Norfolk & Western Steam Comes “Alive” in Roanoke Photo Session
NORFOLK & WESTERN 4-8-4 NO. 611 came alive at the Virginia Museum of Transportation over the weekend of July 12-14 when Lerro Productions had the streamlined J-class pulled out from under its pro- tective canopy, along with Class A 2-6-6-4 No. 1218 and N&W 2-8-0 No. 6. It was the first time in over 20 years that the locomotives had been displayed in the open air. During the day, the locomotives were avail- able for viewing and photography, and on Friday and Saturday night Pete Lerro and his assistants were able to create the illusion of an oper- ating steam railroad yard from the 1950s. No. 6 was built by Baldwin in 1897 and had served on N&W’s Abingdon Branch. Much more well- known are Nos. 1218 and 611. The articulated was built by the railroad at its Roanoke shops in 1943 and is well remembered for its fantrip service in the 1980s and ’90s. Another Roanoke alumnus is Class J No. 611, built in 1950, and also a retired Norfolk Southern fantrip star which may once again have a fire on her grates if the museum’s FireUp 611! campaign can raise $5 million by October 31 to return the locomo- tive to service and build a shop at the museum to maintain and repair it. If the locomotive can be repaired over this winter, Norfolk Southern will operate it next year as part of the 21st Century Steam program.
Amtrak
NYC TELLS MSG: “BEAT IT!” The stage was set for the renewal of Amtrak’s Penn Sta- tion in New York on July 24, 2013, when the city council renewed Madison Square Gar- den’s special operating permit for the air rights over the station for just ten years; the Garden wanted a perpetual permit. The
24 AUGUST 2013 •
RAILFAN.COM
sports arena, home to the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers, now has ten years to find a location and the city has a decade to develop plans for a new Penn Station. “This is the first step in finding a new home for Madi- son Square Garden and building a new Penn Station that is as great as New York and suit- able for the 21st century,” said City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn.
Arkansas & Missouri
NEW EMD UNITS WILL BUMP ALCOS: In September, the Alco-powered Arkansas & Missouri will take delivery of former EMD SD70ACe demonstrators Nos. EMDX 1201- 1203, which are being prepared for delivery at the Progress Rail plant in Mayfield, Ky. They’ll be numbered 70-72 and feature a new
TWO PHOTOS: STEVE BARRY
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