Arriving at Strasburg people were greeted by former NY Central SW8 #8618 switching cars at the road's successful transloading facility across the main line from the steam restoration shop. Once focused just on the tourist market with the occasional car of freight, Strasburg Railroad now handles hundreds of cars a year, transferring lumber and other bulk goods between truck and railcar. Plans are to move the facility to a parcel of land at Leaman Place where they would be less conflict with passenger services.
Strasburg shop goat #1, a gasoline powered Plymouth industrial engine, was out behind the steam engine house.
#611 had gotten up early and was sitting in the early morning fog on the exhibition track, under steam to support cab tours and whistle pulls.
At the appointed time #611 backed off the exhibition track and onto the runaround track before moving forward onto the head of the trainset.
The open air platform was packed with people, but my magic GoPro wand gave me the reach necessary for a quality video PoV as seen here passing the standard service trainset with N&W #475.
Since my last visit in the 1990's, the Strasburg Industrial Complex now supports a large variety of ancillary rail and PA Dutch related tourist attractions.
The new attractions make's the original Groff's Grove picnic area look quaint in comparison.
My trip was not fortunate enough to get an Amtrak meet at Leaman Place, but we did encounter an Amtrak hi-rail on an inspection run. Upon reaching Leaman Place, #611 uncoupled and ran around the trainset in the typical fashion.
Returning back to Strasburg, the 611 train passed the 475 at the Groff's passing siding.
Upon our return, SW8 #8618 was still doing its job, working the transloading yard.
The N&W J class was a 1941 design with 14 examples being built in three separate batches. #611 was built in-house by the N&W in 1050(!) under the mistaken belief that the railroad's nearly free supply of coal would made steam cost competitive with diesel. It had all the most advanced steam features such as alloy driving rods and roller bearings, however as the 50's wore on, leased diesels showed undeniable cost savings so the J class was switches to freight service before a final retirement in 1959.
Fans look on as #611 takes water and then pulls forward to couple to the trainset for the next departure.
The preserved tower signed as "J" is for display purposes only and does not play any active role. It was previously LEMO tower in Lemoyne, PA, across the river from Harrisburg and was moved to Strasburg after the tower was closed in the 1980's. The original lever frame (later replaced by a US&S electric machine) and later model board are still inside, but it was unclear if tours were being offered.
After the museum visit I returned to catch another 611 arrival at the far west end of the platform.
#611 had a tough time fitting into the reversing track past the end of the platform.
Finished for the day, #611 backs past Reading "President's Car" #10, which made up the first class accommodation on the trainset. With sealed windows for air condition, those passengers who paid extra for the President's Car got far less by way of steam locomotive sounds, smells and black rain.
It's work pulling trains finished, #611 retired to the exhibit track for another round of cab tours.
About 20 minutes later #475 showed up for its own reverse move.
It then took the opportunity for a family portrait with 611.
With that I am finished with the Strasburg portion of the day. Next time I'll return with photos from the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and if you want to see the videos they are posted here.
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