Class J Service - Christmas Rush 1958

Fri Aug 30 10:21:22 EDT 2019

John,

The J’s were located throughout the system beginning in 1958 when passenger service was dieselized. In January 1959 when the 603 was used for the Christmas Rush, it was located in Bluefield after being in Williamson the previous month.

On 21 Jan 1959, there were 12 J’s and they were located at Lamberts Point (1), Crewe (2), Roanoke (1), Bluefield (5), Williamson (1) and Portsmouth (2).

Bud Jeffries

From: NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2019 4:30 PM
To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Subject: RE: Class J Service - Christmas Rush 1958

Thanks for that Dave. Is it safe to say that all J’s in passenger service during late ’58 and early ’59 would have been based at Shaffer’s Crossing? Were they dispatched both east and west from Roanoke?      John Garner

From: NW Mailing List [mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org] 
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 2:28 PM
To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> >
Subject: Re: Class J Service - Christmas Rush 1958

On one of his late recordings out of Bluefield 1/3/59 with 603 on #16, Link credited Hobart Scott with making the necessary arrangements.  That was probably his source.

Dave Stephenson

On Friday, August 23, 2019, 9:52:18 AM EDT, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> > wrote: 

Is there any record of which J’s were used during the 1958 Christmas rush and where they were dispatched from?

Link seemed to know which trains would be J powered late in ’58 to get many of his last on-board recordings. Obscure information I know.

Thanks, John Garner

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Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 11:09 PM
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Subject: RE: Automatic train control - Shenandoah Division

The Class J’s were taken off main line passenger service on July 20,1958.  ^04 was retire in late 1958 and the other 13 were retired from January to October 1959.  All J’s received annual heavy repairs until that stopped in July 1958.  Any used in mostly local freight service were technically “running out miles” after July ’58.

Bud Jeffries

From: NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org <mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> > On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 10:12 PM
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Subject: Re: Automatic train control - Shenandoah Division

1956 is too early for a J to be running out its remaining time. 1957 saw the dropping of the main line locals like 7-8 and 9-10, and The Cavalier was cut back west of Williamson. January 1958 saw Southern diesels take over the Lynchburg-Bristol runs.  By then the J's were fitted with brakeman's dog house to run in freight service.  Lewis Newton has written about how successful the J's performed in main line freight service.  I would put late 1958 to early 1959 when J's began to be stricken from the roster and /or put into local freight service to run out their last miles.

-Rick Morrison

----- Original Message ----- 

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

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

Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 7:23 PM

Subject: Re: Automatic train control - Shenandoah Division

On 8/21/2019 4:15 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:

It lists J 606 on June 15, 1956 running as an “extra” with engineer R.P. Preddy and conductor A.R. St. Clair. I assume it was working in over the road shifter duties, running out remaining time on the locomotive.

I wouldn't assume that by any means. Steam was not dead on the Valley yet. And, if I am not mistaken the J's had yet to be taken off of passenger service on the other mainlines.  I would think it more likely a K2 had problems and there were no others in Roanoke to take its place. Engines were changed in Shenandoah, so, that would be as far as a J needed to go.

Jimmy Lisle

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