Norfolk and Western 1218

37.272943°N 79.947231°W / 37.272943; -79.947231 Norfolk and Western 1218 is a preserved four-cylinder simple articulated 2-6-6-4 steam locomotive, built in June 1943 by the Norfolk and Western's (N&W) Roanoke (East End) Shops in Roanoke, Virginia as part of the N&W's class "A" fleet of fast freight locomotives. It was retired from regular revenue service in July 1959, and was later restored by Norfolk Southern for excursion service for their steam program, pulling excursions throughout the eastern United States from 1987 to 1991. It is currently on display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia.

Norfolk and Western 1218
Norfolk and Western Class A No. 1218 heading towards the wye in Bellevue, Ohio, with an excursion train on August 16, 1987
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderRoanoke Shops (East End Shops)
Serial number340
Build dateJune 2, 1943
Rebuild date1985–1987
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-6-4
 • UIC(1′C)C2′ h4g
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.33 in (838 mm)
Driver dia.70 in (1,778 mm)[1]
Trailing dia.42 in (1,067 mm)
Length121 ft 9+1⁄4 in (37.1 m) including tender[1]
Width11 ft 2 in (3.4 m)
Height16 ft (4.88 m)
Axle load72,000 lb (32.7 tonnes)
Adhesive weight433,350 lb (196.6 tonnes)
Loco weight573,000 lb (259.9 tonnes)
Tender weight378,600 lb (171.7 tonnes)
Total weight951,600 lb (431.6 tonnes)[1]
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity29.9 t (29.4 long tons; 33.0 short tons)
Water cap.22,000 US gal (83,000 L; 18,000 imp gal)
Fuel consumption7 short tons (6.4 t) of coal per hour
13,906 US gal (52,640 L; 11,579 imp gal) of water per hour
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		122 sq ft (11.3 m2)
Boiler106 in (2,692 mm)
Boiler pressure300 lbf/in2 (2.07 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes and flues		6,052 sq ft (562.2 m2)
 • Firebox587 sq ft (54.5 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • TypeType E
 • Heating area2,703 sq ft (251.1 m2)
CylindersFour, simple articulated
Cylinder size24 in × 30 in (610 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gearBaker
Valve typePiston valves
Performance figures
Maximum speed70+ mph[1]
Power output5,400 hp (4,000 kW)
Tractive effort114,000 lbf (507.10 kN)[1]
Factor of adh.3.8
Career
OperatorsNorfolk & Western Railway→Norfolk Southern Railway
ClassA
Number in class19 of 43
Numbers
  • 1218
Nicknames
  • "The Mercede of Steam"
LocaleUnited States, South and Midwest
RetiredJuly 1959 (revenue service)
November 1991 (excursion service)
Preserved1971
RestoredJanuary 13, 1987
Current ownerVirginia Museum of Transportation
DispositionOn static display

Historic significance

No. 1218 is the sole survivor of the Norfolk and Western's class A locomotives and the only surviving 2-6-6-4 steam locomotive in the world. While smaller than Union Pacific's famous and more numerous "Challenger" class of 4-6-6-4 locomotives, Norfolk and Western's design racked up unmatched records of performance in service.

During No. 1218's excursion career, it was the most powerful operational steam locomotive in the world,[2] with a tractive effort of 114,000 pounds-force (507.10 kN), well above Union Pacific 3985, the next-strongest-pulling operational steam locomotive, with a tractive effort of 97,350 lbf [433.0 kN]). Since May 2019, however, No. 1218 became the locomotive with the second highest tractive effort, after Union Pacific 4014, which has a tractive effort of 135,375 lbf (602.18 kN). Unlike diesel-electric locomotives of similar high tractive effort (for starting heavy trains) but typical for a steam locomotive, it could easily run at 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) and more.

