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Memories of Norfolk and Western Power by Paul Carleton
Memories of Norfolk and Western Power by Paul Carleton
Hard Cover w/ Dust jacket
176 pages
Copyright 1994
CONTENTS
The QuestPage 3
ForewordPage 5
The Commitment To Steam Page 5
N&W Locomotive ClassificationsPage 6
Modern Steam ComparisonsPage 7
Map Pages 8, 9
Railroad PhotographyPage 10
Some Early HistoryPages 11-20
N&W Steam And Diesel ObservationsPages 21-26
Drag Era Freight LocomotivesPages 27-34
The Marvels Of Mallet Articulated LocomotivesPages 35, 36
A Successful MalletPages 37, 38
Those Other Pacifics Pages 39-43
Norfolk & Western ElectrificationPages 44, 45
The Compound Articulated Comes Of AgePages 46-59
The Best Of The Mallets Pages 60-75
The Fine Art Of Locomotive Detailing Page 76
A Modern Simple Articulated LocomotivePages 77-91
The Path To Superpower Passenger Locomotives Pages 92-101
Too Much Of A Good ThingPages 102-103
The Mighty "J"Pages 104-116
New Switching PowerPages 117-123
Shop GoatsPage 124
The Passenger TrainsPage 125-134
More Than Your Ordinary Fan TripPages 135-140
You Can Go Back Pages 141-146
A Coal Fired Steam Turbine Pages 147-149
The Virginian Railway Pages 150-161
Mister Diesel's Machines Pages 162-174
Some Last Thoughts Page 175
AcknowledgmentsPage 176
DUST JACKET INTRODUCTION
About the book...
In large part, this is the story of the author discovering N&W steam power just a couple of short years before the road dieselized and wiped out this most efficient group of locomotives. Early steam locomotives are touched on, the Mallet articulateds come along, and we see the well known "A" simple articulateds and "J" 4-8-4's. New switcher power is examined as well as a coal fired steam turbine engine named "Dawn Henry." Lastly, we take a look at Mister Diesel's machines.
THE QUEST
FOR a Pennsy steam locomotive fan in the northeast in the 1950's, big was relative enginewise. Big to me was the M1 and M1b class 4-8-2's with their coast-to-coast tenders, really big was the Lima-patterned, Altoona-built 2-10-4's seen on a couple of trips to Altoona. The Duplex freight and passenger power never did pass my way to give me something larger for comparison. It was in this frame of mind in 1958 that my friends and I set out for Norfolk and Western land in Virginia.
Several hours ride by auto brought us close to Roanoke, Virginia, the citadel of N&W steam. Eastbound coal trains bound for namesake city Norfolk, Virginia had to assault Blue Ridge mountain upon leaving Roanoke and my first look at N&W steam was quite impressive. Here is the pattern- a Y6 class 2-8-8-2 leading an "A" class 2-6-6-4 on the front end, endless hoppers, then another Y6 on back (see at the left). This pusher would cut off on the fly just over the hump past Blue Ridge station and return west to await its next assignment. What an introduction to N&W articulated steam power! Getting out of our auto near the top of the grade and observing all this thunder by, the sight was overwhelming. In sheer locomotive size and brute force, this was like nothing my eyes had ever beheld before- what an introduction to this coal hauling, coalburning road.
For four days we stayed, photographing trains on the hill, hanging out at the Roanoke station restaurant eating hamburgers with all the trimmings while watching the tracks through the big windows, touring the Shaffers Crossing engine terminal with a guide provided by the company, and so on. Sturdy 0-8-0's worked the yards and station area, older Y3 and Y5 class 2-8-8-2's did the heavy work around the yard. The famous streamlined "J" class 4-8-4's were being phased out by leased E-unit diesels, a dark spot on an otherwise bright picture but a couple were still in steam and we saw them perform.
Other trips would be made to this locale before the last fires went out at Shaffers Crossing. I was richer for having seen the Y6 and "A" classes and their companions perform. For me, this will always be remembered as my time with "the big steam locomotives."
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