Class J 611 Steam Locomotive — The Most Famous Engine in the South

PART 1 — SOURCE TRACE 1. "Built in May 1950 at N&W's Roanoke (East End) Shops in Roanoke, Virginia" ← brief Wikipedia: "Built in May 1950 at N&W's Roanoke (East End) Shops in Roanoke, Virginia" 2. "one of the last mainline passenger steam locomotives built in the United States" ← brief Wikipedia: "one of the last mainline passenger steam locomotives built in the United States" 3. "represents a pinnacle of American steam locomotive technology" ← brief Wikipedia: "represents a pinnacle of American steam locomotive technology" 4. "Completed at a cost of $251,544" ← brief Wikipedia: "Completed at a cost of $251,544" 5. "put into revenue service on May 29, 1950" ← brief Wikipedia: "put into revenue service on May 29, 1950" 6. "hauled N&W's Powhatan Arrow, Pocahontas, and Cavalier passenger trains, running 676.6 miles (1,088.9 km) between Norfolk, Virginia, and Cincinnati, Ohio" ← brief Wikipedia: "They hauled N&W's Powhatan Arrow, Pocahontas, and Cavalier passenger trains, running 676.6 miles (1,088.9 km) between Norfolk, Virginia, and Cincinnati, Ohio" 7. "ferried the Southern Railway's (SOU) Birmingham Special, Pelican, and Tennessean, running 209.8 miles (337.6 km) between Monroe and Bristol, Virginia" ← brief Wikipedia: "They ferried the Southern Railway's (SOU) Birmingham Special, Pelican, and Tennessean, running 209.8 miles (337.6 km) between Monroe and Bristol, Virginia" 8. "70 in (1,778 mm) driving wheels" ← brief Wikipedia: "with 70 in (1,778 mm) driving wheels" 9. "80,000 lbf (355.86 kN) of tractive effort" ← brief Wikipedia: "80,000 lbf (355.86 kN) of tractive effort" 10. "operating boiler pressure of 300 psi (2.07 MPa)" ← brief Wikipedia: "an operating boiler pressure of 300 psi (2.07 MPa)" 11. "Timken roller bearings on all axles, including the tender axles" ← brief Wikipedia: "They had Timken roller bearings on all axles, including the tender axles" 12. "could haul a 1,025 short tons (2,050,000 lb) passenger train of 15 cars at 110 mph (177 km/h)" ← brief Wikipedia: "On flat terrain, the class J locomotives could haul a 1,025 short tons (2,050,000 lb) passenger train of 15 cars at 110 mph (177 km/h)" 13. "Theoretically, they could go up to 140 mph (225 km/h) without wheel slippage" ← brief Wikipedia: "Theoretically, they could go up to 140 mph (225 km/h) without wheel slippage" 14. "equipped with a Hancock long-bell 3-chime 'steamboat' whistle" ← brief Wikipedia: "The locomotives were equipped with a Hancock long-bell 3-chime 'steamboat' whistle" 15. "On January 23, 1956, the locomotive derailed near Cedar, West Virginia, with the late westbound Pocahontas. The engineer was killed and 60 passengers and crew were injured." ← brief Wikipedia: "On January 23, 1956, the locomotive derailed near Cedar, West Virginia, with the late westbound Pocahontas. The engineer was killed and 60 passengers and crew were injured." 16. "president Robert H. Smith ordered No. 611 to be extensively repaired and returned to service the following month" ← brief Wikipedia: "president Robert H. Smith ordered No. 611 to be extensively repaired and returned to service the following month" 17. "The accident was the country's last major steam-powered revenue passenger train wreck" ← brief Wikipedia: "The accident was the country's last major steam-powered revenue passenger train wreck" 18. "officially retired from N&W's operating locomotive roster on October 27" (1959) ← brief Wikipedia: "it was officially retired from N&W's operating locomotive roster on October 27" 19. "donated to the Roanoke City Council" (May 1962) ← brief Wikipedia: "In late May of that year, Saunders abruptly donated No. 611 to the Roanoke City Council" 20. "cosmetically restored and put on static display at the new Roanoke Transportation Museum in Wasena Park, which opened on Memorial Day that year" (1963) ← brief Wikipedia: "In spring 1963, No. 611 was cosmetically restored and put on static display at the new Roanoke Transportation Museum in Wasena Park, which opened on Memorial Day that year" 21. "leased the locomotive from the Roanoke City Council for $5,000 per year" (Robert Claytor, 1981) ← brief Wikipedia: "his successor—Robert Claytor—leased the locomotive from the Roanoke City Council for $5,000 per year" 22. "it arrived at SOU's Norris Yard Steam Shop in Irondale, Alabama" (October 1981) ← brief Wikipedia: "three days later, it arrived at SOU's Norris Yard Steam Shop in Irondale, Alabama" 23. "restoration work, which cost around $600,000" ← brief Wikipedia: "The restoration work, which cost around $600,000" 24. "moved under its own power for the first time in nearly 23 years" (August 14, 1982) ← brief Wikipedia: "on August 14, it moved under its own power for the first time in nearly 23 years" 25. "arrived in Roanoke on August 22 for the city's centennial anniversary" ← brief Wikipedia: "the locomotive arrived in Roanoke on August 22 for the city's centennial anniversary" 26. "Claytor called No. 611 'Roanoke born, Roanoke bred, and Roanoke proud'" ← brief Wikipedia: "In a public speech, Claytor called No. 611 'Roanoke born, Roanoke bred, and Roanoke proud'" 27. "fire was extinguished for the final time after 13 years of excursion service with NS" (December 7, 1994) ← brief Wikipedia: "After No. 611 arrived in Roanoke on December 7, it entered the Shaffers Crossing engine terminal, where its fire was extinguished for the final time after 13 years of excursion service with NS" 28. "returned to the Roanoke City Council, which put it back on display at the city's transportation museum" (October 7, 1995) ← brief Wikipedia: "On October 7, 1995, No. 611 was returned to the Roanoke City Council, which put it back on display at the city's transportation museum" 29. "installed under the Robert B. Claytor and W. Graham Claytor Jr. Pavilion" ← brief Wikipedia: "No. 611 was installed under the Robert B. Claytor and W. Graham Claytor Jr. Pavilion" 30. "Roanoke City Council donated their ownership of Nos. 611 and 1218 to the VMT" (April 2, 2012) ← brief Wikipedia: "On April 2, 2012, the Roanoke City Council donated their ownership of Nos. 611 and 1218 to the VMT" 31. "VMT and NS tested No. 611's bearings and found that the locomotive was in excellent condition to be restored" (June 2, 2013) ← brief Wikipedia: "On June 2, the VMT and NS tested No. 611's bearings and found that the locomotive was in excellent condition to be restored" 32. "moved under its own power for the first time in nearly 21 years" (May 9, 2015) ← brief Wikipedia: "On May 9, No. 611 moved under its own power for the first time in