I rode today and the train looked good, inside and out.  611 had no trouble in the rain on North Mountain on the morning trip.  There were open vestibules on the return, diesel-pulled portion.

Sorry, I don't know what happened to the gallery cars.

Jim

Jimbo Wrote:
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> There were open
> vestibules on the return, diesel-pulled portion.
> Jim

Any input as to why vestibules were not open on the steam powered portion when it would be a good bit more important to those with an interest in such craziness? I understand concerns involving eye protection but that is good policy whatever power is on the head end and safety glasses are an intelligent additional revenue source as well. Thanks for the report and any additional info.   

grizzledgary Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jimbo Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > There were open
> > vestibules on the return, diesel-pulled
> portion.
> > Jim
>
> Any input as to why vestibules were not open on
> the steam powered portion when it would be a good
> bit more important to those with an interest in
> such craziness? I understand concerns involving
> eye protection but that is good policy whatever
> power is on the head end and safety glasses are an
> intelligent additional revenue source as well.
> Thanks for the report and any additional info.

Yes, I was told because of cinders.  Many of the cars were former CN, VIA coaches, and at least some did not have the upper dutch doors.  So people were discouraged from walking through the train when 611 was pulling, perhaps because of potential exposure to cinders.  While they had a gift shop at the "Victoria Station" start of the trips, there were no concessions on the train.  

These excursions attract a lot of people (30 trips total by the end of October) and there are very few of what you would call traditional railfans, who have ridden other mainline steam trips.  So the experience with cinders is practically non existent.  But open vestibules on the way back was an improvement from the 611 trips two years ago.

This year it appears the Virginia Scenic Railway/Buckingham Branch Railroad is much more in charge as compared with two years ago when the Virginia Museum of Transportation, owner of the 611,  seemed to have control.

A lot of the trip was near 40 MPH.  And as stated earlier, 611 had no trouble maintaining speed while going up North Mountain.

Jim   

Jimbo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Most of the cars this year are from the Steam
> Railroading Institute in Michigan, with two cars
> from the Buckingham Branch.  The tool car is
> former N&W, former Roanoke Chapter NRHS 1407.  I
> rode today and the train looked good, inside and
> out.  611 had no trouble in the rain on North
> Mountain on the morning trip.  There were open
> vestibules on the return, diesel-pulled portion.
>
> Sorry, I don't know what happened to the gallery
> cars.
>
> Jim

I have noticed on some videos that there were two or three open vestibules when 611 lead east

akpsteam Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jimbo Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Most of the cars this year are from the Steam
> > Railroading Institute in Michigan, with two
> cars
> > from the Buckingham Branch.  The tool car is
> > former N&W, former Roanoke Chapter NRHS 1407.
>  I
> > rode today and the train looked good, inside
> and
> > out.  611 had no trouble in the rain on North
> > Mountain on the morning trip.  There were open
> > vestibules on the return, diesel-pulled
> portion.
> >
> > Sorry, I don't know what happened to the
> gallery
> > cars.
> >
> > Jim
>
> I have noticed on some videos that there were two
> or three open vestibules when 611 lead east

Yes.  At least one or more of the cars did not have upper vestibule doors, so those would have been open vestibules at all times.

Jim

> Jimbo Wrote:
>
> Yes, I was told because of cinders.  Many of the
> cars were former CN, VIA coaches, and at least
> some did not have the upper dutch doors.  So
> people were discouraged from walking through the
> train when 611 was pulling, perhaps because of
> potential exposure to cinders.  While they had a
> gift shop at the "Victoria Station" start of the
> trips, there were no concessions on the train.  
 
It sounds like it shouldn't be too much of a stretch to promote sale of eye protection at the station gift shop prior to boarding with the understanding that they are mandatory for anyone spending time in an open vestibule. When open vestibules and windows are present on any excursion (especially w/coal fired steam...) pre-trip passenger information should include an advisory suggesting eye protection as a matter of course anytime a passenger is on or near moving equipment.

> These excursions attract a lot of people (30 trips
> total by the end of October) and there are very
> few of what you would call traditional railfans,
> who have ridden other mainline steam trips.  So
> the experience with cinders is practically non
> existent.  But open vestibules on the way back
> was an improvement from the 611 trips two years
> ago.

Yes, thanks for mentioning that many of these passengers may be first time or at best very occasional train riders, steam powered or not. That said I trust part of the mission of having #611 up front is to encourage those folks to look forward to riding again as soon as possible and telling others about what made the day special. One of the best ways to nurture that kind of excitement and continued interest is by exposing them to the very uniquely dynamic sights, sounds and smells that a machine like #611 creates which can most effectively take place when open windows or vestibules are available.
 
> This year it appears the Virginia Scenic
> Railway/Buckingham Branch Railroad is much more in
> charge as compared with two years ago when the
> Virginia Museum of Transportation, owner of the
> 611,  seemed to have control.
>
> A lot of the trip was near 40 MPH.  And as stated
> earlier, 611 had no trouble maintaining speed
> while going up North Mountain.
>
> Jim   

The idea of Virginia Scenic Railway / Buckingham Branch Railroad being more in control of these operations sounds like a positive development. They have demonstrated real commitment and seem prepared to follow through when opportunities present themselves. Its also encouraging to hear that these trips are operating at a brisk pace, more in keeping with what the equipment was designed for. There are plenty of places to ride at 10 or 15 mph for a few miles but very, very few that offer anything approaching a mainline big steam experience.

Jim, thanks very much for expanding on your previous report.  
  

LTCerny Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Videos show 611 in Virginia yesterday with a
> 13-car consist much different than two years
> ago.  What happened to the high-capacity gallery
> cars that had been repainted in N&W-inspired
> colors?.  

I asked this same question on Facebook. An employee of the Buckingham Branch told me that they were returned to Atlantic Railway this past summer. This is the company from which the double decker cars were leased.

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