After a very enjoyable exploration of the grounds and inside the North Carolina Transportation Museum, I waited for Norfolk and Western 611 to make its way to the turntable and was eagerly anticipating seeing her under steam for the first time.
Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 611The Norfolk and Western Railway's J class steam locomotives were a class of 4-8-4 locomotives built by the railways East End Shops located in Roanoke, Virginia between 1941 and 1950. The first batch, numbered 600 to 604, were built in 1941-42 and were delivered streamlined. In 1943, 605-610 were delivered without shrouding and lightweight side rods, due to the limitations on the use of certain materials during the war; they were classified J1. When N&W showed the War Production Board the reduced availability numbers because of this, the Board allowed the J1s to be re-fitted as Js with the lightweight rods and shrouding in 1944. The last batch, 611-613, were built in 1950, all streamlined. The Js were built and designed completely by N&W employees, something that was uncommon on American railroads. The class should not be confused with the much earlier J class of 1903. The total cost for building 611 was $251,544 in 1950 (equivalent to $2,441,000 in 2015).
Norfolk and Western 611 was getting ready to move onto the Spencer turntable.
Norfolk Southern AS-416 1616 and a Norfolk Southern caboose.
Norfolk and Western 611 came out onto the Spencer turntable.
On the turntable.
Norfolk and Western 611 reversed off the turntable.
Norfolk Southern AS-416 1616 built by Baldwin in 1955.
The cab of N&W 611.
The coal loading of Norfolk and Western 611. It certainly takes a lot of coal to fill its tender.
Norfolk and Western caboose 518675 built by International Car in 1970.
I caught the museum's train engineer in this pose after which I moved to my next photo location.
The diesel for our two Norfolk and Western 611 excursion trains passed. Next, my friend Dave Pressley arrived and joined the photo line with others.
More action by the other motive power.
Next Norfolk and Western 611 reversed by us.
That was followed by Norfolk and Western 611 passing the photo line, after which we walked over to David's car bound for Charlotte.
The last views of this classic steam engine for today. Tomorrow I was going to ride behind her.
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