FastFlyingVirginian

There is no 'J' in 'Lynchburg'. There isn't one in 'Petersburg', either. But on June 13th and 14th there was one in both, and also many other places in between. Two weeks after her triumphant homecoming to Roanoke, the newly re-restored Class J 4-8-4 611 was out to run a pair of excursions on home rails - the former Norfolk & Western main line between Lynchburg and Petersburg, now part of Norfolk Southern's Blue Ridge and Norfolk Districts.

My journey to capture the J on video again started bright and early. Well, maybe not 'bright' so much, as I was on the road by 4:30 AM to make it to my first location; the high trestle over Opossum Creek east of Lynchburg, commonly shortened to 'Pos'm Creek'. The sweeping curve of the road allowed plenty of room for all of the chasers that gathered to spread out and choose an angle as the sun rose over the hills behind us. The big J looked almost toy-like as she strode out over the massive trestle with her train at 8:33.

Taking no chances at getting mired in chase traffic, I jumped way ahead of those who chose to pace the train and made a beeline for the clearing at Lipco, just east of Blackstone on the edge of Fort Pickett. Among the onlookers who slowly found their way back to the same spot was a woman who explained that her husband was an NS road foreman out of Crewe, and that he was riding the train in one of the first class cars while a friend and coworker was among the crew in 611's cab. The coworker had been informed where she would be positioned with her camera, so that as they approached he could make a little extra smoke to enhance the picture. Sure enough, as 611 rounded the distant curve and emerged from under the 460 Business bridge, her exhaust went black for a few seconds as the engineer saluted the crowds with a few blasts of the whistle.

While the 611 and her trainload of passengers laid over in Petersburg, I retreated to Crewe to grab lunch and then headed over to Jack to meet up with Mrs. FFV, who had brought the kids out to see the train pass by on its return trip. Over in Petersburg, things weren't going so smoothly with 611's departure. First some of the private cars were having trouble maintaining power, then the curve and gradient of the wye proved too much as the J tried to coax her train through, due in part to excessive grease on the rails. While the excursion battled with the wye, we melted in the sun at Jack while V18 picked its way past the crowd, led by C44-9W 8923 and SD70M 2637.

After waiting for over 2 hours in a triple-digit heat index, I finally had enough and departed Jack with only a shot of V18 to show for it. I had impeccable timing - within minutes of leaving I called Mrs. FFV to let her know my plans, and she cut me off to say 611 was rolling by as we spoke. At the same time, I realized I was staring down a really ugly cloudburst, and while it brought a much-appreciated temperature drop it did so with a lot of wind and rain. The storm began to taper off while I was still east of Crewe, so I started to watch the road for a crossing that might make for a good shot of 611 and her train. Somewhere near Wilsons, I spotted an inconspicuous dirt path tucked under the trees on the eastbound side of 460 and hung a U to check it out. It turned out to be a private crossing to a farm on the other side of the tracks, but the owner himself was out waiting on the train and graciously allowed me to stay. Before 611 arrived, we were caught by surprise by eastbound stack train I36, led by C44-9Ws 8975 and 9177 and a pair of Union Pacific visitors - C4460AC 6946 (downrated AC6000CW) and SD70M 4819. Less than 10 minutes later, a cloud of smoke boiled above the trees in the distance, accompanied by an unmistakable full-throated hoot as 611 charged westward.

As the last of the first-class cars trailed off into the distance, I charged west myself to Concord, where the train would negotiate an S curve past a set of classic N&W CPL signals. More waiting ensued, and more people gathered until 611 finally appeared at 8:20, her whistle blowing in triumph as she steamed into the curve and past the signals.

The day's end was bittersweet. Contrary to what I had planned, there would not be a second look at the J for me on the 14th. Much like the excursion's arrival into Lynchburg, my own arrival home was much later than expected. Faced with the prospect of 3 hours sleep, 2 more full round trips between Lynchburg and Richmond, and another day of triple-digit heat index, I made a command decision to content myself with the shots I had just made. Thanks to the funding and support from everyone concerned and the hard work of the 611's crew, there will be other trips on other days. My music collection's shuffle mode showed its uncanny knack for recognizing the mood on the way home, when it chose Black Country Communion:

"...Gonna fly us away, like a song of yesterday..."

Indeed she is. Show less