The Final 611 run of the Summer.. The Blue Ridge and Christianburg trips

[Gage O'Dell]

Over the July 4th weekend, Tyler Hardin, Peyton Gupton and myself loaded up and headed to Roanoke to watch and photograph what could've possibly been the last 611 run of the year.. or ever (Just tryna start some drama).. With incredible trips all 3 days, with rain and a 611 grinding up the grades, to sun and perfect weather the rest. It was an incredible weekend with a beautiful steam engine and great friends that we barely get to see..

So without further ado and boring you with details.. Below are a few pictures from the weekend, if you would like to see more, please go to the album link and view them! >>https://www.flickr.com/gp/46459752@N08/Psg9gk

7/3/15 Friday

After a successful run to Lynchburg and turning on the wye, NW 611 flies back westward as it passes Rick's Antiques in Forest, VA



"A rainy day.. 611 climbing a monstrous grade.. And a perfect spot to listen to her work."

After climbing the hill at Blue Ridge, we heard NW 611 whistle for the crossing at Villamont. It was then followed by 10 straight minutes of slow, panting stack talk as the old girl tried her hardest to climb the long, wet grade to the summit. After a couple of wheel slips and listening to her work, she finally rounded the corner at a decent pace and opened the stack as she split the former N&W CPL signals at Blue Ridge. It was something of a religious experience being able to listen to her work these long grades all day long..



Norfolk & Western 611 slowly makes her way up the wet rails on the Christiansburg grade as NS 957 rolls through Shawsville on a round trip from Roanoke to Walton on a gloomy Friday afternoon



7/4/15 Saturday

NW 611 flies under the Blue Ridge Parkway as it heads toward Lynchburg


A Bob Lyndall Recreation! A shot that hasn't been done or seen since 1994 is recreated as a group of 6 of us hiked for about a half mile or so back into a rocky cut near Arthur, Virginia to watch the 611 show! It was an honor being able to reproduce this shot!


NW 611 leads the Pelican back toward Roanoke as it splits the Porterfield intermediate signals at Salem


7/5/15 Sunday

NW 611 works upgrade by the Blue Ridge CPL signals on its way to Lynchburg


Since Montgomery Tunnel wasn't an option, we decided to shoot at a crossing near a gun range and back where a few houses were. We didn't like that shot so we hiked down to the curve where a long S-Curve was. Peyton decided to run down the long straightaway to the next curve to see what the shot looked like.. After getting his text of his picture, a group of us decided to hike down to him where we ended up climbing up a cliff and hanging on for dear life while being surrounded by sumac.. But it was totally worth it!

NW 611 near Montgomery