In 1980, Chesapeake &
Ohio 4-8-4 #614 was restored to take the place of Ross Rowland’s former Reading
T-1 #2101, which had been seriously damaged in a roundhouse fire. In addition to pulling a series of trips
called the Chessie Safety Express, the locomotive was used to pull the famous
New River Train between Huntington and Hinton, West Virginia.
November first, 1981, George
Redmond recorded the sounds of most of the round trip. These were the days when steam locomotives
were still allowed to show their stuff on the mainline. This day was no exception, as many sequences
were recorded featuring #614 running wide open.
This CD features highlights
of the eastbound trip, with lots of acceleration at full throttle, fast
running, and a whistle show in the New River Gorge at Hawk’s Nest.
Track 1 – The train accelerates away from the Huntington yard
and then takes it easy for a crossover before accelerating to track speed with
the whistle screaming and the throttle to the roof. - 11:10
Track 2 – The train reaches the end of a speed restriction. Shortly, the engineer widens out on the
throttle and #614 begins to accelerate upgrade near Barboursville. - 8:30
Track 3 – St. Albans, West Virginia, is a regular stop for
the New River Train. #614 is easing
through town after leaving the St. Albans station. After nearly slowing to a stop, the train
slowly accelerates before it’s off to the races!. - 15:10
Track 4 – Another station stop is made at Charleston, West
Virginia. #614’s engineer whistles off
and the big 4-8-4 marches away from the station. After taking it easy through town, the engineer
slams the throttle to the roof and quickly gets the train up to track speed. - 12:15
Track 5 – The train is slowing for the river crossing deep in
the New River Gorge at Hawk’s Nest. The
engineer puts on a show with #614’s whistle, and the deep gorge makes for some
interesting whistle effects. After the
train clears the “S” curve that crosses the river, #614 makes short work of
accelerating her long train back up to track speed. The CD ends as the train comes to a stop at
Sewell. - 25:48
