How N&W 611 Became an Icon of Steam 

You know, as much as the railfans loves to say that 611 is "overfoamed" or "brings out the worst trackside", you seriously cannot deny its importance to railway preservation. How many streamlined engines are existence today? Not very many. So seeing one wave the flag for that era of not just steam, but railroading as a whole, is one that is needed.

Another reason 611 may have become so popular was because of it's many appearances on I Love Toy Trains, which was a mass produced DVD series with millions of copies sold, so many people who grew up with I Love Toy Trains would be aware of the engine. Awesome video!

I know a lot of people who say that 611 is too overhyped but I wholeheartedly disagree. She deserves every bit of the hype and popularity that she’s getting.

Thanks for watching the video! I'm really glad it's getting a positive reception as I'm pretty happy with the results. Sorry that it took so long, given this is my longest history video yet it took some extra time to make while allowing myself some breaks. I'll address a couple mistakes some people have pointed out: -At 4:20 the A Class is actually a Y Class. -At 10:07 I misspoke and said "1984" instead of "1994". -O. Winston Link may have not played a direct role in preserving 611 as I made it sound. While he did ask the N&W to save two of each steam locomotive and to use a roundhouse to store them (as stated by Link in a BBC documentary about him), it was mainly W. Graham Claytor Jr. who convinced Stuart T. Saunders to preserve at least one J Class. Very sorry about that! Did my best to double check the project but some stuff will slip by me lol

611 is one of my favorite steam locomotives in the world and they look beautiful

I remember when I first saw 611. Up until that point, I didn't think there were any steam engines running anymore. Then, out my window, I see this column of moving smoke and I race to my living room to get a better look and I arrive just in time to see 611 passing by. My mom took me to see the engine in the yard near my house. That locomotive showed me that there are still steam engines running and will always have a place in my heart.

As a person that has lived in Roanoke his entire life, its hard to ignore the 611. Many field trips to the museum as a kid and as an adult. I remember vaguely when it made its return to Roanoke in 1994, but don't remember ever seeing it run. When I heard that they were bringing this thing back to running condition, I had to go witness it for myself. Seeing it thunder down the rails made the 3 hour wait so worth it. It made me take interest in locomotives in the first place.

The 611 the first ever steam locomotive I saw in person

611 is a beautiful steam engine. I don't know if I'll ever get to see this iconic steamer in person. I hope I do, someday. But, I have the next best thing...an HO scale brass version of 611. It's a beauty just like the real thing! I am so ecstatic to own this model. It's a GREAT addition to my growing HO brass steam locomotive collection that already includes a handful of other iconic steam locomotives in HO. Collecting these small scale brass versions of the iconic, real-life steam locos is my way of keeping their memories alive...especially the ones that have long since been scrapped. 🚂

It is the most handsome and sleek looking steam locomotive of North America, and I fully agree with the status she has, comparable with Mallard in the UK. She is the locomotive which is able to break Mallards record without doubt. It's a blessing that so many of the N&W steam locomotives are preserved, not only the largest passenger and freight locomotives they built, but several of the smaller siblings too, which made, to be honest, the largest part of the roster of any railroad, but didn't get the fame the super power got. This little documentary explained it all very well, I hope there is a future for the steam program of NS, maybe in the way UP got around with PTC, having most of the equipment on the trailing diesel and just the visual display and some controls on the steam engine linked with a control cable.

This video is kinda a copy of what I was originally making but it's still well done. I think I'll redo my video on the Js to focus more on how 611's Tug River accident saved her from scrap or just make a video solely on the Tug River wreck itself. I dunno I abandoned the idea a while ago. It should be noted while the PRR borrowed 610 the chief inspector of the PRR said the Js ran smoother than anything else on PRR's roster... with the exception of S1 6100 because of how *THICC* that duplex was.

4449 is still my favorite locomotive of all time, but i absolutely love 611

I was a young 12 yo Boy Scout in 1980 in Roanoke. All my family worked for N&W, so our Troop got permission to do our pioneering project in the old transportation museum, where we also spent the night. After hours when the museum was closed, we had the run of the place. We went over every inch of the 611, including hours spent in the cab pretending to run it. We mostly ignored the articulated locomotive (Y class?) sitting by the bridge, greatly preferring to play on the 611. It was shortly after that when it was pulled for restoration. The 611 will always be special to me, and I will always appreciate that special evening with that special lady.

