Drifting downgrade with coal cars and about to round the big curve to pick up the gentle grade of the New River for the eastbound run to Roanoke. Was it really almost thirty years ago.

Pacing 1218 up to Manassas Gap, the lowest crossing of the Blue Ridge in VA, at 887 feet above sea level. On the other side of the gap is Front Royal and the Shenandoah Valley. I wonder how the ... (more)

The local population is awed by the gigantic Class A as it articulates around the Bellevue wye after a trip to Fremont, Ohio.

The 1218 has completed its first weekend of public excursions and is pausing at Bedford to have test wire strung along the boiler. The unique old station was built in 1905 and saw its last NW pas... (more)

The 1218 is headed south to Lynchburg on a beautiful fall day, with its awesome "hoot" whistle sounding for a grade crossing. I've heard hoot whistles mounted on other locomotives such as the C&O... (more)

The 1218 is turning its train after an excursion to Fremont, Ohio.

The 1218 is westbound on the last leg of a circle trip from Roanoke north along the Shenandoah Valley line, east on the old C&O James River line to Lynchburg, and back to Roanoke.

Roanoke

N&W class Y6a #2156 sits by N&W class A #1218 each awaiting their next assignment. Built respectively in 1942 and 1943, No. 2156 will retire in 1959 after working the coal fields... (more)

Photographer-Unknown- from the 35 mm original Kodachrome slide. The 1987 NRHS Convention was a watershed moment for mainline steam in the late 1980's. What has commonly been referred to as &qu... (more)

Photographer- Dave Augsburger- from the 35 mm original Kodachrome slide. A late Spring day finds the 'Mercedes of Steam'; N&W 'A' Class 1218 less than a month into her excursion career, shown here... (more)

Photographer- John S. Murray- from the 35 mm original Kodachrome slide. The 1987 NRHS Convention was a watershed moment for mainline steam in the late 1980's. What has commonly been referred to as... (more)

Photographer- Marc Grinter- from a 35 mm Kodachrome slide. Former N&W Class "A" #1218 makes easy work of an excursion train through Delaplane, Virginia on a late spring day on a round tr... (more)

N&W 1218 leading a NRHS excursion near Swannanoa, NC in April 1984.

Photographer- Larry Smith- from my personal collection. One of the highlights of the 1987 NRHS Convention, besides the side by side running of Class J 611 and Class A 1218, was this night phot... (more)

Photographer- Greg Stadter- from my personal collection. N&W Class "A" 1218 is shown here on her first excursion rounding a bend near Shawsville, VA on her way from Roanoke to Bluefi... (more)