N&W Steam on the Powhatan Arrow and Cavalier Passenger Trains

We enjoy steam scenes such as start-ups, Cincinnati Union Terminal departures and the engine facility where local railroads kept their power. We’ll also see the freight yard near Clare. Scenes at Batavia include stopping, starting, and blowing through without stopping! We even see the trains catching mail on the fly from the RPO car. Speaking of mail, we see a couple of Christmas “extra” mail trains. You will see the Powhatan Arrow with the designed 5 coach set, plus other configurations with 6 cars, and later the longer trains after the “Cavalier” was discontinued west of Portsmouth in the spring of 1957. Scenes in the Portsmouth area include the depot where 607 makes a nice departure, and we see 601 on standby in October of 1959.

The second part of this show we ride along the Norfolk and Western. Several trips are aboard the Cavalier and Powhatan Arrow between Batavia and Roanoke. There is footage along the Pocahontas Division west of Bluefield, plus some around Roanoke. Bluefield is shown several times and we get to see a lot of steam activity, with switchers at the depot. We also see freights with massive Y class 2-8-8-2’s moving freights and switching in the Bluefield area. Also seen is train 5 at the depot with a E class Pacific(4-6-2) awaiting its move to the depot after the Cavalier departed westward. There is a neat scene in the winter at Bluefield as the J class engine is serviced and issues with freezing are looked at by crews on the engine and one of the coaches. We visit Roanoke long enough to see an engine change at the station and a freight or two as well.

“Special Trains” makeup the the third and final part of our show. Here we see a couple of different Santa Claus trains where the steam powered train stops at Batavia for Santa to hand out goodies to the kids. There is also a wreck at Sardinia and the last run of regular steam on the train 26. We see a double headed streamlined K and J on train 26 the day after the Cavalier was discontinued to Cincinnati. Powhatan Arrow scenes include a short cab ride with the train at McDermott, Vera, and arriving in Portsmouth. There is little video coverage out in the railfan community of the Cincinnati District during the steam era, as most photographers from the east headed for the Roanoke area – so enjoy this rare film.