My wife and rode behind 611 that day. For being an inaugural run, with only 1 practice run, it seemed to go well. We talked with a Buckingham Branch rep twice during the run, and it was super cool how they put this together so quickly. I highly recommend this excursion if you follow N&W 611.👍
Diesel was needed on NS line for PTC. Diesels on BB was probably safety related since the 611 would have to go backwards, with the tender limiting view from the cab, through Staunton to Goshen. For the excursions, the 611 will be the only engine going Goshen to Staunton, but diesels will connect to the rear and tow the train back to Goshen on each trip.
Not sure, heard a bunch of first responder sirens shortly after the previous train went by. After Thomas went by, I was leaving and noticed a firetruck with lights going right beside the Esbenshade crossing.
I believe it has to do with the process of a ferry move. The 611 needs to be under steam for the various lubrication systems to work while it is being towed. But since the 611 is being towed, steam sits in various spots like the pipes to the whistle long enough to turn back into water. Water in the whistle pipes makes the whistle sound different. Check out my videos of the UP 4014 Big Boy. The whistle sounds different when just sitting in Omaha than when it was running down the track.
All the people pacing the train and holding up traffic should be arrested and have their video erased! Highway 30 is a busy road. Sorry just because you like trains doesn't give you the right to plug up the roads and cause unsafe conditions for others trying to get around you.
Fully agree. Those people caused massive backups and prompted a lot of people to try to pass whenever there was a chance. Major unsafe conditions, all in the name of being cool by pacing the steam engine for an hour and a half at a time.
Man, that must be a powerful telephoto lens being used. Makes the Big Boy and its trailing cars look very short and distorted, pretty much takes the enjoyment out of it when it FINALLY gets close.
I was using my 100-400mm lens. Had to choose between the short 18-45mm lens that would have only been a good shot when it was already close, or the long lens that made for a good shot for a much longer distance but lose the shot of it going directly under me.
I used the covered hoppers near the front to get an idea of speed (GATX's website says the longest cars are 60 ft), of the freight train on the far track which was 49 fps (feet per second). The train took 4:45 to pass which is 285 seconds giving a train length of approximately, 13,965 feet or 2.6 miles. WOW, I thought we had the longest trains here in Florida because of the flat terrain, but I guess the mid-west is pretty flat, too.
@@wernerdanler2742 If you look closely at the video at 3:42, in the corner you'll see a third diesel acting as a Distribute Power (DP) engine. DP makes a lot of sense and sometimes you will see more than one engine in the middle. Some trains are set up with the DP engines at the end.
