Norfolk and Western 1218

Undid revision 1350618273 by ~2026-24356-51 (talk) Restored sources

← Previous revision Revision as of 23:09, 23 April 2026 Line 113: Line 113: In June 1988, No. 1218 hauled a long-distance excursion, the ''Independence Limited'', over four days from Roanoke to [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], but en route, on June 11, the locomotive collided with [[Dodge Ramcharger|a truck]] at a crossing near [[Old Fort, Ohio]].<ref name="Wrinn2000p117" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 13, 1988 |title=Bucyrians find the 1218 was some train ride; 400 board |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-forum-bucyrians-find-the-1218/195176335/ |access-date=April 9, 2026 |work=Telegraph-Forum |location=[[Bucyrus, Ohio]] |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In July, No. 1218 hauled some excursions between [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]] and [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], and then it traveled to [[Buffalo, New York]] for two roundtrips between Buffalo and [[Ashtabula, Ohio]], sponsored by the Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS.<ref name="Wrinn2000p117" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Robert |date=July 16, 1988 |title=Excursion Train Steam Engine Is Biggest Ever to Run in Buffalo |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-excursion-train-steam-e/195176446/ |access-date=April 9, 2026 |work=The Buffalo News |location=Buffalo, New York |page=19 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In September, No. 611 returned to service and handled most of the remainder of that year's operating season.<ref name="Wrinn2000p117" /><ref name=":5" /> Excursion ridership for the 1988 season reportedly increased from the previous year at 55,239 passengers with a profit of $257,000 out of a gross take of $1.9 million.<ref name="Wrinn2000pp79-83" /> In June 1988, No. 1218 hauled a long-distance excursion, the ''Independence Limited'', over four days from Roanoke to [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], but en route, on June 11, the locomotive collided with [[Dodge Ramcharger|a truck]] at a crossing near [[Old Fort, Ohio]].<ref name="Wrinn2000p117" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 13, 1988 |title=Bucyrians find the 1218 was some train ride; 400 board |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-forum-bucyrians-find-the-1218/195176335/ |access-date=April 9, 2026 |work=Telegraph-Forum |location=[[Bucyrus, Ohio]] |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In July, No. 1218 hauled some excursions between [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]] and [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], and then it traveled to [[Buffalo, New York]] for two roundtrips between Buffalo and [[Ashtabula, Ohio]], sponsored by the Niagara Frontier Chapter NRHS.<ref name="Wrinn2000p117" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Robert |date=July 16, 1988 |title=Excursion Train Steam Engine Is Biggest Ever to Run in Buffalo |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-excursion-train-steam-e/195176446/ |access-date=April 9, 2026 |work=The Buffalo News |location=Buffalo, New York |page=19 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In September, No. 611 returned to service and handled most of the remainder of that year's operating season.<ref name="Wrinn2000p117" /><ref name=":5" /> Excursion ridership for the 1988 season reportedly increased from the previous year at 55,239 passengers with a profit of $257,000 out of a gross take of $1.9 million.<ref name="Wrinn2000pp79-83" />

