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Norfolk and Western 1218

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Norfolk & Western 1218
Norfolk and Western Class A No. 1218 in Richmond, Virginia, getting ready to pull a round-trip excursion train to Lynchburg, Virginia on October 13 or 14, 1990[1]
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderN&W's Roanoke Shops (East End Shops)
Serial number340
Build dateJune 2, 1943
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-6-4
 • UIC(1′C)C2′ h4
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.33 in (838 mm)
Driver dia.70 in (1,778 mm)[2]
Trailing dia.42 in (1,067 mm)
Length121 ft 9+1⁄4 in (37.1 m) including tender[2]
Width11 ft 2 in (3.4 m)
Height16 ft (4.88 m)
Axle load72,000 lb (32.7 tonnes)
Adhesive weight433,350 lb (196.6 tonnes)
Loco weight573,000 lb (259.9 tonnes)
Tender weight378,600 lb (171.7 tonnes)
Total weight951,600 lb (431.6 tonnes)[2]
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity60,000 lb (27.2 tonnes)
Water cap.22,000 US gal (83,000 L; 18,000 imp gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area122 sq ft (11.3 m2)
Boiler pressure300 lbf/in2 (2.07 MPa)
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox587 sq ft (54.5 m2)
 • Tubes and flues6,052 sq ft (562.2 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area2,703 sq ft (251.1 m2)
CylindersFour, simple articulated
Cylinder size24 in × 30 in (610 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gearBaker
Valve typePiston valves
Performance figures
Maximum speed70+ mph[2]
Power output5,400 hp (4,000 kW)
Tractive effortStarting: 125,897 lbf (560.02 kN) Continuous: 114,000 lbf (507.10 kN)[2]
Factor of adh.3.44
Career
OperatorsNorfolk & Western Railway→Norfolk Southern Railway
ClassA
Number in class19 of 43
Numbers
  • N&W 1218
LocaleUnited States, South and Midwest
RetiredJuly 1959 (revenue service)[2]
November 1991 (excursion service)
RestoredApril 1987[2]
Current ownerVirginia Museum of Transportation
DispositionOn static display, based in Roanoke, Virginia

Norfolk and Western 1218 is a preserved four-cylinder simple articulated 2-6-6-4 steam locomotive, built in June 1943 by the Norfolk and Western's (N&W) East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia as part of the N&W's class "A" fleet of fast freight locomotives. It was retired from regular revenue service in 1959, and was later restored by Norfolk Southern for excursion service on their steam program, pulling excursions throughout the eastern United States from 1987 to 1991. Today, it was now on permanent static display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia.

Historic significance

No. 1218 is the sole survivor of the Norfolk and Western's class A locomotives and the only surviving 2-6-6-4 steam locomotive in the world. While smaller than Union Pacific's famous and more numerous "Challenger" class of 4-6-6-4 locomotives, Norfolk and Western's design racked up unmatched records of performance in service.

During 1218's excursion career, it was the most powerful operational steam locomotive in the world,[3] with a tractive effort of 125,897 pounds-force (560.02 kN), well above Union Pacific 3985, the next-strongest-pulling operational steam locomotive, with a tractive effort of 97,350 lbf [433.0 kN]). Since May 2019, however, No. 1218 became the locomotive with the second highest tractive effort, after Union Pacific 4014, which has a tractive effort of 135,375 lbf (602.18 kN). Unlike diesel-electric locomotives of similar high tractive effort (for starting heavy trains) but typical for a steam locomotive, it could easily run at 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) and more.

History

Revenue service (1943-1959)

Norfolk and Western used No. 1218 and the other class A locomotives primarily for fast freight trains, but they also pulled heavy coal trains on the flatter districts of the Norfolk & Western system, and reportedly even pulled heavy passenger trains at times.

First retirement (1959-1985)

In 1959, when No. 1218 was retired, it was purchased by the Union Carbide Co. in Charleston, West Virginia, where it was used as a stationary boiler at a chemical plant.[4] In 1965, No. 1218 was repurchased by New England millionaire F. Nelson Blount for his locomotive collection at Steamtown, U.S.A. in Bellows Falls, Vermont.[4] Three years later, Norfolk and Western retrieved the locomotive and did a cosmetic restoration on 1218 at their East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia, the same place where it was built.[4] Afterwards, it was put on display at the Roanoke Transportation Museum in 1971.[4]

First excursion service (1987-1991)

No. 1218 leads an excursion train in Brocton, New York on August 6, 1988

In 1982, the Norfolk and Western, and Southern Railways were both merged to form the new Norfolk Southern Railway (NS).[5] On May 10, 1985, No. 1218 was moved out of the park by a pair of NS diesels to be restored to operating condition at the Norris Yard Steam Shop in Irondale, Alabama.[4] In 1987, No. 1218 was moved under its power for the first time in 28 years and operated for main-line excursion service for the Norfolk Southern steam program.[6]

In 1989, it performed a rare doubleheader with Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 587, which was very recently restored to operation by the Indiana Transportation Museum, for the Asheville National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) convention.[7]

