Steve Hughes Wrote:
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> Perhaps the biggest obstacle to resumption of NS
> steam excursions would be obtaining a consist of
> serviceable passenger cars, as I thought NS had
> sold the cars when they ended the program. Does
> anyone know otherwise?
Do not expect a "resumption of steam excursions."
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Norfolk Southern Corporation is in negotiations with the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum with regard to the operation of a limited schedule of steam locomotive event appearances and passenger excursions beginning later this year.
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To provide a little insight into what we are doing, pending the necessary agreements with TVRM (a fantastic partner by the way), we are contemplating limited steam excursions over reasonable distances at locations throughout our 22-state network. Some of the trips will be for the public, some for employees, and some for customers. There will also be opportunities to view the equipment in static displays. As a word of caution, this program will not resemble NS' former steam program, in that the number of trips will be fewer and the trips themselves will be more modest.
Rudy Husband
Norfolk Southern
If I were to guess what might happen in 2010, I would guess one weekend in October or November with 630 making a couple of round trips from Chattanooga to Cleveland, TN using TVRM's coaches. No 'all day death marches.'
As far as I know no work has been done on 4501 beyond the thickness testing.
I might speculate that there will be occasional opportunities for non-Southern locomotives of NS predecessor railroads (NKP 765 and N&W 475 come to mind), but 'suggestions' that NS start overhauling specific locomotives (such as N&W 611 or PRR 1361) will probably come to nought.
JAC
