1218 The Last Weekend Runs.wmv
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- čas přidán 24. 08. 2024
- While others remember the old NS or SR steam program as Summer Steam, living in Birmingham usually meant two excursions a year, at the beginning of the season (spring) and end of it (fall). Here we see 1218 on her excursion weekend running from Birmingham to Chattanooga. This would not only be the end of the season, but for 1218 the end of her retirement years pulling excursions. It was time for the required major overhaul. Into the shops she went as required, but the overhaul was never completed. A few years later NS had a new president who did not give a rip about the great steam program begun by Southern Railway, or the positive PR it created, and abruptly killed it.
While today's NS is more open to steam excursions at long last, it is doubtful we will ever see this amazing machine run again. Thanks 1218, it was awesome while it lasted!
Watching that thing pull out was amazing.
Good attitude to have!
this engine was one of o winston liks favorite n&w engines i just wish they would restore the engine in his honor
Best sounding whistle ever.
Awesome video! While seeing 630 in Atlanta this weekend was a blast, the little engine cant compare to the 1218 and 611. I hope one day we can see them out on the rails again, it was amazing to see how many people were out to see the Atlanta steam excursions!
@CWEX73 I do know about the sale. I did shoot some video that may be on an old, locked up VHS tape. If I can ever get the thing to play, I'll post it as the "Norris Yard Sale". They went at it with a vengeance; ripping apart everything that made it happen. Who knows, if Goode had his way, he would have torched the engines as well.
Thanks! here's hoping for bigger steam once more!
Oh yes! That glorious whistle echo! The only thing cooler is to ride behind the engine through those hollows and valleys, and hear that echo in motion!
Love 1218 and its all business steam whistle, my favorite steam whistle, a real industrial whistle
We rode the #1218 round trip from Knoxville to Kingston, "Steam Power Special" September, 1990!
@HaloCE14 Then i would make the 5 hour drive there to see steam on the curve haha!
I love that Steam Air horn!!!
The 611 is complete. The 1218 is not. The new NS program will definetly be a small one right now. For NS to capture what it had it's more than just the engines. They held a large auction when things ended and sold off tools and components that were/are needed. NS will never have a program again like it had before....and it's a damn shame.
@HaloCE14 I'm from Roanoke and visited 611 and 1218 just the other day. You can tell when you look into the cab standing behind the plastic that prevents one from actually entering the cab and you can see a bit throught the firebox door that nothing is inside. On 611 you can tell the machinery is still beyond the firebox door. BTW if you want to see 611 really slipping and pulling hard, type in "611 irondale hill" in the search box here on CZcams.
@HaloCE14 Also they told me at the Virginia Transportation Museum in downtown Roanoke that even though Beverly Fitzpatrick, the director of the museum, told NS that 611 was available for their new steam program, that NS said that the 611 was not part of their plans to return steam to NS rails. But a NS spokesman said they were getting a lot of requests so that may change someday if the program grows in coming years. Right now they are going to only use other engines, not Norfolk&Western engines
@fyadcorp Well, I'd consider that curve to be the entrance, but basically, yes. that is a hotspot for train watching, and today has at least 3 platforms for that purpose. To bad we don't have steam any more!
Well you can still share with friends and family.
@NW2300 Thanks!
@HaloCE14 Yes, many of 1218s part were lost. The engine was being overhaulled, and in the process, the steam program was ended, and 1218's parts went missing. But idk where they are
"Have a good day!"
@tinman3804 About November 1991. Don't know the exact date, but I'd guess toward the middle of the month. The fall excursions out of Birmingham were usually the last of the excursion season.
@HaloCE14 Im sure is Norfolk Southern wanted to, they could get 1218 running again. It just if they want to or not. I know they have plans to bring back steam, by 2012, but they are unsure about bringing back 611 and 1218. They are using TVRMs engines on the excrsions
nice video
Great video! Too bad she didn't last more than 4 years in excursion service, would've liked to have seen here at the end of the steam program...
@boblackey1 No, the building still stands, and is in use servicing diesels.
That day something died something had rested something became nothing more than a hunk of metal a corpse lifeless something once so alive and loved taken away maybe one day but for now Rest In Peace 1218 let you be a example of why history is important and why we need to preserve it 1218 became something that was to inspire future railfans and other spectators but now it’s a scar one that never will heal a hole in the generation who will never see mainline steam on how it was back in the 1930s and 50s but as seen as a waist to corporate assholes I had it with then they took away the next possible generation of railfans enough is enough I’m tired of corporate assholes choosing the fate of railfans I say it’s law that we have a national holiday about trains I’m tired of people calling railfans inmature we need to show how much railroads do for us and how they have shaped the country so they understand why we like trains so much
#bringbacknssteam
What's the life expectancy of the whistle? Be nice to hear the engine. Beautiful beast.
@EMDX90 Too bad she's not running now. The problem today is, and this from the lips of one of the guys who restored her, is that essentially to do a major restoration, you are almost working on two engines, as everything is doubled. Sadly, I doubt we will ever see her in action again. It was amazing while it lasted, though!
I would like to operate one of the Norfolk and Western steam locomotive if they restore them and get them back running. I one would really like to operate is Norfolk and Western J Class Number 611.
@HaloCE14 David Goode thougth the steam program had no place on a modern railroad. That is was tired of these rail fans having a party on his tracks. He also claimed the sudden high cost of insurance for the excursions was part of his decision to end it. But he ordered everything in Birmingham to be destroyed didn't he. Even the steam stop was knocked down wasn't it?
that would have been tragic, its a shame really, but atleast ns has been more then good with the 765, csx fights tooth and nail to prevent any vestage of steam on its lines, its a shame reallly, I would love to get them to bring 765 30 miles north, to where I live we were a railroad town, it would be soo nice for people to see a real steamer, last time we had on was 1997 two weeks before they tore the depot down i belive the loco was a pensy, but the number I know not, trying to find it though.
it looks better then a big boy .
Well, I like them both! I wish that things had gone foward intead of reverse. There was talk of restoring one of the Y6Bs at one point!
@zathras9now Yeah. I sent him a letter back then. Several here in this area did at the request of a hobby shop asking him to reconsider. I got a letter back and he told me "it was his d@mn railroad and he would do as he pleased".
5:45 is that the entrance to Irondale?
@boblackey1 Here's hoping that this time history WILL repeat itself!
What would be the cost of returning her to operational status?
bg147 Quite a bit. But it could still happen, one day.
bg147 Want to help restore the locomotive 1218? Well I made a website for you to donate to! steamlocomotive1218.webs.com All 100% of the donations go to VMT the current owners of the train. The goal is large but can be done, 20 million - 30 million. They will use this money 100% on the train. The money will be stored in a bank until they restore 1218.
Les Poulet 30 million that's insane at the most 3 million it's costing western Maryland RR 1.5 -2 million for 1309 that's way to much money your asking for I'm not donating to that someone is going to be pocketing a shit ton of money for that
Whats the date on this vid??
Is that train still in-service or is it retired?
On display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
I hate seeing diesels on excursions how hard is it to take some old baggage car bodies and slapping an old slug or b unit under it