Amazing video. This steam locomotive is famous and it’s nice to see it preserved in the modern era.

It's nice to see you venturing into some longer history content. Hope to see more like this in the future. Nice work!

Just rode the 611 in Goshen two days ago... About 4hrs. Was such a great experience and the incredible power could really be felt even in that small trip

As a local of the 611, it was the first live steam engine that i can still recall after its return in 2015. It truly holds a special place in my heart to see the thing run through my town and i especially cant wait to hear about the upcoming excursions in the fall. Thank you for the video it made my day 100% better.

Gpt to ride this baby on its LAST weekend in Pennsylvania, 2023. Loved every second

I had the pleasure of traveling on 611 in 1993 from Jacksonville, FL to Fargo, GA and back again. I was 12 years old and thought I’d died and gone to heaven. She’s a beautiful girl!

I have really seen Norfolk & Western 611 at the Strasburg Railroad back on September 5th 2021 along with 475. Quite cool. It was really awesome there. Grand thing. That was the second visit to this locomotive.

You know, people still say that when 611 blows her whistle, you can hear the cries and mourning of her sisters..... may they rest in peace 😔 🚂😢.

I saw 611 at strasburg on October 13, 2019. It was the best day of my life!

The first time I saw 611 in person was in 2010 at the VMT. You never realize how beautiful she is until you see her in person. Getting to she her on the mainline from 2015-2017 is an experience I will never forget and I hope to experience it again soon. I haven't had a chance to go see 611 since 2018 but I hope to do so as soon as possible. She is truly a unique locomotive and deserves the hype.

I saw it at Strasburg twice and drawing a big crowd was an ujnderstatement, especially in 2019. Saw license plates from California to Ontario, the media was there, it was something else. Normally you might see a railfan or two getting shots of Strasburg's own steam but the sidelines were just packed when the 611 was in town.

611 is one of the most graceful 4-8-4”s ever made. We rode behind her back when she ran between Buffalo and Albion, PA doing 60 mph on the old Nickel Plate. What a trip. It would be great seeing it again on mainline steam excursions in conjunction with Amtrak. If certain routes with normal scheduled service allowed 611 to be on the head end, and with good PR advertising, I bet tickets would sell out quickly. But what fun it would be. I know, it is probably just pipe dream!

My grandfather was a postal clerk in the mail car, directly behind the tender, when 611 jumped the tracks. He guarded the mail through the night, even though he suffered a broken arm in the wreck. He lived long enough to see it back under steam in the eighties.

The engine has a special place in my heart. Though it may not be the first mainline steam engine I rode behind (that honor goes to CN 3254 at steamtown), it was the largest I saw and first I got to have proper memories of. Not to mention taking part of the steam reunion in Strasburg

611 really is an icon, she is beautiful and is my favorite steam locomotive. I was able to see her run in strasburg, a huge dream

Big boy 4014 is my favorite steam locomotive but gotta give it to the steam program for keeping her going pulling passenger cars down the rails

When the Fire Up 611 program was in full swing, I got all of my friends to bring money to my birthday party instead of gifts. With the help of my parents, I mailed all of it in, I was a very happy 9 year old that day lol. The following year, 611 became my first and only mainline excursion I’ve been on.

The rediscovery of OWL’s photography really gave the J class a PR boost. I got to do the whistle pull at Strasburg in 2021.

I personally saw this locomotive on one of its trips though Fort Gay, West Virginia back in the early 90s. It is a beautiful machine. I was asleep until I heard its whistle blowing throughout that part of the Tug River valley. I had never heard that whistle before and it woke me up immediately.

It was an honor getting to provide content for this video! Glad I could help out!

4:20 The middle locomotive is a Class Y while the “Y” is a Class A. 8:50 #611 wasn’t involved in the flood as it was stored in Irondale Shops at the time. Nevertheless, nice video!

Although my heart is with 1218, whenever I hear that 3 chime, I can't help but smile. The first (and second) revivals of 611 changed the face of excursion railroading forever, and she will always be at the tip of the spear in such things, no matter what other locomotive is brought back, Including 1218.