In July 1989, No. 1218 performed a rare tripleheader excursion with [[Nickel Plate Road 587]] and No. 611 from Roanoke to Lynchburg, for the Asheville Chapter NRHS convention. In June 1990, No. 1218 traveled to [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]], where it met up with locomotives [[Cotton Belt 819]], [[St. Louis–San Francisco 1522|Frisco 1522]], and [[Union Pacific 844]] to participate in that year's NRHS convention, which took place at the former [[St. Louis Union Station]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=June 14–17, 1990|title=National Railway Historical Society 1990 Annual Convention|url=http://www.stlouisnrhs.org/pastevents/RouteGuides/1990%20NRHS%20Convention.pdf|work=St. Louis Chapter, NRHS|accessdate=May 9, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414062551/http://www.stlouisnrhs.org/pastevents/RouteGuides/1990%20NRHS%20Convention.pdf|archivedate=April 14, 2016}}</ref> In July 1989, No. 1218 performed a rare tripleheader excursion with [[Nickel Plate Road 587]] and No. 611 from Roanoke to Lynchburg, for the Asheville Chapter NRHS convention.<ref name="Wrinn2000p85">{{Harvp|Wrinn|2000|p=85}}.</ref><ref name="Wrinn2000p118">{{Harvp|Wrinn|2000|p=118}}.</ref> In June 1990, No. 1218 traveled to [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]], where it met up with locomotives [[Cotton Belt 819]], [[St. Louis–San Francisco 1522|Frisco 1522]], and [[Union Pacific 844]] to participate in that year's NRHS convention, which took place at the former [[St. Louis Union Station]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=June 14–17, 1990|title=National Railway Historical Society 1990 Annual Convention|url=http://www.stlouisnrhs.org/pastevents/RouteGuides/1990%20NRHS%20Convention.pdf|work=St. Louis Chapter, NRHS|accessdate=May 9, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414062551/http://www.stlouisnrhs.org/pastevents/RouteGuides/1990%20NRHS%20Convention.pdf|archivedate=April 14, 2016}}</ref>

Beginning in May 1991, during Norfolk Southern's 25th anniversary of their steam program, No. 1218's smokebox door was painted with an imperfect silver graphite and oil mix, and the outdoor heat turned it gold.<ref name=":R&RSep91">{{Cite magazine |date=September 1991 |title=Railnews — N&W 2-6-6-4 1218 |url=https://archive.org/details/railfan-railroad-sep-1991-images/mode/1up |access-date=April 12, 2026 |magazine=Railfan & Railroad |publisher=Carstens Publications |pages=44;74 |volume=10 |issue=9}}</ref><ref name=":NRHS1991">{{Cite magazine |last=Boyd |first=Jim |date=November 1991 |title=The NRHS Huntington '91 Convention |url=https://archive.org/details/railfan-railroad-nov-1991-images/mode/1up |access-date=April 9, 2026 |magazine=Railfan & Railroad |publisher=Carstens Publications |pages=78–80 |volume=10 |issue=11}}</ref> In August 1991, No. 1218's smokebox door received another graphite mix, resulting in a more correct silver appearance.<ref name=":NRHS1991" /> That same month, No. 1218 took part in that year's NRHS convention of [[Huntington, West Virginia]], leading two excursion runs out of [[Kenova, West Virginia|Kenova]], before the rest of the convention was focused on [[Nickel Plate Road 765]] and [[Pere Marquette 1225]] operating over the [[CSX Transportation|CSX]] mainline.<ref name=":NRHS1991" /> No. 611 was originally advertised to haul the Kenova excursions, but firebox repairs held it back.<ref name=":NRHS1991" /> On November 3, as the main event for the steam program's 25th anniversary, No. 1218 joined No. 611 and [[Southern Railway 4501]] to triple head a 28-car passenger excursion train from [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]] to [[Atlanta]], Georgia.<ref name="Wrinn2000pp90-91">{{Harvp|Wrinn|2000|pp=90–91}}.</ref> At [[Ooltewah, Tennessee]], No. 4501 took the first eight coaches for a complete round trip, turning around at [[Cleveland, Tennessee]].<ref name="Wrinn2000pp90-91"/> Afterwards, Nos. 611 and 1218 completed the rest of the trip to Atlanta.<ref name="Wrinn2000pp90-91" /> Beginning in May 1991, during Norfolk Southern's 25th anniversary of their steam program, No. 1218's smokebox door was painted with an imperfect silver graphite and oil mix, and the outdoor heat turned it gold.<ref name=":R&RSep91">{{Cite magazine |date=September 1991 |title=Railnews — N&W 2-6-6-4 1218 |url=https://archive.org/details/railfan-railroad-sep-1991-images/mode/1up |access-date=April 12, 2026 |magazine=Railfan & Railroad |publisher=Carstens Publications |pages=44;74 |volume=10 |issue=9}}</ref><ref name=":NRHS1991">{{Cite magazine |last=Boyd |first=Jim |date=November 1991 |title=The NRHS Huntington '91 Convention |url=https://archive.org/details/railfan-railroad-nov-1991-images/mode/1up |access-date=April 9, 2026 |magazine=Railfan & Railroad |publisher=Carstens Publications |pages=78–80 |volume=10 |issue=11}}</ref> In August 1991, No. 1218's smokebox door received another graphite mix, resulting in a more correct silver appearance.<ref name=":NRHS1991" /> That same month, No. 1218 took part in that year's NRHS convention of [[Huntington, West Virginia]], leading two excursion runs out of [[Kenova, West Virginia|Kenova]], before the rest of the convention was focused on [[Nickel Plate Road 765]] and [[Pere Marquette 1225]] operating over the [[CSX Transportation|CSX]] mainline.<ref name=":NRHS1991" /> No. 611 was originally advertised to haul the Kenova excursions, but firebox repairs held it back.<ref name=":NRHS1991" /> On November 3, as the main event for the steam program's 25th anniversary, No. 1218 joined No. 611 and [[Southern Railway 4501]] to triple head a 28-car passenger excursion train from [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]] to [[Atlanta]], Georgia.<ref name="Wrinn2000pp90-91">{{Harvp|Wrinn|2000|pp=90–91}}.</ref> At [[Ooltewah, Tennessee]], No. 4501 took the first eight coaches for a complete round trip, turning around at [[Cleveland, Tennessee]].<ref name="Wrinn2000pp90-91"/> Afterwards, Nos. 611 and 1218 completed the rest of the trip to Atlanta.<ref name="Wrinn2000pp90-91" />

