Video

Not a huge variety in the span of a few hours, but huge variety overall.

​@@TranscontinentalRailfanoh yeah. SMS Lines acquired the RJ Corman Baldwins as of now. Another story for first week of August 2024?

Yes

OH YEAAAAAAAAAAAH

It wont be long before the Flying Yankee trainset is zooming once more

The Oklahoma Heritage Railway Association is restoring Dierks Lumber & Coal Co. 207 to operation.

@@TranscontinentalRailfan got it thank you very much

Yes, it was.

@@BMMEC6000 That’s awesome!

@@jakecollins3669 There are currently no plans to run 611 this year.

Wow pal. I didn't expect you to convince the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad to restore good old number 5.

It’s just the B60B 9055 that has been selected to be a future tool car for 1361. The other B60 that the museum acquired from Amtrak’s Ivy City yard is still going to be an exhibit car. That B60 is currently stored at the Everett Railroad.

​@@TranscontinentalRailfanAh. Okay!

@@TranscontinentalRailfanmany updates! I’m excited that the restoration of the flying Yankee seems to be beginning. Also, I am surprised that a British steam locomotive trust would want to convert their engine to oil. Do you know why that is?

Because coal has become more expensive than ever in the U.K. So much so that there are no active coal mines in the U.K. and all coal has to come in from other countries.

@@TranscontinentalRailfan I didn’t know about that. I knew that in the past there was an attempt by British rail in its very early days in 1947 to convert to oil after there was a coal shortage right after the end of World War II but by 1948 or 49 they had gone back to coal after said shortage had quickly ended. A lot of people had wondered how good oil firing was for British engines since it wasn’t widely practiced before there wasn’t a lot of comprehensive studies about its efficiency. I recall that when they were building the steam locomotive tornado there actually was a serious consideration of having it be an oil burner, but that never happened. I think I read somewhere that because of the war in Ukraine it was hurting coal shipments across Europe and heritage railways in Great Britain were feeling the crunch as a result so with that in mind, it makes sense that people would be starting to consider converting their engines to oil. I have to say that while I’m not sure if most British engines could burn oil it makes sense that the World War II era engine you mentioned would be able to, since those locomotives were literally designed to be operated in various conditions across the world both to burn oil and coal

That is true.

This video was taken in early July this year. I was in Altoona for a few days just to visit and railfan there.

@@csxrailfanbronyzachbecker2105 There are no plans to restore NKP 759 nor N&W 1218 to operation. We already have an operating NKP Berkshire and that is 765. For the 1218, having 2 big steam locomotives (611 and 1218) to operate and maintain cost way too much money for a non profit organization. You can help by donating to UP 3985. Go to rrhma.com, go to their donation page, select the locomotive fund, and make your donations there.

@@TranscontinentalRailfan that sucks for Nickel Plate #759 and Norfolk & Western #1218.

​@@TranscontinentalRailfanMy son thinks that FMW Solutions could help restore them to operation.

Not just a repaint. Must also be waiting to be converted into AC44C6M units.

@@TranscontinentalRailfanyep most are waiting for a check before entering service and then rebuild

Unfortunately, running a big steam locomotive cost a lot of money. Operating and maintaining 2 steam locomotives (611 & 1218) is way too much for a non profit organization.

​@@TranscontinentalRailfanDon't forget that with God all things are possible.

As I mentioned in my community tab post a while ago, I gather information for a railfan updates and announcements video every week until Thursday night, because Thursdays are when I write the script for narration. Then on Fridays I record my narration for the videos. Anything that comes up after Thursday night will be carried over for next week’s video.

@@TranscontinentalRailfan *Oh* , of course.

Same lol

Yeah i got excited for a second

Same-

My special needs son sure hopes 1218 will be restored to operation real soon or sooner than soon he believes FMW Solutions can help and keep in mind that with God all things are possible!

@gretchenchadwick8343 It may be possible, but with just running 611 has been a major expense for the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The reality is that having 2 big steam locomotives (611 and 1218) to operate and maintain would be just too much for the VMT, as they rely heavily on donations and sponsorships to the keep the museum open to the public. What’s also important is that you truly need a railroad to operate the 1218 and Norfolk Southern does not plan to host excursions with 611 nor 1218 anytime soon. Just restoring 1218 to operation would require so many donations, as folks have previously reported that 1218 looks good cosmetically, but it’s missing some important parts.