Railway Preservation News • View topic (2024)

Page 1 of 3
[ 41 posts ]Go to page 1, 2, 3 Next
Print viewPrevious topic | Next topic
AuthorMessage
Alexander D. Mitchell IV

Post subject: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 6:00 pm


Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 1:51 pm
Posts: 11602
Location: Somewhere east of Prescott, AZ along the old Santa Fe "Prescott & Eastern"

https://www.wdbj7.com/2023/08/02/excurs ... this-fall/

Quote:

The excursions will operate twice daily as the Shenandoah Valley Limited. Passengers will board the train in Goshen, travel east through the fall foliage of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and into the Shenandoah Valley. There, without disembarking, the train will be joined by a pair of diesel locomotives for the return trip to Goshen.

Details at the link. One associates suggests that since they're hawking dome tickets, another train set is being brought in, maybe a Friends Of the 261 set..........

Railway Preservation News • View topic (4)

Crescent-Zephyr

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 6:38 pm


Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm
Posts: 1611

This is great news!!! Anyone know much about Virginia Scenic Railway? I have never heard of it but obviously their track is in good condition since 611 is the heaviest coal burner operating!

I was happy I got to ride behind her and get lots of video up in Strasburg this may, hopefully I can swing by Virginia this fall!

Railway Preservation News • View topic (8)

John D

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 7:18 pm


Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:28 pm
Posts: 453

Virginia Scenic Railway is a part of/runs on Buckingham Branch, ex-C&O:
https://www.virginiascenicrailway.com/

Railway Preservation News • View topic (12)

Joshua K. Blay

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 7:22 pm


Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:38 am
Posts: 1005
Location: Philadelphia

Had a look at the VSR site just now- looks pretty good. Site mentioned that the route also hosts Amtrak and CSX so must be good infrastructure.

Would like to know their mileage and rolling stock, any reviews to be shared from those that have visited? Who owns the track, is this state? I'm thinking so.

Also looked like many of their regular trips were sold out- nice to see!

Joshua

Railway Preservation News • View topic (16)

Steamguy73

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 7:29 pm


Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:15 pm
Posts: 595

The Virginia Scenic Railway runs on the track of the Buckingham branch railroad, and they primarily operate the former C&O track from Richmond to Clifton Forge via Charlottesville, a good portion of which is used by Amtrak’s Cardinal. It’s around 30 miles from Staunton to Goshen by car, so not a bad run at all.

They just started up last July, so it’s a very new operation, and this is a good way to give some attention to the startup. This is probably the best case scenario for 611: plenty of line it could run on, and not terribly far from Roanoke. Very fitting place for it to run.

The only locomotive that would fit better to run on this line is a certain locomotive in Clifton Forge.

Railway Preservation News • View topic (20)

BWills

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 7:40 pm


Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2023 1:55 pm
Posts: 49

Wonder if we will see the 611 operating above 40 mph.

Why run from goshen instead of their VSR station in Staunton?

Railway Preservation News • View topic (24)

co614

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 7:43 pm


Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:19 pm
Posts: 2602
Location: Sackets Harbor, NY

Great news for the 611. Let's hope it proves to be the ice breaker that leads to bigger and better excursions.

Friends in the area tell me that there is lots of work taking place in Goshen to get ready for this program.

Congratulations to the VMT and the BB RR for this important step forward.

Ross Rowland

Railway Preservation News • View topic (28)

bigjim4life

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 9:06 pm


Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 10:30 pm
Posts: 996
Location: Bucks County, PA

Steamguy73 wrote:

They just started up last July, so it’s a very new operation, and this is a good way to give some attention to the startup.

It's so new, that they operate with a grand total of one coach. Granted, quite a few of those trips are sold out with the one coach, but so far that's it. They absolutely HAVE TO bring in an outside trainset if they're running 611 and all sorts of other cars.


_________________
Big Jim Video Productions
Morrisville, PAhttp://www.bigjimvideo.com/home.html
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigjim4life

Railway Preservation News • View topic (32)

NJDixon

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 8:55 am


Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2021 4:36 pm
Posts: 244

Nice to see my suspicions were correct. Right after they moved the #611 down to VA, I searched "611 steam train VA" on Google, just out of idle curiosity, and one of the top hits was an incomplete webpage on the Buckingham Branch site. A day or two later, that website vanished entirely from the search results, which made me suspect that someone inadvertently made the webpage go live and then caught their mistake.

Railway Preservation News • View topic (36)

Ed Kapuscinski

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 10:43 am


Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:07 pm
Posts: 1132
Location: B'more Maryland

Time for railfans across Virginia to stock up on D Cells!


_________________
If you fear the future you won't have one.
The past was the worst.

Railway Preservation News • View topic (40)

scratchyX1

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 1:47 pm


Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:17 pm
Posts: 95

Steamguy73 wrote:

The Virginia Scenic Railway runs on the track of the Buckingham branch railroad, and they primarily operate the former C&O track from Richmond to Clifton Forge via Charlottesville, a good portion of which is used by Amtrak’s Cardinal. It’s around 30 miles from Staunton to Goshen by car, so not a bad run at all.

They just started up last July, so it’s a very new operation, and this is a good way to give some attention to the startup. This is probably the best case scenario for 611: plenty of line it could run on, and not terribly far from Roanoke. Very fitting place for it to run.

The only locomotive that would fit better to run on this line is a certain locomotive in Clifton Forge.

I know it has to be at least class 3 track, if the Cardinal runs on it. What are they doing about PTC requirements? I assume the signals are still active.

