This question came up during the preparations for the exhibit. AFAIK, the general assignment of the C&O 4-8-4's was Hinton to Newport News. Usually, their 4-6-4's were used west of Hinton to Cincinnati and Toledo. Never say never, but all photos I've seen in Cincinnati show N&W Class J's (and sometimes K2 4-8-2s) with C&O L2/L2a 4-6-4s. I've not seen any pix of the C&O J3/J3a's there.

Check this link, courtesy of Bob Lydhall:

http://classiclights.org/pdf-files/pane ... educed.pdf

This is a sample of one of the 12 panels on display at VMT. Thanks, Bob, for making this available. My technical prowess was totally lacking to bring this off.

Edited 2/20/11 - I omitted the credit: panel was developed by N&W and C&O Historical Societies.

It's worth the trip to see these at VMT!

Howard, I've sent you a PM with the contact info for some who took pictures. Bob's photo gives a good idea of the high quality of the panels. One of the neat things about the display is how it is ergometrically arranged. As you walk down a hall at VMT, you see the first panels ahead of you. As you come out into the gallery, there is a spotlighted display case with O-scale models of both "J's". The panels chronicle the parallel development of motive power on both N&W and C&O from the Civil War onward. They are arranged in a "D" shape around the display case. As you turn away from the last panel, you are facing the door that leads to the equipment displays. Walk out onto the dock, and there is 611 and 614 side by side, with 1218 tucked away behind. All in all, it's rather impressive.

Thanks, Dave Stephenson, for posting that photo link of the joint N&WHS/C&OHS display panel; the story and photos there are wonderful, but sadly, they confirm for me that I live in the wrong time. . .

It's common for a lot of people to feel they live in the wrong time, but in my case, I've had a couple of friends tell me so!

Every time I'm around one of these magnificent giants I too wish that I had been born in 1900 not 1940. However we don't get do-overs so need to be grateful for what we're given!

A good friend who is extremely knowledgeable on all things C&O tells me that on a handful of rare occassions the J3a's did run as far as Cinncinnatti and thus I'm sure someone must have gotten a photo of one there and who knows, perhaps sitting next to an N&W J???

I'll ask around.

Ross Rowland

In the cab picture, what is the silver item with a lever, that is attached to the brakestand and speed recorder?

I'm not absolutely positive, but it looks like a control stand for a trailing diesel unit. This would be one of the real modern jobs, in which the controller lever moves back and forth in a slot in what looks like a desk. This is what is under that desk.

Bah!! Unholy diesel influence!! Out, out, I say!! :-)

The diesel control stand was installed in 1998 when NJ Transit did the complete " upgrade" of the 614 so that she met all the then requirements of a fully equipped locomotive on their and Amtrak's system.

The upgrade installation included cab signals, event recorder,ATS, overspeed protection, satellite tracking, diesel control stand, pass through HEP, manual hand brake, micro processor, ditch lights and all new wiring throughout.

Emotionally I'm with you in that I'd prefer not to have that damn diesel control stand there, especially as given our drothers we'll hopefully never have to operate her ( assuming someday we get to put her back into service??) with a dismal anywhere near our train. However, to keep her compliant the stands gotta stay there even if it's never needed!!

Ross Rowland