Quoted from VMT Website:
"The Norfolk & Western Class J 611 Steam Passenger Locomotive —known affectionately as the Spirit of Roanoke— is anticipated to leave the Museum some time in January for engine truck wheel set replacement which is required before the next excursion season. During this time, 611 will not be available for viewing. The exact date of 611's departure and return will be posted when known."

I guess this is a little more assurance for more steam trips in 2016. I also received an email newsletter from VMT which stated that Norfolk Southern and Brenco Bearing company are assisting in the project.

From the Trains Newswire today, 611 is getting "air cooled" bearings on its lead truck. Anybody want to tell me what that really means?

They corrected the story. It now says the bearings will be converted from oil bath to grease, cooled by ambient air.

This article's shown up in my Facebook feed a couple of times. The website looks kind of sketchy to me and the way the article's written is a bit vague... anyone have any insight into exactly what is being done? I thought #611's operation in 2016 was up in the air anyway.

http://steamtrainpics.com/mighty-stream ... o-service/

(more knowledgeable posters feel free to correct me)

I believe that it is getting it's pilot truck rebuilt in January, they are doing the work at Shaffers Crossing, and NS is on board for 611 to run in 2016, but ONLY the 611...

EDITED TO ADD A RECENT ROANOKE TIMES ARTICLE.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/local/roano ... d7b14.html

Right, NS annouced that 21st century steam is "over," but 611 will run trips on NS this year. Trains Magazine covered that TVRM felt that they could do better staying on their own property and running their own trips than on NS. I don't know too much about 765, but NS said that they would always be gracious in helping the ferry moves. Mark Ray, or Kelly Lynch could probably comment more.

I was wondering if NS was going to do anything after some CN interruptions...8-D

Doesn't 611 have to cough up half a mil or so for insurance? Do they have a source for that insurance yet?

Hi
From and earlier post , this year , on this web site, N&W # 611 was not going to run because she is not set up with the Positive Train Control . How did the N&W get around this ?

The RR's themselves are not set up(ready) for PTC. Ask again in 2 or 3 years (however long the extension is for).

It was shown in one of the Fire Up 611 official facebook page postings that all the equipment to install PTC on 611 is already on hand.

I was afraid 611 might be a bit late to run much during the 21st Century Steam program. Well, at least she is operable again.

Here is the full 2016 Schedule for 611 as released by VMT yesterday:

• February – will move to Spencer for maintenance and annual FRA inspection following work to replace the front truck wheels and axles at Shaffers Crossing.

• April 9, 2016 - The Virginian, Spencer, N.C., to Lynchburg, Va.
• April 10, 2016 - The Blue Ridge Special, Spencer, N.C., to Asheville, N.C.
• April 23, 2016 - The Roanoker, Greensboro, N.C. to Roanoke, Va.
• April 24, 2016 - The Roanoker, Greensboro, N.C. to Roanoke, Va.

• May 7, 2016 - The Powhatan Arrow, Roanoke, Va., to Lynchburg, Va. (morning)
• May 7, 2016 - The Pelican, Roanoke, Va., to Walton, Va. (afternoon)
• May 8, 2016 - The Powhatan Arrow, Roanoke, Va., to Lynchburg, Va. (morning)
• May 8, 2016 - The Pelican, Roanoke, Va., to Walton, Va. (afternoon)
• Weekend of May 14, 2016 - visitors to the Virginia Museum of Transportation will get to view 611 fired up, and meet the crew.

• June 4, 2016 - The American, Manassas, Va., to Front Royal, Va., (runs once). After the morning excursion, 611 will make a guest appearance at the Manassas, Va., Heritage Railway Festival.
• June 5, 2016 - The American, Manassas, Va., to Front Royal, Va., (runs twice)
• June, 2016 - 611 will be on display at the VMT.

• July, 2016 - 611 will be featured at the North Carolina Transportation Museum for special events.
• Early August, 2016 - 611 will return to the VMT.

• Early September, 2016 - 611 again will return to the NCTM for special events and maintenance.
• Sept. 24-25, 2016 - 611 will travel to Danville, Va., to be featured during Danville Rail Heritage Days.
• 611 will return to Roanoke after the NCTM events conclude in the fall.

Certainly a more extensive schedule than most were probably expecting given the current issues facing NS in regards to declining traffic and the unwanted overtures from CP. The addition of ‘on-display’ evens, especially at Danville, are nice to see as it allows NS to generate more PR value from the use of the locomotive as well as educating the public. This was something that was overlooked in the original program and I don’t believe was fully exploited with the now concluded 21st Century Program either.

While the trips are great, if they’re to continue these additional non-trip type displays will be important to show support to NS beyond the railfan arena. And maybe once traffic settles down and hopefully CP goes away, NS will look at inviting FWRHS and TVRM back for additional trips.

Well, my wife and I got to see the lady from Roanoke today.

What a wonderful experience! A nice loud exhaust on the grades, good and square, booming steamboat whistle, lots of people, and most interesting for me, a reminder of how graceful a steam locomotive in motion is. . .watching those rods cycle around while driving alongside, it struck me that a steam locomotive, particularly something like a 4-8-4 with that long set of side rods connecting the No. 2 (main) driver with Nos. 3 and 4, well, it doesn't roll, it STRIDES, it seems to step, like a horse.

My wife even said some of the sounds reminded her of a horse; some of the snorting the 611 made was as if it was breathing. This was while climbing the grade out of Front Royal.

I have difficulty in figuring out the people in the trail crowd who apparently not only hate trains, but from some comments they have made about steam in other venues, such as the tank engine on the Catskill Mountain and the prospect of a heavy SP 4-6-2 running in Monterey, Ca., they apparently hate steam most of all. . .which is what many of us love most of all.

My money situation has a good promise to be much better next year. . .I want to get two tickets then. . .