N&W 2156 in St. Louis

[NW Mailing List]

Bruce, I don't know if you were an NS employee, but you sure got the part about "resentment" right. During the 80's, as a Norfolk Southern locomotive engineer who had operated 611, I was proudly wearing my red 611 cap, while visiting the Mariner's Museum. I happened to overhear a couple talking, when the lady said, Look at his hat, he's involved with that steam engine." To which the man replied, and loudly too, "I would'nt walk the distance it takes to spit on that engine." I'll say I was a little shocked at that. Then the lady approached and said, "Oh don't mind him, he works as a yardmaster for NS, and hates the railroad. I had'nt thought about this incident until I read your comments. Thank's, Jim Flummer


Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:45:18 -0500To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.orgSubject: Re: N&W 2156 in St. LouisFrom: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.orgOn Feb 17, 2008 12:06 AM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

Its the red-headed step child just like the Y3 at IRM in Union, IL. Well,with the exception that someone cares enough that its undercover and gotpaint years ago.
There was a movement back in the '80s to bring the Y back to Roanoke to join the A and the J, then in excursion service (this was under Bob Claytor, when things were done to make the bossman happy*).  From what I understand (and there are those here whom I'm sure have more details), the deal was all but struck to return the engine "home" to Roanoke. NS would handle the move and I believe the VMT was involved. The deal breaker came from the St. Louis end, when the museum folks there wanted NS to post a ridiculously high performance bond to cover the move east. NS balked at the demand and the project died.  I still have a "Free the Y" bumper sticker in a drawer here somewhere -- if I can lay my hands on it, I'll scan it this week and drop it in the files/photos section of the group.*Again, just my view from the fringes, there are those inside who know better (as with any era of N&W/NS history) the darker and political side of things -- but still a part of the history and culture of the railroad. My understanding is that there were N&W/SOU/NS people who all but worshiped the ground the Claytor brothers walked on, others who were supportive of Bob Claytor and the steam program, those who did what they had to do, and those who resented the whole thing and were quite put out over having to deal with excursions and all that went with them. Some of this may have been lingering resentment from the BRAC strike when the "Red Baron" was moving coal to Norfolk while he was also trying to break the strike.Bruce in Blacksburg
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