The locomotive restoration is not the issue as much as the shop to do it in. Is there a suitable place in the Roanoke area in which 611 could be rebuilt? Even just a large mill building with a track inside and an overhead crane would suffice, but it is essential nonetheless.

Why the nkp 765, sp&s and atsf 2926 was all restored outside so the same could be done for n&w 611

Sure, and make everything exponentially harder. Go talk to the fort Wayne people and ask if they would consider doing their next rebuild on 765 out on their lead and not in the building.

Having just finished the outdoor restoration of CW 662, I offer up a hearty "Amen"

Once you have a business plan and funding I'll be pleased to help brainstorm finding a shop. It doesn't matter until those things are in place.

dave

Where Do We Send The Cheeks To...?

I would send ANY money to N&W 611's current owner: Virginia Museum Of Transportation.

Right now, there is a defacto/fan group right now called "Friends Of The 611", which I belong to on Facebook. The group is hoping to become a real non-profit organization. They would like to create a duel partnership with NRHS Roanoke and VMT to resurrect 611 for it's next tour of steam duties in the 21st Century.

Who and where to do the work on 611....?
the answer is quite simple.
Steam Operations Corporation.
Scott Lindsay has the shop, the skills, and the staff,
and he knows the 611 intimately from his heavy involvement in her 2nd career.
No need to re-invent the wheel, just the money printing machine.

Not to side-track the topic, but a mention that Scott Lindsey is the consultant who is working with the Oyster Bay group, in their attempt to bring Long Island Rail Road G5s, #35, back to steam.
Back to the regularly scheduled program.

I second Jeff's sentiments. VMT has made an amazing turnaround in the last six years. Any funds donated to them will be spent well and with some of the matching grants they have in place, may generate twice the impact.

Let me see here;

Ingredients:

A person with lots of disposable money
A roundhouse that can service and maintain anything
A location in the heart of the NS
Somebody with a passion and love for doing it
A group of people who are professional railroaders anyway
A location not directly on the NS, but easily interchanged to

Though many of you may be shocked to hear me say it;

Jerry Joe Jacobson is probably the only person who has, in his hands, as we speak, everything needed.

Though we could argue how Jerry and I really feel about each other, I have never taken from Jerry the credit that he is rightfully owed. Jerry has built and accomplished his every dream.....to the very last dot of the I and the last crossing of every T. You simply can not fault Jerry for that. Jerry remains one of my hero's in life!

Shouldn't we all strive to reach our goals and potential as Jerry has?

Maybe a "lets get Jerry Joe on Board banquet would do the trick"?


Kindly submitted,

I'm 110% with John. Let's stop and think a while on this but John's 100% right that Jerry Joe Jacobson is the ONLY person in America with ALL the tools needed.

It's also true that Jerry is strictly his own man and not easily influenced. I've been his friend since we worked together on the AFT project and probably know him as well as anybody after his lovely spouse Laura???

The magnificent facility he is building in that beautiful setting in Sugar Creek, Ohio could ( should?) be steam central USA,..... if that's something Jerry Joe would like.

Let's see where this might go.

Ross Rowland