N&W Steam Scrapping in the 1970s

Kevin Gillespie · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2005 5:27 pm

Why did they cut up the 2-8-2 and 2-8-4, and not cut up 614, 2-8-4 2705, and 2-6-6-6 1309 which were there at the same time? 1604 had been sent to the Roanoke Transportation Museum circa 1969, and the three survivors went to the B&O Museum in 1975.

wilkinsd · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:10 pm

The locomotives they cut up where stored outside since the end of steam, an in my first edition of "C&O Power" it states that the locomotives were in rough shape, in the mid 1960s. I think all of the other locomotives were stored inside one of the Russell Roundhouses, or kept in better shape.

Kevin Gillespie · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:33 pm

The reason I am asking is that Ron Ziel had pictures of 614 renumbered as "611" pictured next to the two 2-8-4's all outside. The loss of 2-8-2 #1189 is particularly sad because she was the last surviving C&O 2-8-2 and she survived so long. Ziel's photos included #1604 which went to Roanoke circa 1969 and the 614, which were all stored outdoors. I'm glad that the survivors made it, but why were the unfortunate ones cut up, and not the others. I'm glad that the fortunate ones survived, but I'm trying to find out what unfortunate management decision led to the loss of the other two.

wesp · **Posted:** Fri Apr 01, 2005 10:41 am

I would speculate that the two engines were scrapped due to a combination of mechanical conditions that might have prevented moving those two over rail, the large number of 2-8-4's preserved in C&O country, and the fact that the B&O Museum already had a "2-8-2 engine".

Wesley

BILL · **Posted:** Thu May 14, 2015 9:29 pm

Neat pic. The loco in the picture "should" be #2189. I don't have all my notes and pics handy but of the last 3 Y-6s at that yard, 2174 had her tender, 2143 and 2189 did not. Have never found out when 2189 was cut up but it was gone before 1976.

whodom · **Posted:** Thu May 14, 2015 10:46 pm

I wonder if this scrap yard still exists? If so, you just know there has to be a chunk off of this engine lying in the dirt there somewhere. That'd be a cool thing to have on the shelf.

Finderskeepers · **Posted:** Fri May 15, 2015 7:26 am

Jim Herron wrote:

The 2174 was used on an excursion that ran from Roanoke to Iaeger on July 11, 1959. From Roanoke to Bluefield, the train was handled by Class A 1240 and from Bluefied to Iaeger and return the 2174 pulled the train, with the 1240 taking over for the return from Bluefield to Roanoke. I believe it was a 14 car train with three open gons on the rear. The only run-by was with the 2174 coming out of a tunnel and across a huge trestle (Cedar Fork?). I'm glad I was aboard that one!

The trip had been billed as having the 611 but response for tickets was so great that extra cars were added and the articulateds substituted. Some of the fans were disappointed not to get the 611 but looking back now, this was a very rare opportunity to ride behind both the A and Y6. It was a long day, leaving Roanoke around 8 am and retuning after 10 pm and well worth it! I think the fare was $ 14.00.
-Jim Herron

Does this bring back memories, Jim?
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 699&nseq=9

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Fri May 15, 2015 11:22 am

Ziel and Foster's book "Steam in the Sixties" has a Mike Eagleson shot of a Y6b, appearing burned out and ready to be cut up, at a Roanoke scrapyard. I am uncertain if a number was recorded.
The C&O Kanawhas at Russell Yard were in very poor condition when cut up. That 614 and 1604 survived is pretty amazing. The Kanawha's had been heavily scrounged and jacketing was ripped up, spilling you-know-what on the ground. If a museum or railroad has sufficient money, yes, they might have been saved. COnsidering how many have been saved, we have a treasure trove from which to draw operating 2-8-4's in the future. Has anybody visited 2760 in the past year to check on her condition after a quick cosmetic overhaul?

train guy · **Joined:** Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:20 pm **Posts:** 211

Quote:

I think the only Shay scrapped since the Twin Seam Mining (ex Meadow River #5) Shay in 1963

There were three Shays scraped at Twin Seams Mining Co. in Kellerman, AL in 1963: #2863, #3195 and #3247

soups · **Joined:** Sat Feb 09, 2013 11:26 am **Posts:** 57

Richard Glueck wrote:

Has anybody visited 2760 in the past year to check on her condition after a quick cosmetic overhaul?

I'll check up on her soon....but here's a video from a little less than a year ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uww02KI9e08

Jim Herron · **Posted:** Sat May 16, 2015 12:49 am

Yes, sir! I was in that crowd very near the viaduct.
-JH

Does this bring back memories, Jim?
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 699&nseq=9

tweetsie12 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:09 am **Posts:** 170

Well, Still working on the Y6B Trust, So, once I can develop a solid business plan, a new Y6B will rise from the ashes!

Trainkid456 · **Joined:** Thu May 05, 2016 6:30 pm **Posts:** 240

Sorry for getting off of the N&W topic, but this thread makes me think of a story I was told awhile ago.

Back in the mid-fifties or so, the City of Decatur, IL was offered a 4-6-4 for display from the Wabash. A city official turned down the offer but it turns out he didn't even discuss it with other officials first. The next day, the mayor called the Wabash office to say that they actually did want the locomotive, but the reply was "Sorry, we just finished scrapping it."

Thomas

Climax1551 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 18, 2018 3:31 pm **Posts:** 36

I remember seeing photos online of a B&O EM-1 sitting in a yard in PA around the 70s, apparently the one that was due to go to the B&O Railroad Museum. It was stated there was also a B&O Mountain in the same yard, but with little reliable evidence to back it up.
In addition, the book “Rails Along The Chesapeake” mentions that a second Pennsylvania Railroad D16, No. 1035, would join 1223 in storage in Wilmington. “She [1223] continued to spend most of her time in routine service, however, until later placed in storage at Wilmington, where she remained until about 1951. ... No. 1035 later joined 1223 in storage at Wilmington, but was eventually scrapped.” The text does’t make it clear if this loco was intended for preservation, or a date the loco was scrapped.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2018 11:29 am

Several years ago I inquired about locomotive we lost purely by these accidental events.

The B&O EM-1 was apparently being stored for preservation when it was ordered cut up by a minor official. When the President came looking for the locomotive, it was in a gondola.
Another story, unverified, but possible, was the Pennsy J1 which had sat in Altoona for several years, then derailed three times while it was being moved, so it was cut up on the spot.
The verified story was the New Haven "Mike" seen in the film "It happened to Jane". It was offered to some civic authority, turned down, then reconsidered. It was already being torched when the call came.

I don't know if it was policy back in the day, but it seems like when a locomotive arrived in a scrap yard, some effort was made to "fix it" as irretrievable. Seems like a lot of engines had wheels torched or something similar on arrival.