Joseph's Train Trackings

To California!

 

West Virginia Rails 2010

 

 

 Went to West Virginia back in June to West Virginia Rails 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey, they named a county after us!  Way cool. LOL

 

Til next time!

 

 

West Virginia Rails 2010

 

 

 Went to West Virginia back in June to West Virginia Rails 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey, they named a county after us!  Way cool. LOL

 

Til next time!

 

 

Ever seen a train lay its own track?

Watch a train lay its own track!

How the N&W 611 was saved from scrap

I was at a train show in Virginia Beach two weeks ago and a vendor there asked if I knew how the 611 had been spared the scrapper's torch.  He said that years ago, when the Norfolk & Western railroad had a change in administration, the incoming president decided to do away with the steam engines.  That didn't set well with some of the crew there. 

Fortunately and oddly enough, the 611 was the last of the J-class engines to be in an accident and she was in a siding out back.  Some of guys there piled up tons of scrap all around her so that it looked like just a pile of scrap.  She went unnoticed for quite a time and when another change in N&W presidents took place and he inquired if all the steam engines were gone and they said well, not ALL of them.  Thus the 611 was saved! 

Quite a lesson for those of us who get disappointed that the steam program is no more and that the 611 and 1218 sit beautiful, but quiet at the Roanoke Museum of Transportation.  Perhaps one day, someone who still loves steam will be back "in power" and let them run the rails again as these iron horses were meant to do.  (btw, I was told, too, that "iron horse" was a term coined by the Native Americans upon seeing the metal monsters charging across the plains).

Welcome

When looking for links to add to my blog, I discovered that there is a group trying to get the Flying Scotsman restored and running again.  It's a grand old engine and deserves to be brought back.  Check it out!  Help the Flying Scotsman get restored   Help with a small donation if you can and know you'll help preserve part of history.

Speaking of preserving history, I can't believe that the Norfolk and Western 611 and 1218 aren't running.  In school we learned about all kinds of Virginia products, history and so on.  Here are some engines that were made here in Virginia in the Roanoke shops.  We don't learn anything about that.  Most engines were built by Alco, Baldwin or Lima.  They're unique, people!  They served mightily for years providing transportation all across the state and to other states as well. 

Take a look at the 611.  You won't see a finer streamlined steamer on the East Coast in my opinion.  She's at the Virginia Museum of Transportation and while they do what they can to preserve her, they need help too.  Norfolk Southern, are you listening out there?  People want to see her steam again.  Bring her to Richmond and run excursions out the Science Museum.  I know trains can still come there because I saw the American Orient Express there one day.  Talk about tourism, what better way to see part of Virginia than to ride on a piece of Virginia history and see the countryside.  You can see parts of Richmond that way that aren't easily accessible by car.  Other cities have done it.  Check out Strasburg, PA or the East Broad Top engine.  The town cared enough to save the engine and have done a great job of it.