Whatever happened to the cars that used to be coupled to 611 when it was on display at the original museum at Roanoke (the one that got flooded)?

If they run the engine not at the level of normal operation like trying to head off with a long string of heavy passenger cars and run 90 mph up long grinding hills, they may survive just fine till repair.
I am sure they are aware of it now and should keep a good watch on it.
They should have studied it and give the thumbs up.

What I would like if someone is around the engine to shoot some vid of it. I tend to think at the point of time when the piston is at the end of travel, much of the pushing pressures should have released thru the valving and reverse pressure is starting, there's only a short distance of movement, give it a millimeter or so to produce the rattle of the clank. Then theres no more distance left and its applying pressure. The race should be a harder steel than for brass bushings. But the use of the roller bearings and such it was to get lighter side rods so the overall forces are reduced like for rail pounding, and balancings issues. If they used normal rods and brass friction bearings and had rollers on the crosshead that would be harder pounding forces. I tend to think the moment of the clank is at some minimal force moment at the point of changing directions. We are concerned here, but it may take the grunt while its rambling around there being a big showoff...till repair time, just keep a good watch on it guyz.

just across the NW mailing...

nice one guys

do some real work.

Judging by the backhoe seen in the SOU gondola in the 3rd picture, I'm thinking these 3 cars are filled with the 611's traveling coal supply.

Can I ask a question? What is up with the whistle deal? Where is 611's original whistle and what whistle does Preston Claytor own that he took off the engine? It just kinda messes with me that there is a UP whistle on top of an N&W J.

First, review this topic:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=38141

My understanding of the N&W J whistles is that they were Roanoke-Shops-buiklt "clones" of the Hancock long-bell three-chime.

Having said that, I have no clue just what, or whose, whistle 611 is carrying at the moment, as long as it's not a "hooter".............. and from the videos I am seeing, it's indistinguishable from what I heard in the 1980s and 1990s.

what i have heard the J's had the same whistle as the DM&IR yellowstones

I just watched a handful of videos from the Manassas-Front Royal excursions yesterday. I didn't find a great example (ideal would be standing on right side of engine, engine drifting, no whistle and no helicopter in the background!), but I could hear hardly any rod knock in any of the videos I watched.

I'm guessing they did some work on the engine last week prior to the weekend's excursions.

I've noticed that 611 appears to have the Pilliod-Baker plates on the her valve gear frames. Does anyone have a close-up? I've always wanted to see one as the ones on 6167 fell off many decades ago.

Well, I got to see the 611 today as she was departing Front Royal--beautiful weather, engine working on a grade, wonderful sight, and magnificent sound! Had almost forgotten how a big engine with superheated steam should sound like (my most recent experience was with Lehigh Valley Coal 126--quite a difference!) Was on the engine's right side and listening for the rod noise, but couldn't hear it (may have been masked by the heavy exhaust, but I don't think so, it shows up in videos where the engine is working). Exhaust was good, square, sharp, and appropriately LOUD, making the atmosphere itself come alive as only steam power can make it do.

And the train behind was equally beautiful, lovely rich red trimmed in gold and black, and stainless steel (with a couple of other cars, such as a Great Northern full dome). Was particularly intrigued by the ex-SAL "Sun Lounge" on the rear, standing in for an observation car--first time I'd seen one of those three cars in person.

I can't help but think we need to look at classic color schemes for modern trains; this one just looked so much better than anything modern we run today.

The good sharp exhaust and lack of rod noise today tells me this engine appears to be in good hands. Thanks, NS, TVRM, and VMT!!

There were a couple of negatives, not related to NS, and that was the traffic on the attempt to chase.

Actually, I can't even complain too much about that--everybody seemed to be sane compared with some of the things I've seen in the past--but it was a frustration to be behind all that and only getting a glimpse of smoke or skyline casing over some trees!

Well, at least my wife thought the coal smoke smelled good! Is it the smoke itself, or is the little bit of valve oil that's in it change it somehow? Anyway, this is one time I can't argue with her!

Bah!! Next year, when my finances will FINALLY be better (my wife lost her job six years ago, but her Social Security will kick in this year), I will be riding instead of chasing. (Riding's a little hard when you're paying for a house that was supposed to have two checks with just one check).

Did see a couple of people at a crossing east of Marshall whom I wish weren't there; both stood within the loading gauge longer than I thought wise. The lady in particular didn't get away until the engine was perhaps 30 feet away! Damn it, that's not something you should do at all, much less wait until the engine is that close.

Besides, such a photo doesn't look too good to me. How much of the engine can you see from such a near head-on angle? At such a close distance, it won't even look right.

Bah, but what do I know?

She's got a Hancock 3-chime on her today, same brand and type that she had in service. Of what provenance I do not pretend to know. The whistle she carried in the 80's and 90's was from her sister N&W 600, if I remember correctly.
What happened to the one she was "born" with, I do not know.

