With 6 days on the market the reception is I'd say is so far luke warm. As of today of the 16 Engineer seats available for the Friday 9/30 date 5 have sold with 11 remaining available. For the Saturday 10/1 date 9 have sold with 7 remaining available.

With 24 days still to go let's hope the remaining slots get sold as it's certainly for a good cause.

Ross Rowland

Regarding the questions on page 1 about the management situation, my understanding is the previous General Manager was quietly relieved of his duties in April, and other personnel have followed him out through the summer months. However, this week a new General Manager has just been hired- one who, in my opinion, is just as and more qualified for the position than his predecessor. I'll leave it to Strasburg to make an official announcement when they are ready to do so, but suffice to say the railroad is in good hands.

Meanwhile, regardless of the debate over pricing and the experiences being offered- congratulations to the VMT crew and Strasburg Mechanical Department on the successful inspection. Looking forward to seeing one of my favorite locomotives back in action.

I don't know why folks are complaining about the price rather than just being grateful this is something being offered. If I didn't have prior non-refundable plans the weekend of September 30th I promise you I'd have gladly paid for myself and my dad to take a turn on both sides of the cab. I hope they do this event again, maybe with a little bit longer lead time but either way I'm grateful it is happening.

I was hoping to be able to chase 611 this year, but to be honest I feel like there’s a missed opportunity here. The RBM&N’s #425 has her last runs November 5 & 6 before the 1,472-day, which is pretty close to Strasburg. Running 611 on the weekend of the 5th and 6th would really draw in crowds from the 425 crowds and vice versa for RBM&N. I’m going prioritize 425 over 611 since I can always see the 611 next year.

And I personally wouldn't want to plan an event when RBM&N already has something planned because you're competing for essentially the same dollars.



When I was 12 years old and asked to go see 611 my parents had the same thought, except that was in July of 1994.....

.

The most repeated comment I've heard on 611 reflects on her styling and paint scheme. Only the dedicated and rabid steam fans (I'm one) enjoy her modern design, roller bearings, and incredible (successive) rebirths.

Would Strasburg and the tourist/railfan population infuse as much enthusiasm and dollars in the future if the big feature locomotive was a guest Berkshire or a different 4-8-4? Before I'm pilloried, I can think of several very loved locomotive requiring a 1472's and relatively little more to get them going again. Simply conjecture for discussion.

Hello,

Per Mr. Glueck, Agreed, the 611 shrouding and the styling certainly are good eye candy on the 611, likewise, my interest is more on what is underneath the looks.

Speaking from a standpoint of someone who seized the chance for the 611 throttle experience, it was a culmination of lifelong study, interest and appreciation of these machines. For some of us who chose life and career paths and who were born just after these machines were swept from the rosters, you get a chance to be in a world which you missed and might never join the surviving remnants in the future.

Showing my age here, in the movie Kelly’s Hero’s when Odd Ball had enough of Moriarti’s whining and negativity, he said, “ Stop it with those negative waves! Can’t you dig how beautiful it is out here? …..can’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change??”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hUtBhC-jygc

What is this worth to you? Do you relegate this as another entertainment experience on par to going to the beach, going to a rock concert, a sports bar, plunking down hordes of cash on jets ski’s, classic cars……what ever?

The 611 IS a living representation of the state-of-the art heavy duty express steam locomotive design in American built very late in the steam builders spectrum, 1950, globally the only steam locomotive builds on par with the J were the Class 25’s for South Africa Railways built a few years after the 611 by Henchel and North British. (The N&W J’s did influence the design of the SAR 25’s by the way…..) almost every refinement after 100’s of years of steam locomotive engineering is here folks. And YOU can be on the engineer’s seat box.

My personal reaction, 20 mph didn’t seem slow to me; my cautiousness showed, because Russel was chiding me for not getting after it a little more and …..front end throttles need two hands to operate unless you are built like the Rock.

If this has any special meaning to you at all, get your moldy money out, slap it on the barrel head and get in the cab! For years, hordes of free loading foamers (including myself) chased and raved about seeing steam run. It costs money, serious money to keep them alive. If you photograph and chase for a day, pay the railroad the price of a ticket, even if you don’t ride ( to those ready to jump on my statement…..”pay the PRICE of a ticket….”.) I’ll bet the host railroad would accept the money!

The 611 is the ultimate evolution of the art, it’s only fair to directly contribute to keeping the equipment going while giving the opportunity to be immersed in it.

It’s worth it…….it really is!

(BTW - this not a paid endorsement, like many of you, I am simply part of the great unwashed.)

Regards,

Randy

It is good to see this happening again. I have done my part to support as many operations that I can within my time and budget constraints and I encourage each of you to do the same. Having done the in-cab experience I can say it was a lot of fun.

If people do not support the operation of our beloved historic trains they will not operate. It is that simple. Either there is enough support to keep her running or she goes back to static display. This applies to every piece of historic equipment in operation. There are enough options to participate over a number of days and price points. Good work SRR and VTM.

"No bucks, no Buck Rogers."
Quote from the book "The Right Stuff" by Tom Wolfe, attributed to astronaut Gus Grissom.

"It takes money!"
Quote from Ross E. Rowland, Jr., 1971.

Howard P.

If sales are slow this year, part of the reason is because all eyes in that region are focused on Reading 2102 and Western Maryland 1309 this year. Those are the new kids in town and are no doubt stealing some of 611's thunder.

I would suggest that "all eyes" are instead on the aggregate total of grocery store payments, motor fuel costs, auto repairs (to keep running the car you can't afford to replace), rent/mortgage increases, utility bill increases, retirement portfolio declines, and the like...............

I've heard from folks in the entertainment and hospitality industries that demand for "live events" is returning with a vengeance after two tortuous years of COVID shutdowns, but that the proverbial purse strings are still being drawn tightly, forcing them to have to promote/"sell" more heavily than before.......

Indeed. Look at those flying WW2 airplanes, you're lucky to get a cockpit area ride for about the same timeframe for that amount and no way do you get to take the controls!
In each case, that's generally supposed to be a "once in a lifetime" opportunity anyway.
If I lived anywhere near Strasburg (I live in the Pacific Northwest), I'd jump at this opportunity for that amount as I'd just do it once. Heck, if 4449 did this, I'd pay that in a heartbeat!
But some people will gripe that things cost what they cost. Few people are bigger cheapskate than railfans.
Gripe all you want; it don't cost nothing and doesn't change a thing...

With the future of the 4449 uncertain at this point. I’d love it if they managed to find a way to run it somewhere