The Return of NW 611!

[Gage O'Dell]

Last weekend, I made the 7 hour drive in the middle of the night toward Spencer, North Carolina for the return home of the Norfolk & Western J-611. After picking up a couple friends in Tennessee, we arrived on the property of the North Carolina Transportation Museum around 0630 to grab a couple quick shots 611. Afterwards it was off to Yadkin River to watch and wait for 611 with our counterpart for the afternoon, Peyton Gupton. After the northbound Amtrak and northbound intermodal cleared, NW 611 made its move onto the mainline and across the bridge into the public view.

We made a quick getaway to our next spot at Jamestown. After screaming at people getting in our shot, to watching a rerun of Dukes of Hazard at the crossing, NW 611 finally came into view and the hoards of people who were angry and yelling became peaceful and happy at the sight of the queen of steam. We made a long drive to Pelham, NC, where we would shoot a fine set of a Southern signal bridge, which would be the spot where we would experience the least amount of people. Then it was time for another long drive to Altavista, VA and the former Southern trestle. It would be our last shot on the former Southern route before we would turn our attention to the former NW Blue Ridge line.

After lunch and another long drive, we arrived at our only shot on the former NW line at Villamont. With a nice set of CPLs and a lovely grade, we got to watch 611 work up the long grade with the former CEO Wick Moorman at the throttle. Then it was time to make a long drive home. After driving a little over a thousand miles and 25 hours straight, I arrived back in Tennessee to stay with my friend and fellow JREBer Aaron. After all that driving and the memories of seeing 611 under fire for the first time, the day was finally and sadly over.

Below are a few pictures from the chase, you can see the entire set here >>https://www.flickr.com/gp/46459752@N08/BN21E4

NW 611 comes into the small town of Jamestown


NW 611 crosses the former Southern trestle at Altavista


NW 611, with Wick Moorman at the throttle, leads NS 957 up the Blue Ridge grade at Villamont

[Matt L]

Very nice! Was the dome car near the end of the train a Wabash car?

[swinstandley]

I took a photo of the dome car on the end of an EB NS freight in Bluefield, WV,  May 23rd.  With a little research I found the following link:
http://thundertrain.org/MontanaDaylightDome-041313.html

The page gives a history on the car up until it was the Emerson on the Cuyahoga Scenic RR, and a photo from 2013 in North Little Rock.  I have attached my 2015 photo of the car in Bluefield, one on the Cuyahoga in 2010, and one of its plaque at CV.

Another link to photos is: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rspicture.aspx?id=445073

Anyone know its current ownership?

Stew

[Matt L]

Interesting! I saw the dome car in Bellevue, OH a day before you did, by pure luck. It can be seen in my trip thread:

http://www.jreb.org/ns/index.php?topic=17350.0

The dome car looks very sharp. Will it also be used on the NKP #765 excursions this summer?

[Ptrainman]

Love you shot at Altavista and Villiamont Gage. I kinda wish I had done Villanont now.


Paul