Kelly discussed the yellow bell, Mars light and tender lettering when the locomotive was rolled out after its most recent major rebuild. I am not sure how to search on that level of detail? I think it had to do with restoration to a specific date or "look".

Wesley

From NS's own Facebook page.

The current look is based on the "As-Delivered" livery.

The image below, taken in 1993, shows her with the brass bell she wore prior to her last overhaul.

And did NKP 765 make it over the Curve without diesel assist???

The NS/Casey Thomason photo as appearing on RP.net:

Thanks for the clarification. I vaguely recall something about 765 (and no doubt other war-time locomotives) being delivered with cast iron bells to minimize the use of war-essential materials, like the bronze normally used for bells.

5 Silver Dollars to Mr. Lyndall. The livery from 2005 until this season was the "as delivered" look she displayed out of Lima in 1944. This season it actually changed but unless you know the change it is hard to distinguish. The number boards on the headlight are blacked out. This was done because the NKP decided it was redundant to have so many numbers on the front of the loco. The steel painted bell, tail on the R on the tender, and a few other changes were done during the rebuild so they have now been there for awhile but aren't noticable until you start scrutinizing your photos when you get home.
Mr. Kuenzel-I know how you feel about just watching for a change. I started chasing during the Freedom Train days. Chased all the way up until I joined the 765 crew in '89. I have thousands of photos and hours of video of 765, 614, 844, 1218, etc. At some point I got to thinking one day and realized I had never actually got to see any of these run other than through a viewfinder. So when the Ft. Wayne guys said they needed someone to drive the crew van I thought what the heck. I drove the first 3 weeks ending up in Williamson. I took my camera along and have maybe 6 photos because I decided just to watch and listen for the first time in all my chasing days. Yeah, I'm one of those guys Greg Scholl and other chasers hate because I would get along side the 765 and just cruise with her. What an experience and a great 3 weeks to boot. I know Kelly, Rich, and crew appreciate all the thank you's and congratulatory messages but everyone needs to let NS know how much we all have appreciated and enjoyed these first 5 weeks because without them none of this would have happened.

I'll take you at your word - check your email for my "ship to" address for those five Silver Dollars !!!

My immediate impression was 8100 was helping, if just a little. It sounded loud to me and whoever was in the cab, was on the radio, leading out the window looking at 765. But what do I know! Others in the crowd didn't think 8100 was doing anything.

She slipped on the east side, before making it to the signal bridge, perhaps one or two revolutions and then she slipped just a bit on the west side, out of sight from the park.

It had rained for about 45 minutes, quite heavy at times in the morning, but about the time she got to Altoona, the rain stopped, the clouds partly parted and the sun came out!

I'm assuming the rails might have been a bit wet.

At the apex:


For any others who might have been there, my 9-year old wanted his "big bunny" to see the action:



I was skeptical at first, but it turned out big bunny was very good at reserving a spot on the railing.

Looking at these photos, is the dent at the rear of the tender new?

Bob

Yes and No, or at least that's what I think. 765 did take the train through the curve without diesel assist but not up the entire east slope. If you listen to this video of 765 going up the curve http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiV1hb4PYGA you will hear her going up at a pretty good speed. Then as they get near the curve the train starts slowing down even though it sounds like the engine is working harder. The train slows to somewhere between 10-15 mph as it rounds the curve. Then once the train passes the curve you can hear it start to pick up again in the distance. I think that they put the diesel in idle as they went around the curve to put on a good show then once they were gone they notched the diesel back up. I was down a little from the Eastern Portal of Alleghany Tunnel and when the Berk came towards me at near 30 mph I knew the diesel was helping alot as 765 wasn't being worked hard at all. As the train went by it sounded like 8100 was in notch 5 or even 6. I was alittle upset that she wasn't crawling up the hill at 10 mph like I hoped but I was still happy that NS ran steam on a line that hasn't seen it in 30 years and that I was able to see big mainline steam for the first time in my life.

It's been my understanding that trains of just about any type, at least until recent developments such as enhanced traction control and radial trucks, ease back on the throttle a bit entering sharp curves such as Horse Shoe Curve (9 degrees, 15 minutes, according to Wikipedia) to keep from slipping. I've witnessed it numerous times at Horse Shoe, with trains revving up for one final boost passing the old station location before easing up a bit as it squeals around the curve, then throttling back up as the locos pass about where the photographers/video guy were.

What I wanted to know is how the crews decided who was going to be at the throttle for the ascent.

I think Rich made that decision.

Nice work, whoever it was - those slips seemed to be caught instantly!

Darn, work is becoming one of those four-letter words that should join those other four-letter words--keeps me from seeing and hearing things like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DSVWITkurw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFxlMHyn1s4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7smYAXdxhAw

The reason for the slow down on the Curve was by request. Acording to Rich Melvin, as they approached the Curve, Mr. Wick Mooreman (yes as in CEO of Norfolk Southern Wick) who was sitting behind Rich asked that they slow down just a bit to make the show last a little longer. Rich complied with Mr. Mooreman's wishes, then went back after her as they reached us on the western side of the Curve (see video below). The diesel was in idle until just before they reached the tunnel so they didn't asphyxiate themselves in the tunnel.

http://youtu.be/j4bGc3UsMpg?hd=1