In 1990, No. 1218 traveled to Saint Louis, Missouri, where it met up with locomotives Cotton Belt 4-8-4 No. 819, Frisco 4-8-2 No. 1522, and Union Pacific 4-8-4 No. 844 to participate in another rare NRHS convention, which took place at the former Union Station.[8]

On November 3, 1991, during Norfolk Southern's 25th Anniversary of their Steam Program, No. 1218 joined Southern Railway MS Class 2-8-2 No. 4501 and Norfolk and Western J Class No. 611 to triple head a 28-car passenger excursion train from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia.[9] At Ooltewah, Tennessee, No. 4501 took a few coaches for a complete round trip, turning around at Cleveland, Tennessee.[9] Afterwards, No. 611 and No. 1218 completed the rest of the trip to Atlanta.[9]

No. 1218 being disassembled at the Norris Yard Steam Shop in 1993

Second retirement (1992-present

At the end of the 1991 season, after completing a round-trip excursion from Huntsville, Alabama to Chattanooga, Tennessee,[10] No. 1218 returned to Irondale, Alabama for an extensive overhaul to have its flues replaced and the portions of the firebox repaired.[9] Originally, the plan was to have the 1218 running again for the start of the 1996 operating season,[9] but Norfolk Southern chairman David R. Goode cancelled the steam program in 1994 due to serious safety concerns, rising insurance costs, the expense of maintaining steam locomotives, a yard switching accident with nine passenger cars in Lynchburg, Virginia, and decreasing rail network availability.[11][12][13]

After the Norfolk Southern steam program was concluded, the 1218 was partially reassembled and towed back to Roanoke to be stored at the East End Shops in 1996, the year its overhaul was supposed to be completed.[11] In 2001, the Norfolk Southern donated the 1218 to the City of Roanoke,[14] clearing the way for the engine to once again be put on display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. After a cosmetic restoration by Norfolk Southern, the 1218 was towed to the Virginia Museum of Transportation on June 11, 2003 and pushed into place in its new home next to Norfolk and Western 611.[15] On April 2, 2012, the City of Roanoke officially donated both the 1218 and 611 to the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

Current status

No. 1218 on static display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in May 2017

Today, No. 1218 is owned by the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia and is displayed in the museum's Claytor Pavilion. No. 1218 has been cosmetically restored, though not operational since the overhaul started in 1992 was never completed. In 2007, Norfolk Southern pulled Nos. 1218 and 611 to its Roanoke Shops for the shops' 125th Anniversary celebration.[16]

N&W Class J No. 611 resides at the museum, when it is not running excursions or at the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC, where it was restored to operating condition in 2015. The Virginia Transportation Museum owns No. 611 and operates the excursions as Norfolk Southern no longer operates a steam program, though they continue to recognize the excellent corporate public relations that derive from the excursions and have been very cooperative in coordinating such trips. In the meantime, No. 1218 continues to sit on display inside a shed, next to another former N&W steam locomotive, G-1 class No. 6.

References

  1. ^ Wrinn (2000), p. 118.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "All Aboard - Steam locomotive to power day-long excursions from Greenville". Gaffney Leader. Gaffney, SC. March 20, 1987. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Mighty locomotive will steam to Fort Wayne". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, MI. June 24, 1990. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b c d e Wrinn (2000), pp. 73–74.
  5. ^ Wrinn (2000), p. 61.
  6. ^ Wrinn (2000), pp. 79–82.
  7. ^ Wrinn (2000), p. 85.
  8. ^ "National Railway Historical Society 1990 Annual Convention" (PDF). St. Louis Chapter, NRHS. June 14–17, 1990. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 14, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e Wrinn (2000), pp. 90–91.
  10. ^ Wrinn (2000), pp. 118.
  11. ^ a b Wrinn (2000), pp. 102–109.
  12. ^ Phillips, Don (November 6, 1994). "Rail Service - Popular steam engines will take last journeys". Indianapolis Star (first ed.). Indianapolis, IN. p. 192 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. ^ "Norfolk Southern ends excursions". Daily Press (main ed.). Newport News, VA. Associated Press. October 30, 1994. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ^ "Roanoke chugs away on museum honoring locomotive photographer". Daily Press (main ed.). Newport News, VA. Associated Press. August 18, 2001. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. ^ Kirkman, Kenney (July–August 2003). "Memories of 1218" (PDF). Turntable Times. Roanoke Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. p. 5-6. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  16. ^ McKinney, Wayne (2014). Roanoke Locomotive Shops and the Norfolk & Western Railroad. Images of Rail. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publications. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-4671-2111-8. LCCN 2013946232 – via Google Books.

Bibliography

  • Wrinn, Jim (2000). Steam's Camelot: Southern and Norfolk Southern Excursions in Color (1st ed.). TLC Publishing. ISBN 1-883089-56-5.

Further reading

  • King, Ed (2009). The A: Norfolk and Western's Mercedes of Steam (2nd ed.). N&W Historical Society. ISBN 978-0970479464.
  • Rosenburg, Ron; Archer, Eric H. (1973). Norfolk & Western Steam (The Last 25 Years) (1st ed.). Quadrant Press Inc. ISBN 0-915276-00-3.
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