Talk:Norfolk and Western J Class (1941)

=Media= 611 received extensive popular (i.e. The Roanoke Times) and railroad/railfan media coverage, in what other signifigant media was 611 featured? Did it have any movie roles, were photographs of it by O. Winston Link ever published or exhibited, etc.? Just curious, thanks! Civilengtiger (talk) 13:56, 2 May 2008 (UTC) -C.D. Former VMoT intern Curator
 * "To the question above, she was covered on major news sources when she was running, never had a movie role that I know of... And Winston O. Link has an entire museum for his pictures, but the 600 class is show around every so often... Just gotta find them! Thanks!"


 * Why is there a photoshopped image of this locomotive? "N&W #611 underway on a fan excursion near Valdosta, Georgia, April 6, 1992" - user anon ymous —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.241.162.146 (talk) 01:28, 20 March 2009 (UTC)


 * I've now re-scanned my original photo at a higher resolution, without any post-photo retouching.  JGHowes   talk  22:03, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
 * It's mentioned and shown on the recent 4501 video Dave Rave (talk) 15:20, 25 February 2017 (UTC)

=Idioms= Could someone tell us what "pulling the varnish" and "picked a switch" mean? I'm guessing "pulling the varnish" means - pulling a train, and "picked a switch" means "was caught on a switch and abruptly stopped the train and tore up track." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.134.177.42 (talk) 21:54, 25 February 2009 (UTC)


 * "Varnish" is an old term referring to passenger trains, especially the limiteds. It originated back in the days of wooden rolling stock, when passenger cars were varnished, and the term continued in use even after the advent of steel equipment.  JGHowes   talk  22:03, 13 October 2009 (UTC)

=Last Pre-Amtrak N&W Pass. Train=

something from the N&W steam program pulled the last N&W Passenger train out of Washington Union Terminal; was it 611? If so, it'd be great if someone with the knowledge would note it here, def. worthwhile.


 * It was one of the former Nickel Plate Road engines, NKP 587 comes to mind, but I could be wrong . Iain Bell (talk) 12:08, 9 March 2009 (UTC)

The last N&W passenger train was pulled by 611, according to museum records. Ran from bluefield south... Though I will double check with some people to make sure. It could have been a 'shrouded' engine... Since the 600 class of N&W couldn't do the tight mountain route, so were replaced with smaller, 'fake' 600's (100-300 on the N&W rosters.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.205.123.35 (talk) 00:06, 30 March 2009 (UTC)

Ill see what I can come up with -C.D. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.205.123.35 (talk) 00:04, 30 March 2009 (UTC)


 * It was actually pulled by NKP 759 (now at Steamtown). It was May 1st, 1971 the last N&W run passenger train before handing over to Amtrak, it was train #4 - "The Pocahontas".  If I remember correctly, the actual passenger train ran from Cincinnati to Norfolk hauled by N&W diesels, the NKP 759 carried a special train that followed the regular train and carried only special guests, not the regular paying passengers.  I'm not sure the steam special ran the whole route either, it may have only been from Bluefield - East.  The NKP 759 reportedly carried the N&W 611's whistle for the trip.  --Pbryan7 (talk) 01:20, 25 September 2009 (UTC)

As a point of clarification, at the time the 611 was renovated and returned to service for the Southern Steam Program, the director of that program was James Bistline (my father), not W. Graham Claytor. The program certainly could never have thrived if not for the vision, support, enthusiasm, and expertise of Mr. Claytor who, while he remained intimately involved with the program was no longer in an official capacity with the program by this time.

Mark Bistline

When will it be back From Pennsylvania
I hope it doesn't get messed up Fjurgovan22 (talk) 21:22, 24 February 2022 (UTC)

💗💗611
I love the 611 Fjurgovan22 (talk) 21:24, 24 February 2022 (UTC)