History

Revenue service and preservation
A drawing design of the N&W class A locomotive

No. 1218 was the ninth member of the second batch of fifteen class A locomotives (Nos. 1210–1224) built in June 1943 at the East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia by the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W).[3] It was initially assigned to haul fast freight trains, heavy coal trains, and even heavy passenger trains on the N&W's Scioto Division, between Williamson, West Virginia and Columbus, Ohio, along with an occasional side trip to Cincinnati, Ohio.[3] In the late 1950s, No. 1218 was moved to the Norfolk Division, running between Roanoke and Norfolk, Virginia.[3][lower-alpha 1]

In July 1959, No. 1218 was retired and purchased by the Union Carbide Co. in Charleston, West Virginia, where it was used alongside its sister locomotives Nos. 1202 and 1230 as stationary boilers at a chemical plant in South Charleston, West Virginia.[4][5] In 1964, Nos. 1202 and 1230 were scrapped, but No. 1218 was in fairly good condition as it was rescued by New England millionaire F. Nelson Blount for his private collection of steam locomotives at Steamtown, U.S.A. in Bellows Falls, Vermont a year later.[5][6] Additionally, many of the parts on Nos. 1202 and 1230 such as the air pump, crosshead guide yokes, front side rods, and gauges were salvaged as donors for the No. 1218 locomotive.[7]

In 1967, Blount died in an airplane crash, resulting in the Steamtown foundation running into financial trouble.[8] As part of their effort to recoup their financial losses, the foundation put No. 1218 on a long-term lease to the Roanoke Transportation Museum, and the locomotive was cosmetically restored at the East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia, the same place where the locomotive was built.[5] Afterwards, it was put on display as a temporary exhibit at the Roanoke Transportation Museum in 1971.[5]

Excursion service
No. 1218 leads an excursion train in Brocton, New York on August 6, 1988

In 1982, the N&W and Southern (SOU) railways were both merged to form the new Norfolk Southern Railway (NS).[9] Additionally, No. 1218's feedwater pump was removed to replace the damaged one on ex-N&W J Class No. 611, which was restored to operating condition for excursion service on the NS steam program, which started in 1966 by the SOU.[10] By the end of 1984, the NS steam program, needed a more stronger and powerful steam locomotive to pull the longer and heavier excursion trains along with assisting No. 611.[5] After some subsequent disputes took place, NS and the Steamtown foundation settled on a trade where the former acquired No. 1218, and the latter received two EMD diesel locomotives in return.[11]

On May 10, 1985, the No. 1218 locomotive was towed out of the museum and moved to the Norris Yard Steam Shop in Irondale, Alabama, where it would be restored to operating condition at a cost of roughly $500,000.[5][6] No. 1218 presently received a replacement pump from one of the B&O Railroad Museum's steam locomotives.[5] On January 13, 1987, No. 1218 moved under its power for the first time in 28 years and was ready for main line excursion service for the NS steam program.[12] During the Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) convention in August 1987, No. 1218 pulled an empty 50-hopper car train, where it ran side by side with No. 611, who pulled an excursion passenger train from Roanoke to Radford, Virginia in which the former was double-headed with the latter for the return trip later on.[12][13]

In July 1989, it performed a rare doubleheader excursion with Nickel Plate Road 587 from Salisbury to Asheville, North Carolina for the Asheville Chapter of the NRHS convention.[14][15] In June 1990, No. 1218 traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, where it met up with locomotives Cotton Belt 4-8-4 No. 819, Frisco 4-8-2 No. 1522, and Union Pacific 4-8-4 No. 844 to participate in another rare NRHS convention, which took place at the former Union Station.[16]

On November 3, 1991, during Norfolk Southern's 25th Anniversary of their Steam Program, No. 1218 joined Southern Railway 4501 and N&W 611 to triple head a 28-car passenger excursion train from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia.[17] At Ooltewah, Tennessee, No. 4501 took a few coaches for a complete round trip, turning around at Cleveland, Tennessee.[17] Afterwards, No. 611 and No. 1218 completed the rest of the trip to Atlanta.[17]

Current disposition
No. 1218 on display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in July 2023

At the end of the 1991 excursion season, after completing a round-trip excursion from Huntsville, Alabama to Chattanooga, Tennessee,[18] No. 1218 returned to Irondale, Alabama for an extensive overhaul, where its flues need to be replaced and the portions of the firebox need to be repaired.[17] There were originally plans to have the No. 1218 locomotive running again for the beginning of the 1996 excursion season,[17] but NS chairman David R. Goode cancelled the steam program in 1994 due to serious safety concerns, rising insurance costs, the expense of maintaining steam locomotives, a yard switching accident involving nine passenger cars in Lynchburg, Virginia, and decreasing rail network availability.[19][20][21]

"I was joined in line by Roanoke Chapter member Lawanda Ely. I commented that it was too bad Mr. O. Winston Link did not live to see this day. I said likewise for the Claytor brothers. Lawanda quickly corrected me on the second statement. If Robert Claytor were still alive, 1218 would be out on the high iron and the rest of us along with her. I couldn't agree more."

