Norfolk & Western

In the fall of 2023, a new series of adventures began for Norfolk and Western Class J 4-8-4 #611. For the first time since 2017, the beautiful streamlined thoroughbred was finally seen pulling mainline steam excursions in her home state of Virginia! As part of a recently developed partnership between the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the Buckingham Branch Railroad, the #611 ran for 5 weekends in October and November on the "Shenandoah Valley Limited." Operated by the Buckingham Branch subsidiary, Virginia Scenic Railway, the excursions traveled on the former Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad's Mountain Subdivision, over a 30-mile distance between Goshen and Staunton, VA. The scenery of the Shenandoah Valley during the fall is stunning indeed, with colorful foliage dotting tall mountains that dwarf the hilly countrysides and lush meadows of this scenic and historic region of the Old Dominion. We shot #611 over the course of two different days that featured several fantastic scenes of her speeding down the main as she headed east for Staunton. Upon arrival at the resplendent depot in Staunton, head end power was handed over to Buckingham Branch EMD GP40s #s 7 & 13 for the return trip to Goshen.

The toughest obstacle for #611 on these trips came in the form of the 1.5% grades of North Mountain, and the tuscan-trimmed royalty of the rails made easy work of the climb, putting on a most impressive show as she conquered the summit. Scenes like these are something that many thought had been lost for good following #611's last mainline outings on Norfolk Southern, but thanks to the cooperation and flexibility of the Buckingham Branch Railroad, and the dedicated crews that keep the #611 in prime condition, the "Spirit of Roanoke" is home to stay in the mountains of Virginia. Here's to many more chases with her on the Buckingham Branch!

#611 was built by the Norfolk & Western's Roanoke Shops in 1950 and spent most of her time on the main line, operating between Norfolk, VA & Cincinnati, OH on the N&W's fabled high speed passenger trains, including the "Powhatan Arrow", the "Pocahontas", and the "Cavalier". The J's were among the N&W's largest and finest locomotives, and with their sleek appearances and top speeds exceeding 100 mph, they represented the pinnacle of streamlined steam locomotion. Retired in 1959, #611 was sent to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke in 1962, where she was placed on display. In 1981, thanks to the efforts of then Norfolk Southern president Robert Claytor, #611 was leased from the museum and she was sent to the Southern Railway's Norris Yard Steam Shop for a complete overhaul. In 1982, she returned to steam and for the next 12 years would become a fixture with the Norfolk Southern's Steam Excursion Program, operating alongside fellow steam celebrities including N&W A-Class #1218, Nickel Plate Road #587, and Southern #4501 to name a few. In 1994, an abrupt end came to the steam program and #611 was moved back to the VMT, where she would remain silent for the next 20 years. In 2013, the "Fire Up 611!" campaign was launched with the goal of raising funds to restore her to her former glory and in 2014, after raising over $2 million, #611 was moved to Spencer Shops in North Carolina, where she would be brought back to life for a second time. Finally in May of 2015, #611 returned to steam, ready to impress and astound millions of people once again.

Enjoy!