Southern Steam on the N&W mainline

[E.M. Bell]

This past weekend, Southern 630 powered employee specials between Roanoke and Walton Virginia. The trips where all but sold out, but the weather would play a major role during the weekend, as would Murphy's   law.

Friday night (June 29th) a major storm system swiftly moved across several states, bringing strong winds along a gust front that would devastate large parts of Kentucky, West Virginia and Virgina. By the time the sun came up on Saturday June 30th, close to a million people would be without power, and damage to houses and up-rooted tree's could be seen everywhere. As Carmon and myself drove East across interstate 64 early that morning, it was a spooky feeling to go for hundreds of miles without seeing a single light.

By the time we reached Roanoke and met up with a few friends, it was evident that NS had also been hard hit. Crews had worked all night to clear the mainline from fallen tree's and power lines, and almost every crossing signal, detector and control point was off line due to the lack of power. There where trains stopped everywhere, but we soon learned that the steam trips would run. The first trip on Saturday departed a little late, and had to run at restricted speed most of the way to Walton and back, making for a easy chase. The second trip went a little better as power had been restored to a few control points by then, but delay still took its toll.

Sunday dawned clear and hot, and our prospects for the day seemed better. We got our first shot of the day as 630 pounded across the Roanoke river at Glenvar running track speed. We took off in hot pursuit, but before we had a chance to get far ahead, the steam crew was on the radio saying they had to come to a stop near Elliston. We soon doubled back and found the train, with a sea of yellow vest of the ground around the engine. It soon became clear that the bearing on the #2 driver had overheated, and the 630's day was done. The train shoved back to the CP at Singer and the 630 was taken off. The trip continued on with diesels, and the 630 slowly backed all the way to Roanoke for inspection.

Here are a few samples of what we shot over the weekend. The entire set can be found at this link>>>>  http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/gallery/nssteam12

Southern 630 Westbound at Glenvar VA, just West of Salem. 06/30/12


Passing the N&W coaling tower at Vicker...a must have shot for this line. 06/30/12


The second trip on Saturday pops out of the West Portal of Montgomery Tunnel..another one of those "must have' shots  06/30/12


Pounding across the Roanoke River near Salem. 07/01/12


The steam crew debates on the next move after the bearing overheated.


SARM's Southern 829 and TVRM's "Emporium" at Singer VA

[Badhorse79]

Great shots EM ... I love the Vicker one the most! ... I remember seeing a photo run there of 1218 very awesome

[Ptrainman]

Great shots EM, you got some of the ones I wanted. I guess there is always next time.


Paul