I was able to see her and ride a train pulled by her in November of 2022 in Strasburg. Absolutely a dream come true for the child railfan in me. I have a few videos on my channel I got while there.

I was sitting at the Liberty University library one in 2017, thought I heard a steam whistle and second guessed my self. I looked left through a three story set of windows and it went right by me on the NS mainline that runs right by campus.

Amazing video dude, happy to help supply some footage!

Awesome Video, can you do something like this for reading and Northern 2102? I would be happy to see that

man just goes to show how a good, well-maintained steam locomotive can survive even being cold for decades at a time and still get moving again. Love to see it. Can't wait to visit Roanoke and see her

Thank you for this. Beautiful video of a truly historic locomotive

As a Swedish railfan the 611 whistle just shouts Amercia to me. A really pleasant sound. 😊

I consider myself very lucky to have had a childhood in a city visited by #611 many times during her first excursion career, and a father who appreciated steam trains enough to take me to see her almost every time she came to town.

Man the older clips you got were in Gainesville and Cornelia Georgia. Love it

I got the chance to see the 611 up close and in person, and it's a beautiful steam locomotive. I had known about it long before, it was one of the first model trains I had- but seeing it in person is so much more.

I got to ride on this beautiful machine back in 2016 when she was in Manassas. I recently got to see her again earlier this year at her home in Roanoke.

I traveled with this engine at Strausburg, this is a beautiful engine, with a glorious history, and I hope it remains in service for many years to come. Long live the queen, the queen of steem!

611 is a very special steam engine for this Railfan who hails from the Magnolia State. I had the opportunity to ride on the last train of the 2016 excursion season out of Manassas, VA. While on board I met one of the members of the "Fire up the 611" campaign and at the time I traveled the second longest distance (to his recollection) to ride the queen of steam, only behind someone from the UK. I rode behind 4501, and got a cab ride on the TAG unit at the Tennessee Valley Railroad museum back in June while on my honeymoon. 4501's air compressor broke down right before our cab ride (which was supposed to be on 4501), but we got to put 4501 in their shops. But suffice to say, 611 was the first steam engine I can easily remember riding behind, and I would ride back behind her as soon as I get the opportunity once again. -Will

This is the first streamlined steam train ive seen and its still one of my favorite train

The N&W 611 was always a favorite of mine as a kid alongside the Sp 4449, N&W 1218, NKP 587 & 765, and UP 844 & 3985. Mainly thanks to TM/Berkshire, Pentrex, and Greg Scholl.

This was extremely well made & I was glad to have worked on her from 2015 - 2017 truly one of the happiest moments of my life :)

I’ve been lucky enough to get inside 611 once. I had a trip to visit family in Roanoke, and 611 was in a re-certification in Strasburg. I had driven there so I got a ticket for a shop visit in Strasburg on the way back and got to visit it in the shop on the way back.

611 was the first full-size steam locomotive I ever ran, that was actually my first encounter with her in person at Strasburg in July, 2021.

Loved it! Thanks for sharing this amazing tale of this Appalachian icon!

As a Norfolk & Western Fan and a ATSF fan at the same time hopefully I can see 611 running on future excusons in person this locomotive is a true streamliner

I saw 611 on her return trip back to Roanoke! It was really cool!

Love your art style. I also adore how you used the ballad of 611. One of my favorite songs, keep up the good work!

These trains just look so good and seem amazing and their faces look so derpy to.

Great video! I’ve always loved 611 Keep up the good work!! 👍

4:55 Man, something about hearing that whistle in the distance is both haunting and powerful at the same time especially when this audio was recorded on Christmas Eve of 1957. And this goes for pretty much any steam locomotive.

Nice one! Glad some shots could be of use!

611 is one of my favorite Steam locomotives!

I'm happy I was able to help contribute this wonderful video! :D

I first learned about its existence watching National Geographic Love Those Trains documentary. That is when I fell in love with it. Had a Bachmann version of it as a kid, bought a Broadway Limited Paragon 2 of it when I was a young adult, finally getting to ride it in 2019 at Strasburg getting a cab tour of it.

611 was one of the first steam locomotives I got to learn about. She is my absolute favorite 4-8-4 and my favorite steam locomotive period (tied with Big Boy). 611 is an absolute beauty, The Queen of Steam indeed! I could go on forever about this historic, iconic beauty!

