J 611, Built, May 1950, finished May 29, Norfolk & Western’s Roanoke Shops
One of 14 Class J 4-8-4s, Nos. 600-613, all homemade.
Used on the premium passenger trains between Norfolk and Cincinnati, Pocahuntas, Cvaler, Powhatan Arrow, and Monroe - Bristol between Southern Railroad segments, Washington – Memphis Tennessean and the Washington – New Orleans Pelican, diesels on the Southern)
More than 5,100 hp, speeds up to 110 mph.
The adoption of diesel power retired No. 611 in 1959
That would be “J”…NOT…J1!
During WWII, six locos, 605-610, were built unstreamlined (and other factors) due to war retrictions. These engines were classed as “J1”. When these six locos were streamlined and updated they were reclassed as “J”, dropping the “1”.
When engines 611-613 were built, they also continued the “J” Class.
Yes, and I would add one or two lines about how the design was well suited to this job, something that could not be said of most other true 110-mph-capable steam locomotives (only the 3765/3776/rebuilt 2900s at ATSF come to mind in this category)
But the right metaphor for a class J isn’t a Thoroughbred – that breed of flighty, easily-damaged horse applies more aptly to something like a T1 or, as Staufer used it, one of the NYC Hudsons. (Or perhaps the Niagara we were discussing a few days ago… [:O])
The Class J is more like Jay-Eye-See, or a good Morgan: a robust and competent design that just happens to be able to make remarkable dash speed (and sustain it remarkably well) with drivers that were certainly well-suited to effective fast freight.
Now, granted, you wouldn’t want to see Jay-Eye-See shackled uncurried and back-end-first to a broken-down wagon. But at least he could move it effectively and with a minimum of fuss and drama – even when he wasn’t moving at high speed in a glamorous context.
Oh, and the Redbirds wore metalflake paint. And were passenger geared. So they are actually part of this discussion, too, in a different sense. They, too, could run remarkably fast and the next day get down low with tonnage effectively. That they aren’t as beautiful isn’t their fault.
Thanks! And can the Powhatan Arrow pulled by GP-9 (and I confess that I actually had some input on the load-regulator improvement GP-7 to GP-9) still be considered a streamliner?
For that matter, what about a 20th Century pulled by a Niagra?
Hey Overmod! When I called the Class J’s “thoroughbreds” I was thinking of what some unknown person with the soul of a poet posted on the side of 611’s cab when the N-S steam program was cancelled in 1994. It was there for the return run to Roanoke, and maybe you remember it?
"I am the Thoroughbread of Steam, born to run, born to be free!
Forgive them Lord, for they know not what they do!"
I don’t know about everyone else, but I choked up when I read that. Hell, I choke up thinking about it now.
Hey Overmod! When I called the Class J’s “thoroughbreds” I was thinking of what some unknown person with the soul of a poet posted on the side of 611’s cab when the N-S steam program was cancelled in 1994. It was there for the return run to Roanoke, and maybe you remember it?
"I am the Thoroughbred of Steam, born to run, born to be free!
Forgive them Lord, for they know not what they do!"
I don’t know about everyone else, but I choked up when I read that. Hell, I choke up thinking about it now.
I remember being tickled by that good Episcopalian use of Scripture – in context! (But of course the passion means far less without a resurrection – which we have recently enjoyed!)
And we will yet see her run, if not exactly with full freedom, again. Of that I am quite certain even if the future is (as zardoz said) often beyond a singularity.
You know, funny thing is I’ve often encountered this question over in the toy train universe. Writing from a modern perspective, say 1990 to the present day, toy train historians often question the logic of Lionel placing any steam locomotive at the head of a set containing streamlined passenger cars. Yet they can accept the use of a GP-7 or 9 pulling those same cars as if it’s the most natural thing in the universe. True, GP stands for general purpose, but if you’re out to create a sleek train set with a high price tag, why go with a boxy, utilitarian unit most often seen pulling freight?
I don’t claim to understand Lionel’s logic 100%. I mean, why put a Berkshire at the head of a work train when you could use a standard freight formula and why release the 746 N&W J in 1957 and NOT use the streamlined cars you produce? But a lot of people seem to think it would be odd to see that J pulling the extruded aluminum cars. Go figure. [:S]
