r/trains • u/Ill_List_9539 • 1d ago
N&W 1218
Some photos I took recent of the 1218 in Roanoke, VA
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u/Apollo11fangirl 1d ago
Good to see that the other trains in Roanoke are getting some love
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u/Ill_List_9539 16h ago
The 1218 is my favorite. I love the 611 and she is undeniably beautiful but I feel she often steals 1218’s thunder at the museum
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u/clusterbuck2 23h ago
Can it still run?
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u/the-bumping-post 22h ago
Realistically, not a chance unfortunately. On top of the money needed to get her running again, the museum itself has been having some internal issues for some time and they’re starting to get in the way of their ability to run the 611. Norfolk Southern has already made it clear they don’t want steam running on the mainline anyway so it’ll be there for at least a while.
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u/ABigDesk 23h ago edited 18h ago
Sad story behind this one. It used to run in preservation alongside the N&W J Class all the way into 1991. The parent company went bust while it was torn apart getting some work done, they didn't put it back together well at all, critical components were lost, now it sits.
Edit: Norfolk Southern didn't go bankrupt; they just cancelled their steam program in 1994 while the 1218 was in pieces. My bad on that one fellas
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u/the_dj_zig 19h ago
Norfolk Southern went bust? News to me
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u/ABigDesk 19h ago edited 18h ago
No sorry I must've gotten my facts mixed up with another locomotive. In 1991 the 1218 went in for repair (slated to be completed in 1996) but in 1994 NS cancelled their steam program due to cost. THEN they hastily cobbled it together and parts got lost, my bad on that one
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u/GodzillaGames88 1d ago
Truly a shadow of what she once was. A titan left to rot...
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u/FlackCannon1 1d ago
they actually keep pretty good care of her and recently polished up her running gear. hell, 1218 is in incredibly good condition comparatively to most other museum locos, sure not she's not perfect, but is in no way being "left to rot."
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u/GodzillaGames88 1d ago
I meant "left to rot" as in not used when she really could have been operated for at most a few years more. Instead, they just put her away and just let her sit. Now it's gonna be a very inefficient process if they wanna restore her.
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u/FlackCannon1 1d ago
true. most railroads had to face retiring and replacing their steam locos just because of costs; diesels were getting more efficient and the costs to maintain/service them was also improving. it was only a matter of time before their advantages caught up with the steam loco's disadvantages. I do agree that they could've kept using her though as 1218 was incredibly powerful and could still be of use, there were just better options available. :/ on the bright side, as I mentioned before 1218 is in great condition, and if it ever were restored it would be relatively straightforward and possibly cheaper then other projects (still expensive, but there would be less parts needing replacement and they could probably get it done in 2-3 years with 1-2$ million under the best circumstances- a great timescale and cost for a loco of 1218's size)
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u/the_dj_zig 19h ago
Operated where? 1218 was under overhaul when NS canceled the steam program. What short line needs or wants a 2-6-6-4? 611 maybe could’ve found a place to go, but 1218? No chance
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u/NeatSubstance3414 12h ago
Well you seem to forget that WM Scenic has a large loco operating.
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u/the_dj_zig 11h ago
That they chose to acquire and restore because it met their needs. In addition, WMSR didn’t exist when the NS Steam program ended
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u/GodzillaGames88 19h ago
...Strasbourg? You realize they would definitely want an engine of her size, right? They know what to do with them, as they prove with the 611. I feel like Strasbourg would definitely want the 1218 as a little museum piece, at least. (I probably misspelled Strasbourg.)
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u/the_dj_zig 19h ago
Strasburg? You have to be joking. 611 was WAY too big for the 6 mile, 15 mph operation Strasburg runs.
You’d have had a better chance convincing me you were serious if you’d said Steamtown or TVRM
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u/GodzillaGames88 19h ago
Honestly, forgive my language, but I would not give two shits about who would run it as long as they kept her in good shape and ran her at all. I don't care if it was 5 miles or 500, anything is better than nothing.
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u/the_dj_zig 19h ago
Then you are clearly someone who’s never been involved in the operation of any engine, but especially a steam locomotive.
It costs money to run a locomotive. If your operational doesn’t offset the cost of running the thing, you’re now losing money. And most tourist railroads/museums don’t have money to lose.
If you watch the documentary on Southern 4501 “And Then There Was One,” several of the TVRM guys mention that, after the Steam program ended, TVRM had no intention of giving 4501 it’s 15 year overhaul because it was (and still is) too big for what TVRM does.
Yes, they’re cool to see run, but you have to keep in mind that someone’s paying for that coolness. And if it doesn’t make financial sense, they’re going to stop paying eventually.
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u/GodzillaGames88 19h ago
I understand the pay fact, however, the only train projects that get to the news are the ones that get enough money to do so. I am not going to continue this debate any longer and concede defeat.
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u/the_dj_zig 19h ago
Respectfully, you lost the debate when you suggested 1218 go to Strasburg. Have a good one
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u/DismalCattle189 1d ago
Beautiful locomotive