I like the Top Gear clip you dropped in at the beginning. It perfectly described a streamliner.

The N&W is my favorite Railroad! And 611 is my favorite locomotive. This video strikes home for me because I saw her on her ferry move last month! Also, she used to run trains through my hometown Winston-Salem

611 has made it through many difficult events in its life: Falling down a hillside, nearly being scrapped, derailing near the turntable, tackling the Saluda grade, dealing with restrictions from the mainline, being hit in the face by Elmo; it's had its fair share of trials and tribulations.

Excellent video

American streamlininers were usually designed with aesthetics in wind as the bullet nose design caused air to rub against the casing who CG created drag

Another amazing amtrakguy365 video!

I heard on an episode of Trains Unlimited that the J-Class Northerns were buillt with such precision that two people could apparently push the engine on level track with relative ease

Love the cover of this video! I can’t stop taking screenshots of it

I'm a massive rail fan but I stay to myself. Reading all the comments, I had no idea so many other "rail fans" dislike the 611. Those people are truly the dredges of humanity and I wouldn't invite them in my house, even of there was a blizzard outside. The Class J's are the greatest steam locomotives ever built.

dude just met your channel and love the content already you got a new sub keep up the good content

It would be very interesting to have Santa Fe 2926 on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad along with the 611. There could be double-headers and evaluations of the 611 and 2926 pulling the same train ON THAT SPECIFIC RAILROAD.

Awesome! You should do a video comparing the operating 4-8-4s.

Good ol' 611 is one of those locomotives that brings everyone, including railfans, tourists and historians, wherever she goes, with her sleek fully streamlined design and beautiful voice! It's also honestly crazy to think that she was first restored and declared an Engineering Landmark in the 1980s, she was only a little over 30 years old, and now, as of 2023, she's 73 years old! It's very clear 611 has earned her place in not only the railway history books, but also the hearts of many, and it's no wonder shes often referred to as both "The Queen of Steam" and as the pinnacle of steam technology in the United States!

Thanks for the video. Would be great if you could update it to include the VSR's Shenandoah Valley Limited excursions in the video. We rode her recently & really enjoyed it. You are right, there is nothing that sounds like that whistle. Very distinctive compared to that on the diesels. We have high hopes that this will be an annual event for the 611.

I saw it last summer being serviced at the shop at the Strasburg Railroad in PA and that was before I even really knew the history behind this locomotive. I wish I knew the weight behind what I was witnessing when I passed it on the excursion train but it’s still really cool to think back on.

Thanks for the documentary about 611, I saw her 5 times!

Norfolk and Western #611 the famous icon of steam locomotives. Norfolk and Western #611 wasn't built by Baldwin Locomotive Works, Lima Locomotive Works, or Alco. N&W #611 was built by the Norfolk and Western themselves over at their shops. The #611 is iconic. #611 is the only J class preserved. The #611 was replaced by diesels but lives on under the VMT. It also steamed for Southern Railway. Norfolk and Western #611 comes to Strasburg occasionally. Gotta love the #611

As someone from the midwest, reading the comments of how apparently some say that 611 is overrated is _shocking_ to me. I recently was lucky enough to be on the East Coast, and went around to multiple museums and excursion railroads (Cass Scenic Railroad, in W. Virginia, is quite good-I'd highly recommend going on an excursion Sunday, going to the radio telescope observatory/museum on Monday, when Cass, the Virginia Museum of Transportation, and the O. Winston Link museum are all closed, and then going to VMT and OWL on Tuesday and Wednesday), and overall had a grand old time. Looking at 1218 was impressive, and VMT's a good museum, but, unsurprisingly, the highlight of that was 611. I've long held the opinion that the J Class was the best looking steam locomotive ever built, and being there in person...just blew me away. It looks *_so good._* It wasn't until then that I noticed that even its lights-the small ones ones up high on its giant oil tank (seriously, I know they put in automatic lubricators for everything, but did the designers have a phobia of having to refill it more than once a month? (I'd _hope_ that it didn't use so much oil that it actually _needed_ to be that big)) are streamlined, being a nice-looking teardrop shape. I dunno, but I think even the un-streamlined wartime versions would've just _oozed_ power, quality, and modernity. (Actually, speaking of which, did those ones have the bell down low like the streamlined versions did?) The only thing that could've improve my experience, besides 611 being fired up and getting to watch up close (and, ya, good luck with _that_) would've been getting to talk to a volunteer or the like to learn more about 611, since those folks are always a fountain of information and are often the highlights of any museum visit. Although, while I'm here, one thing I _have_ wondered was what set Pennsy's Altoona shops and N&W's Roanoke shops apart that it was the substantially smaller Roanoke shops that, apparently, built the better-designed and higher-quality steam locomotives. VMT has signs talking about it, and they basically said "oh, it's because the people who designed the locomotives, built them, and ran them were all under the same roof/worked for the same company" which for me was a highly unsatisfactory answer because the PRR's Altoona shops did the _exact same thing,_ and yet the Railroaders Memorial Museum, while it had a lot of good stuff to say about the Altoona shops, (IIRC) didn't once, anywhere, make the claim of their locomotives being the finest in the land. (Which is somewhat ironic for "the Standard Railroad of the World," but I digress.) So, uh, _why_ were N&W's locos (allegedly) better than PRR's?

