future 611 trips ??

Mon Jun 5 12:23:52 EDT 2017

Good afternoon from a dismal and damp UK (yes we have an election in prospect so the weather is appropriate).

Re 1218. At the risk of labouring the point the Tornado model might be just the thing for 1218. At least 1218 exists in large part. For a long period Tornado was a paper project that was driven to completion on the basis of a lot of small contributions. Possibly some sort of charity structure might be developed to ensure funds were correctly administered and managed to get 1218 back in steam. There were also significant sponsors who supported this initiative through the whole design, manufacture and certification process. Marketing spin off has been considerable for them.

On top of this there is another new build project for a large 2-8-2 passenger locomotive (P2) already underway using the same basis to fund its’ development. With a target of £5.0 million nearly half has already been raised/pledged. It does show what might be achieved.(see www.p2steam.com). Some of this has been for individual components ranging in size from nuts and bolts to complete wheels, injectors etc.

How easy or difficult would it be to:

1.       Develop a recommissioning project/programme for 1218 to take it from its present state to a fully functioning locomotive able to be operated on various routes 

2.       Establish a charity/funding mechanism to underpin (1)

3.       Develop a “little and often” contribution mechanism

4.       Market the initiative using all available and credible means

5.       Secure the interest of several key corporate sponsors

6.       Keep NS in the loop

Simple questions and probably not easy to answer quickly but it seems to me as a long-time admirer of this loco that there might be a real case for giving this a real shove. 

Regards

Phil Mortimer

From: NW-Mailing-List [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List
Sent: Friday, June 2, 2017 1:00 AM
To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Cc: NW Mailing List
Subject: Re: future 611 trips ??

Re:  1218.  I was told some key parts were borrowed from 1218 so that 611 could run again / 

no longer possible to have both of them operating.  Is this correct ?

Jerome Crosson,  St. Peters MO

-----Original Message-----
From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Thu, Jun 1, 2017 5:17 pm
Subject: Re: future 611 trips ??

Or try the trip to larger population centers, like Roanoke to Winston-Salem.  Seems a natural trip.  You should have riders at either end.   Is there a wye in Winston ? 

rob

On Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 7:29 AM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Norfolk-Southern-is-open-to-Roanoke-area-611-Excursions-in-2018-425564914.html 

Sounds like NS is willing to do more Roanoke area trips. But as said earlier 611 needs to change up on where she goes to help bring ticket sales back. 

My vote is a long days round trip Roanoke-Riverton and return. Or perhaps some sort of an Overnight loop? Roanoke to Manassas via Riverton day 1. Then Manassas to Roanoke via the Southern on day 2? Perhaps the VMT should approach NS about going out on the pokey some? Perhaps Bluefield to Iaeger? Or Williamson to Devon?

73,

Nate

On Jun 1, 2017 05:45, "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

I dont post much as I am more of a pupil here but I believe we have a limited window of opportunity to get big steam back in action.  I live in Cleveland and at at the Midwest Railway Preservation Society they have two steam locomotives under restoration at the old B&O roundhouse.

My point is...the number of people that remember working steam is dwindling; the number of skilled mechanics who can do that type of work is dwindling; therefore it is my fear that as each year goes bye, the people willing to donate money or estate gifts goes BYE.  Now is the time to pull out all the stops and establish self sustainable preservation trusts that ensure their operation for the next 100 years.  The 1218 only has a small window of opportunity to be back under steam, otherwise she will be relegated to Madame Tussauds wax museum status for ever.

Operation stirs interest...interest stirs participation and donations, thus longevity.

Case in point....how many kids want a lionel train for Christmas any more?   Just my $0.02 worth...

Chris Bunsey

Cleveland Ohio 

Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy S® 6.

-------- Original message --------

From: NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> 

Date: 5/31/17 1:39 PM (GMT-05:00) 

To: 'NW Mailing List' <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> 

Cc: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> 

Subject: RE: future 611 trips ?? 

Good evening,

Perhaps a funding mechanism equal to the donation of the equivalent of a
pint of beer per week by a large number of people would work. That is how
the Tornado project was funded.

For 1218 it has to be worth it. 

Regards

Phil Mortimer

-----Original Message-----
From: NW-Mailing-List [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of
NW Mailing List
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2017 6:01 PM
To: NW Mailing List
Subject: RE: future 611 trips ??

Unfortunately, since 1218 was in the middle of a rebuild when the original
NS steam program ended in 1994, many parts were not put back.  The parts
that are with her are probably still in good condition, but they may
actually have to find or fabricate more parts to restore her today than was
necessary in 1987.  Given the cost involved with restoring and maintaining a
steam locomotive and the missing components, 1218 is likely going to require
a rather wealthy and enterprising benefactor in order to be placed back in
operation.

Marty Flick

---- NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote: 
> Good morning from this side of the pond,
> 
> Getting 611 out and about more is a good idea but has problems such as
> ensuring the support team and any related rolling stock can also be
> accommodated. 611 is a great icon and should be open to a wider public. 
> 
> The new Tornado here still brings out the crowds whenever it is scheduled
to
> operate. Ditto a lot more steam locos cleared for main line running.
> 
> What are the intentions for 1218?
> 
> Phil Mortimer
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NW-Mailing-List [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf
Of
> NW Mailing List
> Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 9:24 PM
> To: NW Mailing List
> Subject: Re: future 611 trips ??
> 
>  "Amtrak primarily will run routes during the week, freeing up possible
time
> and equipment, and cars to rent for weekend excursions."
> 
> Does anyone know where this little gem came from?  I don't know about some
> of the regional service, but the national routes don't take the weekends
> off.  
> 
> I don't really read anything into this regarding NS, at least from the
> article alone, but there have been complaints on this list, and I imagine
> else where, too, about 611 running the same Roanoke based trips over and
> over.  I can easily see ridership dropping, as the mileage collectors and
> railfans willing to travel to ride 611 have been there, done that.  It
> doesn't matter if they go with NS, Amtrak, or NRHS chapters, but they need
> to get 611 on the road to reach more fans.  They need a mindset like 765
or
> 4449, not 1225.
> 
> Marty Flick
> 
> 
> ---- NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

> >
http://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/roanoke/changes-ahead-for-611-excursions
> > 
> > 
> >   
> > |  
> > |   
> > |   
> > |   |    |
> > 
> >    |
> > 
> >   |
> > |  
> > |   |  
> > Changes ahead for 611 excursions
> >  By Rachel Lucas The Virginia Museum of Transportation is now looking to
> expand the excursions to new areas to increase interest ...  |   |
> > 
> >   |
> > 
> >   |
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > Kind of sounds like either a) not as many people are riding or b) NS is
> looking to punt the trips over to Amtrak.
> > Brian Dembinski
> > 
> >     On Monday, May 29, 2017 6:36 AM, NW Mailing List
> <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> >  
> > 
> >  Has anyone heard of the future of any more trips either at the NC
> Transportation Museum or on the NS mainline for next year?
> > I just got a message from "a good source" that said this year's trips,
> i.e., Monday, May 29th is IT and no more afterwards. 
> > Anyone else heard anything?
> > Bob Cohen________________________________________
> > NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
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> > http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/
> > 
> >    
> 
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