N&W 611 visits Strasburg 2019
Published 4-17-2021
Post updated 6-11-2021 3:48 PM EST
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Hello readers, this is Ryan Casey, and welcome to N&W 611 visits Strasburg 2019. This surprise event happened as a result of United States steam engines not being able to accommodate the new technology of Positive Train Control. N&W 4-8-4 J Class engine #611, a steam legend, was one of those engines. This locomotive ran as part of Norfolk Southern’s Steam program until 1994. In 2015, the 611 was restored to operating condition with the intent of once again hauling excursion trains, through a new NS steam program, called 21st Century Steam, but only in 2015. Under the Virginia Museum of Transportation, N&W 611 did run on the mainline for a couple more years 2016-2017. In 2018, Amtrak CEO Rich Anderson decreed that private railroad cars and excursion trains were causing passenger delays. As a result, 611 as well as other mainline steam locomotives did not run on freight railroads. To do so would require that the carrier take Amtrak insurance.
Our Visit and Excursion
As a result, preservation societies looked to other railroads to run their steam engines on, a practice common in Britain, but new to the United States. First, in 2018, The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society called on Metra to allow Nickel Plate 2-8-4 Berkshire #765 to pull excursion trains on the Rock Island Line. Then the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the Strasburg Railroad reached an agreement to allow N&W #611 to run in Pennsylvania for an entire month. On September 28th, 2019, my father and I set out to the Strasburg Railroad to ride behind N&W #611. The weather was still humid even as Fall was beginning. We drove out to Strasburg in the morning, and reached the site by 12:30PM EST. Unlike on regular excursion days, the Strasburg Railroad’s parking agenda for the 611 excursions was unique. Knowing that 611 would draw tons of rail buffs, the parking lot wouldn’t have enough room to accommodate their cars. Everyone had to check in with the railroad, and we were then directed to park in a field by the Red Caboose Motel. Upon reaching the field, passengers for the trains were taken by school bus from the field to the station area every half hour. When we reached the station area, the platform was empty. So we picked up our tickets and then walked over to a tent featuring a model layout of the Strasburg Railroad. As we checked out the layout, N&W #611 pulled into the station. From there, the 611’s coaches were taken away by diesel switch engine #8608, as 611 was too long to run around the train by itself. N&W #475 then pulled in with it’s train for the day, and was able to run around it’s consist. When #475 departed Strasburg, the diesel shoved the coaches back to the platform, and our train time was near. This operation was well-executed and there were no problems.
After grabbing a bite to eat, we boarded the train in an open air car. I saw several familiar faces from the Pine Creek days as we boarded the train. 611 then reversed from it’s siding track and onto the main. Then the loco coupled up to our train. Departing on time, at 2:30PM EST, we rode the four miles to Paradise, Pennsylvania. Where Strasburg interchanges with Norfolk Southern. The Strasburg Railroad, chartered in 1832 and opened in 1837, is the oldest continuously operating short line railroad in the United States. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors old, middle, and young, from the Northeast, come here to experience the authentic sights, sounds, and scents of real steam locomotives. Add to this, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania being across the SR-731, makes this a Mecca among American steam preservation. So much so, that Strasburg is really the best place to have your personal steam engine boilers and parts worked on. Wheels for the Union Pacific Challenger 4-6-6-4, were machined here.
Over time I learned of every point on the railroad, from Cherry Hill siding, to the “Ghost Train” sequence. Time and time again this grew on me, but the biggest difference here is that today’s train was being pulled by a steam legend. Something I would have never thought possible, since the last fire on 611 was dropped in 1994. I was able to see this engine run after waiting 25 years. Upon reaching Paradise, the #611 uncoupled from the train and ran around. This provided me with the opportunity to get pictures of the engine, and use one as this blog site’s homepage picture. As #611 reversed onto it’s train, we began our return trip to Strasburg. N&W #611 would spend the rest of the Fall at Strasburg. There were private charters, and even opportunities to run #611 for a short distance. But little did we know that this would be the last trip behind a steam locomotive before COVID hit.
I’ve been to Strasburg for years, and used to go every summer on family vacations when I was little. This place was like a paradise, from the time I was in Kindergarten to my Senior Year of high school. But then as time went by that changed. As I was growing up, I realized that Strasburg was pretty small. As was the case, and always the case, there’s always going to be little kids and families. They’re learning how to be railroad experts themselves the same way I did. Although this 611 event was reminiscent of England’s calling, the attitude towards visiting tourist lines with kids around is different worldwide. The United Kingdom has laws and issues with child predators and adult men loitering near places where children gather, such as a Kindergarten, Thomas event, or children’s parades. Someone could be walking their dog by an elementary school, and the cops would show up and give them a hard time. If you are planning to visit the UK to see steam, please remember and accept this a fair warning not to get arrested in a foreign country. The event I went to was appropriate for all ages.
Thanks for reading!
Coming soon: North Carolina Trip 2021, Steamtown Memories, and Southern California trips – Volume 4 – June and July 2021.
To catch up my previous post, click here: https://empireofrails.com/index.php/2021/04/09/auto-train-2021-traveling-again/
To check out the latest events at Strasburg, click here: https://www.strasburgrailroad.com/
To check out the latest on N&W #611 click here:http://www.vmt.org/