At the end of the 1991 excursion season, after completing a round-trip excursion from [[Huntsville, Alabama]] to Chattanooga, Tennessee on November 8,<ref name="Wrinn2000p118">{{Harvp|Wrinn|2000|p=118}}.</ref> No. 1218 returned to the Norris Yard Steam Shop for an extensive overhaul, where its flues needed to be replaced and portions of its firebox needed to be repaired.<ref name="Wrinn2000pp90-91" /> There were originally plans to have No. 1218 running again for the beginning of the 1996 excursion season,<ref name="Wrinn2000pp90-91" /> but NS 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 involving nine passenger cars in [[Lynchburg, Virginia]], and decreasing rail network availability.<ref name="Wrinn2000pp102-109">{{Harvp|Wrinn|2000|pp=102–109}}.</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Rail Service – Popular steam engines will take last journeys| first=Don| last=Phillips| newspaper=Indianapolis Star| location=Indianapolis, IN| date=November 6, 1994| edition=first| page=192| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23549501/end_of_ns_steam_program_announced/| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| agency=Associated Press| title=Norfolk Southern ends excursions| newspaper=Daily Press| location=Newport News, VA| date=October 30, 1994| edition=main| page=22| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23549572/ap_ns_ends_steam_program/| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> At the end of the 1991 excursion season, after completing a round-trip excursion from [[Huntsville, Alabama]] to Chattanooga, Tennessee on November 8,<ref name="Wrinn2000p118" /> No. 1218 returned to the Norris Yard Steam Shop for an extensive overhaul, where its flues needed to be replaced and portions of its firebox needed to be repaired.<ref name="Wrinn2000pp90-91" /> There were originally plans to have No. 1218 running again for the beginning of the 1996 excursion season,<ref name="Wrinn2000pp90-91" /> but NS 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 involving nine passenger cars in [[Lynchburg, Virginia]], and decreasing rail network availability.<ref name="Wrinn2000pp102-109">{{Harvp|Wrinn|2000|pp=102–109}}.</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Rail Service – Popular steam engines will take last journeys| first=Don| last=Phillips| newspaper=Indianapolis Star| location=Indianapolis, IN| date=November 6, 1994| edition=first| page=192| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23549501/end_of_ns_steam_program_announced/| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| agency=Associated Press| title=Norfolk Southern ends excursions| newspaper=Daily Press| location=Newport News, VA| date=October 30, 1994| edition=main| page=22| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23549572/ap_ns_ends_steam_program/| via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>

===Current disposition=== ===Current disposition===