Norfolk & Western Class A #1218 2-6-6-4 Steam Locomotive, Virginia Museum of Transportation, Roanoke, Virginia
– Click on the image to enlarge or purchase –
On July 12-14, 2013 the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke held special day/night sessions when their two iconic steam engines were taken out of their normal protective display area and staged for the benefit of photographers. Here we see Norfolk & Western Class A #1218 getting a new coat of paint in the week leading up to this special event.
Norfolk & Western Class A #1218 2-6-6-4 Steam Locomotive, Virginia Museum of Transportation, Roanoke, Virginia
– Click on the image to enlarge or purchase –
The Class A freight locomotive was designed and built in the company’s Roanoke Shops. They were renowned for their sheer power, versatility and durability. They were the most powerful locomotive ever made with the 2-6-6-4 wheel arrangement. A single Class A engine regularly pulled 190-car coal trains on level ground. During World War II, this class of engine moved entire tank divisions using flat cars for the tanks, boxcars or baggage vans for the equipment and sleeping cars for the officers and enlisted men. Because of the need caused by the war, #1218 was built in just two weeks, breaking all N&W shop records. Being retired in 1959 made #1218 the last of the Class A steam locomotives to survive.
Twitter: ljsaltiel
| September 30, 2013
Very cool event to allow photographers to shoot. Very cool images. The workers really give the engine some great scale.
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| October 1, 2013
Many thanks, Len.
Twitter: JimiJones
| October 2, 2013
You can never go wrong with train photos, but these are particularly nice since we have actual workers in the frames. Great shots of these classics from yesteryear.
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| October 3, 2013
Many thanks, Jimi.
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| October 2, 2013
Genuine enthusiasts hard at work. What we do without their dedicated work to keep these behemoths going. A superb pair of images showing off the magnificence of these engines. I recall when I was a small boy standing on a local footbridge with a friend when a steam engine approached and seeing who was brave enough to stay there as the engine steamed underneath.
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| October 3, 2013
Many thanks, Andy.