Will any supplier produce the Norfolk & Western 611 again?

[Paradise275]

With this locomotive now back in service, will any supplier, either Bachmann or Kato, produce a more up to date (as far as mechanics go) of this locomotive and Joe, will Micro-Trains produce the Heavyweight passenger coaches for it?

As far as I can tell, there are no coaches still available and Bachmann says the tooling has been withdrawn.

Rick

[peteski]

The last run of Bachmann model wasn't all that long ago. While not a Kato, it is a fairly modern design and according to Spookshow's website a decent runner.  He gave it an A. Couple of things I wish they did better is the nose curvature and solid plastic disk's for spoked drivers, but other than that it is a decent loco.

[sizemore]

The most recent releases (2006) of the N&W J by Bachmann was a well received model in terms of performance and mechanics. If I am not mistaken Victor Miranda had high praise for this loco.

For the review:
http://www.spookshow.net/loco/classj.html

DCC install:
http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/N_Scale/Bachmann/Spectrum_4-8-4_Class_J/bachman_Spectrum_4-8-4_Class_J.html

You can still find them out on the web for a reasonable price. If you're waiting on Kato you'll be waiting a long time, as manufacturers don't like to tread on trodden ground.

If you're looking for passenger cars, Wheels of Time released a N&W heavyweight baggage while Rapido released streamlined coaches (Daynighter Leg Rest). The Powhatan was 7 or 8 cars all some variation of coach and an observation, you could get a reasonable stand-in vice full exact detailed cars.

http://www.wheelsotime.com/70-ft-bag-exp/
http://rapidotrains.com/pancoach.html

HTH,
The S. 

[Mark5]

It's kinda "funny" - all these N&W J Class 4-8-4s and no passenger cars to pull! 

The Bachmann "Spectrum" J is a good physical model that runs "ok" (it has a crappy 3 pole motor - ask Victor). I say "ok" because the slow speed performance (starts and stops) is adequate but not good. I have two of them.

The 1949 built Arrow train (which is the most famous version) was an all coach seating train with 3 different types of coaches, a diner, and a tavern lounge observation car. These were all smooth side cars. There are no correct models for any of these cars at the moment in N scale.

Walthers did a smooth side coach for N&W in N scale some years ago. They are not correct for N&W but looked good with a good rendition of N&W red - they are nearly impossible to find now.

Hopefully MTL will release at a minimum the 70' full baggage, 70' Baggage mail, 12-1 sleeper (Island Rose), and diner (foobie) in N&W. They could also paint the 28-1 parlor car as class PN car for N&W(foobish). None of these cars are correct for N&W except maybe the pullman 12-1, but most are decent stand-ins.

I'm hoping MTL will figure out a way to make a single window heavyweight coach to come close to the N&W PG class heavyweight coach.

https://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=90380

Mark

[brokemoto]

B-mann did a very nice USRA heavy 4-8-2.  The N&W K-2 classes were USRA originals and copies.  Many of them received shrouds later in life.   How about B-mann's doing a shrouded K-2 class?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I really like the B-mann J. I'm using the chassis as a base for B&M R1 using a shortened B-mann Northern boiler. It runs as smooth as glass.

[sirenwerks]

I'm hoping MTL will figure out a way to make a single window heavyweight coach to come close to the N&W PG class heavyweight coach.

https://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=90380

Mark

That's a modernized car, no?  It has sealed windows.

[Mark5]

That's a modernized car, no?  It has sealed windows.

Yeah likely, here's what they looked like in 1940:

https://imagebase.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/norfolksouthern/full/NS2654.jpeg

This class was built in 1916.

Mark

[Paradise275]

Con-Cor still shows theirs as available. However, I think these are the generic coaches they use for all their passenger trains.
Still, they might do until someone comes up with a prototype. As the Norfolk and western was a day train, I think you could leave off the sleeper and dome car though. LOL

Rick

[thomasjmdavis]

Con-Cor still shows theirs as available. However, I think these are the generic coaches they use for all their passenger trains.
Still, they might do until someone comes up with a prototype. As the Norfolk and western was a day train, I think you could leave off the sleeper and dome car though. LOL

If you are brave enough to take on the challenge, a fair number of N&W lightweights are available as car sides from various manufacturers. 

http://n-scalevarnish.info/index/varnish/UsersGuide/N&W.htm

[TVRR]

I'm enjoying this thread since I've been looking into a N&W passenger train, most pictures that I've found show no baggage or combine units used. The day trains consisted of a diner car, varied numbers of coaches as needed, and a observation/lounge car. I'd welcome any info you may have on additional equipment.

[Mark5]

This concept of a day train is new to me (the eastbound Arrow arrived in Norfolk after 11pm).

Anyway, N&W had ample mail traffic. Most trains had baggage and mail cars. There was sleeper service on many of the main trains (Pocahontas, Cavalier, and the "New York" trains that ran through Hagerstown south to Roanoke).

Combines were definately used (sometimes on branch trains).

I'll dig up some pics when at some time.

Mark

[Mark5]

A few pix:

Pocahontas:

https://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=122776

https://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=91368

Cavalier:

https://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=122407

https://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=91375

Mark

[Paradise275]

Thanks for the pictures Mark. I notice 3 baggage cars on the last picture.
Great for revenue generation for the RR. Makes the train more interesting too.

Rick

[brokemoto]

Does anyone know the date, or even the year, of the photograph of the K-2a?