The 611 wasn't the first steamer I saw but it sure was the biggest one I've seen in action. As a kid after going to Tweetsie and hearing about its revival and a few youtube clips later it was all I could beg my parents to go see.

Hell Yeah! A video dedicated to my icon in Steam Excursions. Always a Treat for me

Got to see 611 at Strasburg and ride her on their line in Oct 2021. It was spectacular.

YES THE AMTRAK GUY DID HISTORY VIDEO ON MY MOST FAVORITE LOCOMOTIVE EVER WONDERFUL VIDEO

I really wish they would restore N&W 1218 her whistle is so beautiful

My first viewing of N&W 611 was a VHS tape showcasing that 1991 triple-header excursion with N&W 1218 and Southern 4501. I still have the tape too, just no player to play it.

Ya know for me... I actually have seen 611 more than once. :3 Back in 2014, I saw the locomotive at the NCTM during her 2nd restoration. =3 Then I saw her on April 9th, 2016. :) The following day was easily the best because... me and my dad actually rode behind her on The Blue Ridge Special from Spencer, North Carolina to Asheville, North Carolina and return! :D Then in the same month via the following year, aka 2017, Me and my dad rode behind on 611 once again! :D This time on The Roanoker from Greensboro, North Carolina to Roanoke, Virginia and return. :) The most recent encounter I saw for of the Queen of Steam was back in 2018 I believe when she was at the VMT. ^^ And heh... I actually was able to ring her bell. ;)

I live in the city of roanoke and 611 has been amazing icon for my city here in the state of Virginia. I remember the day she finally came back to roanoke actually steaming! Rn shes in the roanoke transportation museum for the time being idk when she will go back out but i assume soon or within the months, shes still an active steam locomotive which is great. OHOHO dont get me wrong about the 611 steak conpany restaurant their home made rolls are amazing! I suggest any train fan like me go their food is good including their 70 item salade bar you shoulf of mentioned that restaurant bro!

I had the privilege to see 611 back in 2012. I hope to see it running some day when the opportunity comes.

Awesome video! I love 611!

I'm glad I got a chance to ride with this engine at least once when it came to Strasburg in 2021. Wish I got another chance to do again in 2022 and may 2023 before it left. Oh well I guess I'll for another opportunity if I go out of state and when it has more excursions planned.

Way to go Jared! I wish I could get an F40PH with #365 (you) and N&W 611 together

I just have to say, i love the getty up beat background music.

While i do like the 611, I actually grew up watching Nevada Northern #40 and a little while (10 years later to be exact) i started liking Timken 1111 or the Four Aces as well as SP4460 and the Erie Triplexes

Love the Norfolk & Western got a chance to drive 611 during the engineer experience glad to drive such an impressive and powerful locomotive Fun Fact: N&W J 600 ran a promotional train to Winston-Salem when she came out of the shops

611 sure is one of the most beautiful streamlined locomotives ever produced! As an O scale collector, models of the 611 look very crisp and pristine!!

Steam locomotives should never be allowed to die and forgotten, this goes double for the streamliners... Few things in life touch and excite like steam locomotives. The steam whistles, some long and lonesome, are music to our ears.