On a dreary day on the Rathole, N&W 1218 fills the valley with steam and smoke as it climbs the grade toward Tateville, Ky.

Full cab view of A class 1218

The brakeman gives the signal as an eastbound departs from Roanoke, while the N&W 4-8-4 611 and 2-6-6-4 1218 wait their turns to head east. This recreation courtesy of a Lerro Productions photo sh... (more)

The NW 1218 sits in the yard at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The locomotive had been moved out from under the shelter for a special event photo shoot for the weekend.

Two of the greatest examples of mid-20th Century steam power on display at Roanoke, Virginia.

It only took me 26 years! When I was a budding 12-year-old railfan in 1987, I watched with intense interest (via the pages of Trains and Railfan & Railroad) as NS shopped 1218 and put it into exc... (more)

The 1987 NRHS Convention was held in Roanoke, Virginia. The schedule included an excursion trip from Roanoke to Radford on August 1, 1987. This trip featured N&W 1218 with a coal train and N&W 611... (more)

All dressed up and places to go! A cleaned and polished 611 backs towards its train in preparation of the inaugural run out of the loco's home town and birth place.

The crew on N&W 1218 keep a watchful eye as the locomotive prepares to back down against their train. Soon the locomotive will be pulling a passenger special to Front Royal, Virginia.

N&W 1218 waits for her next assignment whenever that day comes.

N&W's mixed train, #202 with 4-8-0 No. 382, has returned from its run to West Jefferson, N.C. and is in the siding at Abingdon, VA to meet time freight #88 led by Y6b 2-8-8-2 #2180 on Aug. 8, 1956... (more)

N&W Y6a #2170 resting between trips at Roanoke, VA in this 1957 winter scene. Photo by Bob Drake, collection of Tom Sink.

N&W Y6 2-8-8-2 #2136 leads as southbound freight through Stoneville, NC in this September 1954 view. Photo by Bob Drake from the Tom Sink Collection

While photographing the 1218 on an excursion run to Columbus, Ohio, I happened upon this 1951 Chevrolet along the track. It certainly made for a more interesting photo.

Standing in the rain during an excursion trip.