During the eighties, before I became a locomotive engineer, I occasionally had days off in which to do human activities! One of the things I loved to do was ride behind steam locomotives, especially over track I had never been over before. One of the most memorable trips was one behind Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 611. She is truly a magnificent machine. Norfolk and Western 611 was built by the Norfolk and Western Railway's East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia, in May 1950 for the Norfolk and Western Railway. 611 is one of 14 class "J" locomotives built. The first batch, numbered 600 to 604, were built in 1941–42. The last batch, 611-613, were delivered in 1950. All were delivered streamlined. The Js were built and designed completely by N&W employees, something that was uncommon on American railroads. The total cost for building the 611 was $251,544 in 1950. The design of the Js was completely universal. They were equipped with 300 psi boilers, 70-inch (1,778 mm) driving wheels, and roller bearings on all wheels and rods. The 70 inch drivers and 300 psi boiler allowed for a higher tractive effort. When operating at maximum pressure, the Js delivered 80,000 pounds of tractive effort, the most powerful for a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement locomotive without a booster.
The Js were the pride of the N&W, pulling passenger trains such as The Powhatan Arrow, The Pocahontas, and The Cavalier, as well as ferrying Southern Railway's Tennessean, Birmingham Special and The Pelican between Lynchburg, Virginia and Bristol, Virginia. Alas, diesels eventually proved cheaper to maintain and more reliable, and the 611 joined her sisters in retirement. The 611 was saved from the scrapper and eventually became the centerpiece of N&W's, and later NS's Steam Program.
On a trip between Chicago (Chicago Passenger Terminal) and Sterling, IL, on the Chicago & North Western, 611 put on a grand show. Here, she is resting in downtown Sterling, before being turned for the return trip to CPT. Yes, that was me on top of a 40 foor boxcar, recording the event for posterity!