Railway Preservation News • View topic (44)

scratchyX1

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 2:29 pm


Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:17 pm
Posts: 95

Anyone know why it's running from Remote Goshen, as opposed to Staunton , which is right off I81?

Railway Preservation News • View topic (48)

co614

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 3:37 pm


Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:19 pm
Posts: 2602
Location: Sackets Harbor, NY

I do. Because at Goshen there was ample room for the VMT to construct a new 1500 ft. siding on which to store/service the excursion consist and the 611, refueling infrastructure to load coal into the 611's tender, and a large new parking lot capable of holding the crowds expected to come.

Staunton is quaint but very crowded with very little parking available anywhere near the depot.

Obviously the VMT is making a long term investment in Goshen which they believe will pay dividends in the future.

Here's wishing them sold out trains and safe operations.

Ross Rowland

Railway Preservation News • View topic (52)

BWills

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 4:41 pm


Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2023 1:55 pm
Posts: 49

Gotcha, ya that makes sense. Pretty impressive for VMT to fund the siding build. guessing a few hundred K for that?

If they ran the other direction to clifton forge, the turntable is CSX owned right? so probably a "no" on that for regular use. Maybe if it all works out, VMT will put a turntable or Y at goshen

Railway Preservation News • View topic (56)

Crescent-Zephyr

Post subject: Re: N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 5:02 pm


Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm
Posts: 1611

BWills wrote:

Gotcha, ya that makes sense. Pretty impressive for VMT to fund the siding build. guessing a few hundred K for that?

If they ran the other direction to clifton forge, the turntable is CSX owned right? so probably a "no" on that for regular use. Maybe if it all works out, VMT will put a turntable or Y at goshen

Isn’t VMT part of the state now? And the state owns this railroad too? So it could be state money.

Railway Preservation News • View topic (60)

Page 1 of 3
[ 41 posts ]Go to page 1, 2, 3 Next
Railway Preservation News • View topic (2024)

FAQs

What effect did the railways have on the books and newspapers people read? ›

Not only did the freight train allow books to be cheaply and widely distributed, but also, the passenger train provided new contexts for reading, con- texts that were ideal for the inexpensive books produced by the steam-powered press.

What did the American railway Association do in 1883 to improve rail service and how did this improve it? ›

To make rail service safer and more reliable, in 1883 the American Railway Association divided the country into four time zones in regions where the same time was kept. Air brakes enabled railroads to put longer and heavier trains on their lines.

What is the ultimate goal of railway safety? ›

The primary focus of railway safety is to protect communities, the environment and assets from potential incidents and accidents.

What were 3 impacts of the railroad? ›

The railroad opened the way for the settlement of the West, provided new economic opportunities, stimulated the development of town and communities, and generally tied the country together.

What were the effects of the railways? ›

The transport of heavy materials became much cheaper. Railways encouraged people to travel further and this meant people could move to different areas to find work. MPs were able to travel more quickly between their constituencies and the Houses of Parliament in London.

What is the biggest cause of injury on the railway? ›

Negligence stands as a significant cause of train accidents, often resulting from human error or oversight. Train operators or crew members failing to adhere to safety protocols, signal violations, or distracted and tired driving can lead to disastrous consequences.

What does railway suffer from? ›

Railways suffer from lack of punctuality, monetary losses due to stray cattle accidents.

Are all railroads connected? ›

No, not all of the railroad lines in the US are connected. The US has an extensive railroad network, but it is made up of multiple separate systems operated by different companies. While there are some interconnections and shared tracks between these systems, there are also many areas where the tracks do not connect.

Why did railroads decline? ›

After 1940, the replacement of steam with diesel electric locomotives made for much more efficient operations that needed fewer workers on the road and in repair shops. A series of bankruptcies and consolidations left the rail system in the hands of a few large operations by the 1980s.

What are two reasons why farmers were upset with the railroad companies? ›

Small businesses and farmers were protesting that the railroads charged them higher rates than larger corporations, and that the railroads were also setting higher rates for short hauls than for long-distance hauls.

Who controls railroad safety? ›

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) creates and enforces rail safety regulations, administers rail funding, and researches rail improvement strategies and technologies.

What are the risks of railway? ›

So let's get into the risks! Derailments are fairly common in the rail industry and are caused by various factors, including track defects, human error, and equipment failure. The consequences of a derailment can be catastrophic, resulting in injuries, fatalities, and significant property damage.

What impact did railroads have on time? ›

As railroads began to shrink the travel time between cities from days or months to mere hours, however, these local times became a scheduling nightmare. Railroad timetables in major cities listed dozens of different arrival and departure times for the same train, each linked to a different local time zone.

What effect did the rail lines have on telling time? ›

On November 18, 1883, the railroads moved forward with the adoption of four U.S. time zones, an idea that had been proposed 11 years earlier by Charles Dowd, a Yale-educated school principal. The time zones, Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific, are still in place today.

What was the impact of the Railway Act? ›

The legislative efforts that resulted in the Pacific Railway Act led to the successful completion of the transcontinental railroad, which reduced the travel time across the continent from several months to one week and is considered one of the greatest technological achievements of the 19th century.

What is the impact of railway on society? ›

The building of railways and locomotives, for example, called for large quantities of heavy materials and thus provided significant stimulus to the coal-mining, iron-production, engineering, and construction industries. The railways also helped reduce transaction costs, which in turn lowered the costs of goods.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kieth Sipes

Last Updated:

Views: 6410

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kieth Sipes

Birthday: 2001-04-14

Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

Phone: +9663362133320

Job: District Sales Analyst

Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.