Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
This is 1987, and the video looks like 1987. But, 1218 looks and sounds like 1218! A few steam fans, and no professional cameras, are on hand to see the just-out-of-restoration N&W 1218 make a couple of test runs.
*No AI was used to bring this show to you.* Read about our AI Policy and how we get videos ready for YouTube at: Pentrex.com/AI
*About Main Line Motion Pictures:* Big steam and early diesels is the main focus for MLMP. Most shows were shot in the late 1980s and early to mid-1990s, so we don't get today-level of video quality. The quality of the subject matter however, makes the viewing effort worthwhile. MLMP is now owned by Pentrex Railroad Videos. Main Line Motion Pictures shows can be purchased on DVD at Pentrex.com
*About Pentrex:* For over 40 years we've been the leader in railroad video entertainment. See us at Pentrex.com and right here on YouTube, with the Official Pentrex Channel!
Pentrex also owns the railroad video entertainment brands of Highball Productions, Green Frog, Valhalla Video, Donner Rails, WB Video, Main Line Motion Pictures, Broken Knuckle Video, Midwest Video and distribute Revelation Video. All that railroad video will appear here - subscribe so you don't miss any rail action.
*About this show:* Norfolk & Western 1218 is sidelined now, laid-up in Roanoke, Virginia, but in 1987 she was a star in Norfolk Southern's legendary Steam Program. She had just undergone a 2-year restoration at the Norris Steam Restoration Shop in Ironwood/Birmingham, Alabama and was ready for a test run.
There were no "pro" camera's on the ground for this series of moves, but Ron Loving brought his VHS camera and took video on both days - the first day's short test run and the second day's run with freight cars on the main line. We see a lot of steam, and smoke and see the result of a lot of hard work. 1218 rides again!
This show has no narration, but does have the original in-camera sound. 1218 sounds great!
0:00 The Big Beast steams up!
3:46 Two tenders, two work cars, and a head of steam
12:18 Day 2, Birmingham to Wilcox
17:05 Pacing the Class A
22:05 Working the grade
25:47 The wye at Wilton
29:16 Highballin' home
34:13 Welcome home, 1218
Thumbnail images:
N&W 1218 on a trestle: Bruce Fingerhood via a CC BY-2.0 license
N&W 1218 under the signals: Roger Puta, released to the public domain
This is 1987, and the video looks like 1987. But, 1218 looks and sounds like 1218! A few steam fans, and no professional cameras, are on hand to see the just-out-of-restoration N&W 1218 make a couple of test runs.
*No AI was used to bring this show to you.* Read about our AI Policy and how we get videos ready for YouTube at: Pentrex.com/AI
*About Main Line Motion Pictures:* Big steam and early diesels is the main focus for MLMP. Most shows were shot in the late 1980s and early to mid-1990s, so we don't get today-level of video quality. The quality of the subject matter however, makes the viewing effort worthwhile. MLMP is now owned by Pentrex Railroad Videos. Main Line Motion Pictures shows can be purchased on DVD at Pentrex.com
*About Pentrex:* For over 40 years we've been the leader in railroad video entertainment. See us at Pentrex.com and right here on YouTube, with the Official Pentrex Channel!
Pentrex also owns the railroad video entertainment brands of Highball Productions, Green Frog, Valhalla Video, Donner Rails, WB Video, Main Line Motion Pictures, Broken Knuckle Video, Midwest Video and distribute Revelation Video. All that railroad video will appear here - subscribe so you don't miss any rail action.
*About this show:* Norfolk & Western 1218 is sidelined now, laid-up in Roanoke, Virginia, but in 1987 she was a star in Norfolk Southern's legendary Steam Program. She had just undergone a 2-year restoration at the Norris Steam Restoration Shop in Ironwood/Birmingham, Alabama and was ready for a test run.
There were no "pro" camera's on the ground for this series of moves, but Ron Loving brought his VHS camera and took video on both days - the first day's short test run and the second day's run with freight cars on the main line. We see a lot of steam, and smoke and see the result of a lot of hard work. 1218 rides again!
This show has no narration, but does have the original in-camera sound. 1218 sounds great!
0:00 The Big Beast steams up!
3:46 Two tenders, two work cars, and a head of steam
12:18 Day 2, Birmingham to Wilcox
17:05 Pacing the Class A
22:05 Working the grade
25:47 The wye at Wilton
29:16 Highballin' home
34:13 Welcome home, 1218
Thumbnail images:
N&W 1218 on a trestle: Bruce Fingerhood via a CC BY-2.0 license
N&W 1218 under the signals: Roger Puta, released to the public domain
