Join the discussion on the following article:
Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 will steam again – if the money is there
I have waited for many years for this day to come. Let’s get the Mighty J back up and running.
Brian George,
Toronto Canada. Just made a donation…Hope it will be succesful…cant wait to see her run again.
Brian George,
Toronto Canada. Just made a donation…Hope it will be succesful…cant wait to see her run again.
How wonderful it would be to see 611 running again.If there ever was a worthy preservation cause to donate to, this is it. I hope we all get behind it.
Wonderful news - I hope I live long enough to see this historic locomotive again at work on the main line. I’ll certainly send a donation.
I only hope the group does better than the Flying Yankee Restoration group in New Hampshire which has not finished their work going on close to 20 years.
A lot of money, but let’s get started!
I’d love to see it happen. However let’s not forget 1218, her partner. Go for 10 million in fundraising and get 'em both back in running shape and on the rails!
Historic Preservation:
TRAINS’ Preservation Award
NRHS Heritage Grant Program
Charity Search Engines
Grocery Stores Fundraisers
Historic Preservation:
TRAINS’ Preservation Award
NRHS Heritage Grant Program
Charity Search Engines
Grocery Stores Fundraisers
awesome maybe she will come to the Chicago area
I never saw her run in person, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed in the hopes that she might run in Pennsy & Reading territory someday.
Great news indeed! I am 44 and fighting Stage 4 Colon Cancer but am looking forward to the day that an entire New generation falls in Love with this Beauty Queen as i did at age 15 in 1984 when i was one of the car host’s with my Dad from Erie, Pa to Buffalo, NY and return! I was at her dedication in Roanoke and am looking forward to having my family by my side as i watch her run again on the high iron! Thank you to every one involved for protecting her in her slumber over the last 19 years! I have said right along when any one would ask me “IF”? I would always say that she is NOT dead! She is just resting up for her next assignment! Long live the “Queen of the Fleet!”
Marvelous news and since I enjoyed two trips behind # 611 I will certainly support this project with some decent $$$s despite being retired and on a fixed income (yep, no more
upgrades at WENDY’s}. I would hope that the the #611 team will contact Senators from VA, the state legislature, to obtain funding support in the form of grants. And as a N&W stock-holder [yes, never recognized the NS] I will be writing them urging them to give some really BIG $$$$ as what a publicity bonus for them…talk about goodwill when # 611 steams by…hope to see her in 2014 on the main line from Portsmouth to Columbus.
Hoorah! Great for Roanoke! Great for NS! What wonderful news!
In the court of public opinion this a homerun, it is time to put your money where your mouth is. This one of those times we can effect history and help restore the most beautiful locomotive in America. NS has more positive PR going than any other company in North America right now. p.s. anyone at CSX watching the last two years at NS.
Back in the day, I shot the 611 maybe 3 times - didn’t think it looked that great - boy was I wrong! Now that I am almost 69, I miss seeing that engine & would Love to see that engine return to service! Good luck with Fire Up 611. Bring it on!!
Excellent Idea. I suspect that assisting in the fund raising would benefit NS greatly, by having something to draw people to trackside.(for instance) Pulling an intermodal occasionally would have a greater impact on the public, than the current ads that NS is running. Oh, and by the way, yes, it would be great to have CSX take note of this too.
This is a lot of money. I would suggest that NS, if they haven’t already done so, consider some form of limited matching grant, or challenge grant when donations get to a certain point. It would be the right thing to do for many reasons.
Wonderful! I am looking forward to seeing my favorite, Southern 4501, come back by Spring 2014, and then, God
willing - I am nearing 72 and Type 2 diabetic - 611 will roar by my eyes and ears again! 1966 - age 25, 4501 Richmond to Keysville - 1991 - age 50, 25th anniversary at Chattanooga - will I see both engines running again? Let’s Go, Go, Go!!