Just got the following email... all hear say until I see it in print from NS themselves...
>Norfolk and Western 611 scheduled to hit the road
>November 15, 2009
>
>In the recent decline in rail movement the Norfolk and Southern rail road
>board of directors has made a surprise announcement. That the 4-8-4 steam
>locomotive will be serviced and brought back for a executive tour of the
>line stopping along the way at major cities to promote rail service. It
>is not clear yet when this tour will occur or any of the details of where
>the
>locomotive will be shipped to be worked on. When contacted Donald W.
>Seale the Chief Marketing Officer declined any comment on the matter only
>adding to the mystery of when the tour will commence. Currently the steam
>locomotive #611 is on display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation,
>it is a wonder of when they will sneek this massive locomotive out to
>service its old rusted parts.
>As one of the last, most prominent, and most distinctive locomotives
>assembled in Roanoke, the 611 often serves as a symbol for Roanoke and its
>railroad history. The 611 is also depicted on the Commonwealth of
>Virginia's "Railway Heritage" license plate.
>
>The executives of NS determined to terminate the steam program, due to
>rising insurance costs, increasing cost of maintenance, and a high system
>capacity. The last steam excursion was on December 3 from Birmingham,
>Alabama to Chattanooga, Tennessee and back, pulled by 611. The next day
>611 set off on a three-day trek home to Roanoke. 611's last official day
>of being under steam was December 7, 1994, the 53rd anniversary of Pearl
>Harbor Day.
>Between Salisbury, North Carolina and Roanoke, 611 displayed black flags
>on the run. That evening, upon arrival at Schaffers Crossing in Roanoke,
>its fire was dumped for the last time.
>
>
>--
>Raymond E. Grabowski, Jr.
>Erie, Pennsylvania
>
>"Though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and
>heaven, that which we are, we are; one equal temper of heroic hearts made
>weak by time and fate but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and
>not to yield." Alfred, Lord Tennyson
>Norfolk and Western 611 scheduled to hit the road
>November 15, 2009
>
>In the recent decline in rail movement the Norfolk and Southern rail road
>board of directors has made a surprise announcement. That the 4-8-4 steam
>locomotive will be serviced and brought back for a executive tour of the
>line stopping along the way at major cities to promote rail service. It
>is not clear yet when this tour will occur or any of the details of where
>the
>locomotive will be shipped to be worked on. When contacted Donald W.
>Seale the Chief Marketing Officer declined any comment on the matter only
>adding to the mystery of when the tour will commence. Currently the steam
>locomotive #611 is on display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation,
>it is a wonder of when they will sneek this massive locomotive out to
>service its old rusted parts.
>As one of the last, most prominent, and most distinctive locomotives
>assembled in Roanoke, the 611 often serves as a symbol for Roanoke and its
>railroad history. The 611 is also depicted on the Commonwealth of
>Virginia's "Railway Heritage" license plate.
>
>The executives of NS determined to terminate the steam program, due to
>rising insurance costs, increasing cost of maintenance, and a high system
>capacity. The last steam excursion was on December 3 from Birmingham,
>Alabama to Chattanooga, Tennessee and back, pulled by 611. The next day
>611 set off on a three-day trek home to Roanoke. 611's last official day
>of being under steam was December 7, 1994, the 53rd anniversary of Pearl
>Harbor Day.
>Between Salisbury, North Carolina and Roanoke, 611 displayed black flags
>on the run. That evening, upon arrival at Schaffers Crossing in Roanoke,
>its fire was dumped for the last time.
>
>
>--
>Raymond E. Grabowski, Jr.
>Erie, Pennsylvania
>
>"Though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and
>heaven, that which we are, we are; one equal temper of heroic hearts made
>weak by time and fate but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and
>not to yield." Alfred, Lord Tennyson
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