From the TRAINS Newswire: Norfolk & Western 1218 joining no. 611 at new pavilion ROANOKE, Va. – Norfolk & Western 1218 will return to the Virginia Museum of Transportation on June 14. The Class A 2-6-6-4, built at N&W’s Roanoke Shops, will be displayed beside N&W Class J 4-8-4 611 under the new Robert B. Claytor and W. Graham Claytor, Jr. Pavilion, which will be dedicated that day. The Virginia Museum of Transportation is raising money for the cosmetic restoration of the 1218. The locomotive has been stored in Norfolk Southern's Roanoke Shops since 1995 and needs to be repaired and painted. When NS’s steam excursion program ended in 1994, the 1218 was undergoing heavy repairs and was not operational. Built for dual service in the mid-1930s, the Class As numbered 42 in all. They could reach speeds as high as 65 mph in time-freight service and up to 70 mph in passenger service. They were equipped with 24” x 30” cylinders and 70” drivers, weighed 573,000 pounds, and generated a tractive effort of 114,000 pounds.
Bob, that's good news! Do you know what state of disassembly the A is in? Last I heard it was scattered all over a shop somewhere.
