Norfolk Southern Will Not Run Steam Trips This Fall

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Norfolk Southern Will Not Run Steam Trips This Fall

STEAM RAILROAD INSTITUTE PM ENG 1225 IS THE SAME SIZE ENG AS NKP 765. IT IS UP AND RUNNING SPECIALS NOW. IN FACT NKP ENG 765 WAS AT OWOSSO ON JUNE 20, 21 AND 22 TO A STEAM EXTRAVAGANZA THERE WHICH FEATURED AT LEAST 7 STEAM ENGINES.

I hope 611 will show up in the DC area.

I feel like next year going to be awesome for the NS steam program.

The editor of this publication must be beside himself over this developement.

Disappointing to a point, but at least on the TVRM trips into Georgia, I can shoot pictures or video from vestibules. I still look forward to seeing the “new” 4501 running, even if in black instead of my preferred green.

and up next after the 611… drum roll please… THE 1218!!!

well. lets hope at least.

The best that I can hope for next year is a double header with NKP 765 and N&W 611 from Harrisburg to Allentown & return/Reading to Philadelphia & return. How awesome would that be? It’s my hope that such an event occurs. Now, if you folks will excuse me, I’m off to keep my fingers crossed and pray.

Thankfully, the way they’re doing the steam program this time means that those locomotives will still be out and about, as opposed to what happened to 611.

I thought of another excursion idea, Bethlehem to Reading and return. Or, Bethlehem to Harrisburg or Philly and return. All locations have wyes. 765 could be the power if Fort Wayne is willing to come to PA again. 765 did go through the Lehigh Valley area in late July, 1988 during two excursions from Bound Brook, NJ to Reading, PA and the BM&R railroad at Temple. The mainlines were owned by Conrail then, now NS except the West Trenton line which is CSX and SEPTA. 765 ran on that line on one of the 1988 trips. Would not be able to today, CSX hates steam and besides, it’s NS’s program.

I’m hoping for some big excursions with 765 or 611 next year in the northeast, Mid-Atlantic region, in VA, MD, PA, NJ. Especially on the lines east of Harrisburg, toward Reading, Philly, Allentown, and NJ. I’m from just west of Allentown. We do have Reading and Northern with 425 that runs longer trips usually Port Clinton to Jim Thorpe or northeast PA to Jim Thorpe. And they use open window coaches unlike NS. But NS can go to way more places and run on way more lines.

We started on NKP 765
Then we started on SOU 630
Then we started on SOU 4501
Then we started on NW 611
Now we’ll start on NW 1218
Then we’ll start on NKP 587
Then we’ll start on S&A 750
Then we’ll start on SOU 722
Then we’ll start on TP 610
Then we’ll start on CO 2716
And in the end, it’ll be the old program al;l over again