<P>Just curious, on much of the advertising for the 614, both auction and excursion, the locomotive is refered to as the last enine built for passenger service in the US. How is this so? Am I wrong or didn't the N&W build J class locomotives into the 50's? (611 built in 1950 right?). I know baldwin built pacific for export into the 50's as well. This just always struck me as incorrect, is it just me?<p>Dave in Scranton<br>




bing@epix.net

<P>C&O J-3a 4-8-4 #614 was the last steam passenger locomotive built by a COMMERCIAL builder for a U.S. railroad (Lima Locomotive Works, July, 1948). <p>The Norfolk and Western built three J class 4-8-4's,(#'s 611-613) in May-July, 1950. They were the last steam passengers built for a U.S. railroad. <p>That both the C&O and N&W classified their 4-8-4's in the "J" series is a pure coincidence.<p>I hope this answers your question.<br>




kevingillespie@usa.net

<P>Thanks for the piece of info, I knew it wasn't the LAST passenger engine. It was the subject of a bet, I think I just won 20 bucks.<p>Thanks<p>Dave in Scranton<br><br>

<P>Congrats on winning the bet.<p>Actually, some of the advertising for the sale just continues some of the insufferable (IMO) hype that has been spewed about this engine in recent years. <p>For example, while it was being used on those NJT trains, it was ballyhooed as "The Last Great Steam Locomotive in America." You have to overlook a few others out there to buy that line.<p>One of the claims in the sale ads is that 614 is the only steam locomotive technologically capable of operating on any line in America. This is a reference to the computer based train control/cab signal system NJT installed on it. Turns out that UP's engines have the same equipment, and 844 had it 2 years before it was installed on 614, so that claim is a bit bogus, too. <br><br>

<P>If I remember right one or both of the PRR engines used at Strasburg had that stuff put on it for use on the former PRR mainline in the early 1980's. We all know that Ross is a bit of a showman and the claims about #614 might need a grain of salt. That might not always be so bad though because he did run one heck of an excursion.<br>

<P>I believe those engines got a set of PRR train control equipment.<p>614, 844 and 3985 have a microprocessor-based system built by Union Switch & Signal that can be programmed simply by changing the software and thus can be quickly reconfigured to operate on virtually any train control, train stop, or cab signal system in use anywhere. <p>When it was installed on 614, there was a small story about it in RAILWAY AGE wherein it was claimed that this was the first such application to a steam locomotive. US&S had a letter in a later issue in which they said that UP had had the system installed on 844 2 years prior to 614's installation. <br>

<P>Thanks for the info. I am not really into the signal end of the RR picture. I knew they did something to the PRR engines but was not sure what. Do you know if the CP uses this system? I wonder if it will be installed in #2816?<p>Tom<br>

<P>I'm not aware of any train control or cab signal territory anywhere on CP, so there would be no use for such a system on their engine. <p>Maybe someone else who knows more about CP can enlighten both of us about that? <br>