—Robin R. Shavers during 1218's move to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in 2003[22]

After the NS steam program was discontinued, the No. 1218 locomotive was partially reassembled and towed back to Roanoke to be stored at the Roanoke Shops in 1996, the year its overhaul was supposed to be completed.[19] In 2000, the locomotive was moved out of the Roanoke Shops and put on the turntable for a nighttime photoshoot, hosted by O. Winston Link.[23] A year later, the NS donated No. 1218 to the City of Roanoke, clearing the way for the locomotive to once again be put on display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT), formerly known as the Roanoke Transportation Museum.[24] After a cosmetic restoration by Norfolk Southern, the 1218 was towed to the Virginia Museum of Transportation on June 11, 2003, and pushed into place in its new home next to No. 611.[22]

In 2007, Nos. 1218 and 611 were both temporarily put on display at the East End Shops to commemorate its 125th anniversary.[25] On April 2, 2012, the City of Roanoke officially donated both Nos. 1218 and 611 to the VMT.[26] The No. 1218 locomotive continues to sit on display underneath the VMT's Robert B. Claytor and W. Graham Claytor Jr. Pavilion shed, next to another former N&W steam locomotive, G-1 class No. 6, with the No. 611 locomotive restored to operating condition.

See also

Notes
  1. At that time, the N&W planned to donate at least five steam locomotives for preservation, but with no plans to spare a class A locomotive from the scrap line.[4]

References
  1. "All Aboard – Steam locomotive to power day-long excursions from Greenville". Gaffney Leader. Gaffney, SC. March 20, 1987. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  2. "Mighty locomotive will steam to Fort Wayne". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, MI. June 24, 1990. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. King Jr., E.W. (September 1987). "A locomotive that seduced an entire railway". Trains. Vol. 47, no. 11. Kalmbach Publishing. p. 25.
  4. Huddleston (2001), p. 131.
  5. Wrinn (2000), pp. 73–74.
  6. Huddleston (2001), p. 105.
  7. Huddleston (2001), p. 132.
  8. Lowther, Kevin (July 19, 2010). "SOME THINGS STAY SAME". The Keene Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  9. Wrinn (2000), p. 61.
  10. Wrinn (2000), pp. 63–65.
  11. Chappell, Gordon (1991). Steam Over Scranton: The Locomotives of SteamTown. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. p. 291.
  12. Wrinn (2000), pp. 79–83.
  13. Wrinn (2000), p. 117.
  14. Wrinn (2000), p. 85.
  15. Wrinn (2000), p. 118.
  16. "National Railway Historical Society 1990 Annual Convention" (PDF). St. Louis Chapter, NRHS. June 14–17, 1990. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 14, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  17. Wrinn (2000), pp. 90–91.
  18. Wrinn (2000), p. 118.
  19. Wrinn (2000), pp. 102–109.
  20. Phillips, Don (November 6, 1994). "Rail Service – Popular steam engines will take last journeys". Indianapolis Star (first ed.). Indianapolis, IN. p. 192 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  21. "Norfolk Southern ends excursions". Daily Press (main ed.). Newport News, VA. Associated Press. October 30, 1994. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  22. Kirkman, Kenney (July–August 2003). "Memories of 1218" (PDF). Turntable Times. Roanoke Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. p. 5-6. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  23. Helmer, David (September 2000). "1218 Rolls Again - be it a short distance" (PDF). Turntable Times. Roanoke Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. pp. 5–7. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  24. "Roanoke chugs away on museum honoring locomotive photographer". Daily Press (main ed.). Newport News, VA. Associated Press. August 18, 2001. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  25. McKinney (2014), p. 116.
  26. "N&W 611 and 1218" (PDF). Turntable Times. Roanoke Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. April 2012. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.

Bibliography

Further reading
  • King, Ed (2009). The A: Norfolk and Western's Mercedes of Steam (2nd ed.). N&W Historical Society. ISBN 978-0970479464.
  • Rosenburg, Ron; Archer, Eric H. (1973). Norfolk & Western Steam (The Last 25 Years) (1st ed.). Quadrant Press Inc. ISBN 0-915276-00-3.
  • Withuhn, Bill (September 1987). "1218: Home to Roanoke". Trains. Vol. 47, no. 11. Kalmbach Publishing. pp. 26–33.
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