There is no difference between a N&W J's whistle and those carried on the UP's 800s, 3800s, 3900s and 4000s, except that the early 800's and the "small" 3800 series Challengers had the flat top style of the whistle while the rest of the 800s and the Big Boys and big Challengers had the step top version. They all sounded the same notes when new A-C-E

I am holding in my formerly nicotine stained fingers a copy of "Train Shed Cyclopedia No.51" containing the reprint of the "Railway Mechanical Engineer" article on the N&W Js, in which it states that the whistle was from "The Hancock Valve Division of Manning, Maxwell and Moore".

The very same information appears in my 1950-1951 edition of "World Railways" published by Sampson Lowe. That book says the information was "provided by the railroad".

It also states in both sources that the whistle was operated by a "Viloco Pneumatic Whistle Operator", which means it was a push-button like on-off device, and not "playable" like it is now.

Here is a link to the N&W Historical Society Archives where N&W mechanical drawings show the Hancock whistle and the Viloco Pneumatic Whistle Operator and their application on J Class locomotives. BTW, the K Class 4-8-2s had the same whistles too.

http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/selectdocs.php?index=search&Searchword=hancock

As to why two or more of the same model whistle from the same manufacturer sound different, there are a number of possible reasons. Boiler pressure, whether it is blown on saturated or superheated steam, location on the engine, angle at which it is mounted, near field objects that can influence the tones of the chambers and just plain wear and tear.

This article from the UP Historical Society has audio examples of Hancocks on UP engines with vastly different tonal qualities. Some sounding properly and some not, just like modern chime air horns do.

http://uphs.org/the-streamliner/streamliner-extra/hancock-long-bell-3-chime-whistle-recordings/

Other engines that used Hancock 3-Chimes are too numerous to mention, but some of the more well known were the SP Daylights from GS-2 through GS-5, SP&S 700, the DM&IR Yellowstones etc.

The New York Central Niagaras also carried Hancock 3-Chimes, mounted horizontally, next to the stack on the fireman's side. They cannot be seen in most photos because they are behind a rectangular baffle visible above the smoke deflector. They can be seen only from above. To save steam and consequently fuel and water, the Central preferred that their Wabco E2 air horns be used rather than the steam whistle for grade crossing warnings.

Most recordings of Niagaras that I am familiar with feature the Wabco horn but I have heard one with just the Hancock and one with both the horn and whistle being used sequentially.

Nice information, but I have to wonder abut the Viloco Pneumatic Whistle Operator, specifically how long it might have been applied to N&W's 600s. I say this because I have O. Winston Link's recordings, and what stands out is how some of the J's whistles were definitely "quilled." This is particularly notable in the recordings of No. 603 (memory) on the Cavalier in the album "The Fading Giant," which also featured N&W 385 on the Abbington branch. No. 611 is also on that record, by the way, in a brief stop and restart sequence (for a long time, and perhaps still, this was considered the only known sound recording of 611 in regular service).

After spending the past 3 days riding and chasing I can't put into words how impressive everything was. The amount of people trackside was mind boggling, any pictures or video I shot have people in them and that's a sign of what The NS and VMT did is working. The on board crews were all very well spoken and knowledgeable. There is no better corporate image than a steam locomotive coming through the countryside.

Here's my video of N&W 611 at Spencer, NC a during the Trains Magazine: Fire Up 611! Photo Charter Day

Norfolk & Western 611 (Locomotive Tour), 05-28-2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CTzOlyJBZA

Hope this helps you out joe6167. The Baker Plate which I zoomed in is at the 1:34 mark. I'm sure you can make a screencap of it.

Other videos I also have taken from the same day:

Norfolk & Western 611 (Spirit Of Roanoke), 05-28-2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyCbM_abEqA

Norfolk & Western 611 (Vintage Freight), 05-28-2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO4R5s8wi1g

Southern 6133 (Locomotive Tour), 05-28-2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3woozQ4ViU

Norfolk Southern 911 (Locomotive Tour), 05-28-2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwa_UU_ldew

Atlantic Coast Line 501/Norfolk & Western 611, 05-28-2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRel_8Nkin0

Norfolk & Western 611 (Powhatan Arrow), 05-28-2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JltP9DYPTag

Norfolk Southern 911 (Night Photo Shoot), 05-28-2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KTVryIdJnM

ACL 501/N&W 611/SOU 6133 (Night Photo Shoot), 05-28-2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDWqgrl5wco

Norfolk & Western 611 (Night Photo Shoot), 05-28-2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvyYVqs0sM4

I know there will be other people and railfans somewhere out there covering N&W 611 wherever it travels next. I had a wonderful time seeing N&W 611 this year. I Hope to see more of the stermer next year. Enjoy! ^_^