The “railroad boys” were back the other day, one about age 6 and the other about age 10. They didn’t come in together, but around an hour apart, like some of the freight trains I see going by the Danville train station/science museum where I work.

To say these boys are enamored of trains would be an understatement! If the gate to the tracks didn’t have an affixed chain, I fear these children might accidentally obtain a rail experience too up-close and personal!

Both are usually brought by their grandmothers (I guess their parents don’t have enough time for “railroading”). The older boy did say he and his parents have tickets for the next run of the Norfolk &Western Class J 611 (glad to see his parents have wisely set aside the time for this).

His mention of the 611 reminded me of when I last saw it some time ago on its run down to Spencer for annual going-over. (It just now occurs to me that saying “down to Spencer,” “down to Rio,” or “down to anywhere” gives the impression that one must dig “down” into the earth to get there, instead of traversing the outside of this globe upon which we live. Similarly, going “up to Washington” would imply ascending in a hot air balloon, and for the trip back the balloon could be refueled with the abundant “hot air’ found there).

One day, some weeks ago, a distinguished man in long topcoat, and wearing a Norfolk and Western 611 cap entered the lobby of the Danville train station. I said to him: “I like your hat!” He said:”Has IT come by yet?” (of course, we both knew what the “IT” was to which he referred).

I said: “No, is IT coming by today?” (“IT” again). He said “Yes, on ITS way to Spencer for annual check-up.” He introduced himself as Mr. Jim Stump, of the “Fire Up 611 Committee;” you might say Mr. Stump was “stumping” for the 611 (my awful pun, not his).

The aura of true culture about Mr. Stump’s appearance, manners, and voice was one of the best examples of such I’ve ever encountered. And this was not a mixture of culture and snobbery, but culture and true cordiality. I imagine this same quality was evinced in those true “gentlemen” of another age, e.g. Washington, Franklin (and to a lesser degree, Jefferson).

We stood next to the track and waited for a short while before seeing the white “exhalations” of the 611 in the distance. It was a cloudy Winter’s day, and that white smoke and steam seemed to fuel the white clouds above, melding with them. When the engine passed by, its coal smoke smell seemed almost overcome by the smell of burning wood spread throughout the city from wood heaters and fireplaces on that cold Winter day.

Immediately afterwards, Mr. Stump introduced me to a couple of men who had showed up and were standing nearby, one, another committee member, the other, their president, all three gentlemen wearing baseball-cap style 611 hats.

Although these men were dealing with much less “tonnage” than railroad presidents back in the days of Norfolk and Western, and Southern Railway, I had kind of the feeling of what it might have been like to stand in the presence of Southern’s old president D.W. Brosnan and his company officers (except Brosnan and his officers would have been wearing fedoras instead of baseball cap-style hats).

I can say that each encounter with the 611 and its devotees is truly as “individual” as a fingerprint!

Afterwards, we all bid our goodbyes, and as I shook hands with Mr. Stump, he said, in a most cordial and gentlemanly manner, “You must come see the museum in Roanoke!” I wholeheartedly replied in the affirmative!