The Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT) and the North Carolina Transportation Museum (NCTM) are pleased to announce that the Norfolk & Western Class J 611 steam passenger locomotive will return to the mainline in 2016 with an exciting schedule of public excursions and special appearances.

  

Photo by Casey Thomason,   Norfolk Southern Corporation

The sleek and powerful Class J steam passenger locomotives, designed and built in Roanoke, Va., by the Norfolk & Western Railway, widely were hailed as the finest steam passenger locomotives in the world. Today, the 611 is the only Class J still in existence and is owned by the VMT. It was restored at the NCTM in 2014-2015 through a worldwide fundraising effort by the VMT.  "A ride behind the 611 is a bucket list dream come true for everyone who remembers the golden age of steam, or who has been lucky enough to learn her story," said Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., VMT executive director. "611 is the star of the Museum's collection and a traveling ambassador for the remarkable rail heritage of Norfolk Southern."

  

The 611 will move from Roanoke to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in February in preparation for maintenance and its annual Federal Railway Administration inspection. Following that work, spring will see a total of four weekends of public excursions behind 611 on the Norfolk Southern system. A variety of seating options, including coach, first class, and dome cars is planned for each excursion. In addition, special appearances by 611 are being planned for Roanoke, Manassas and Danville, Va., and Spencer, N.C. 

  

  

The first two trips will be hosted by the North Carolina Transportation Museum. On Saturday, April 9, 611 will run from Spencer, N.C. to Lynchburg, Va., and return.  On Sunday, April 10, it will travel from Spencer, N.C., to Asheville, N.C., and back via the famous "Loops."

  

Following the NCTM excursions, the remaining three excursion weekends will be hosted by the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Fire Up 611 Campaign donor benefits apply for the three weekends of excursions hosted by the VMT, for donations postmarked by Wednesday, January 13, 2016.

  

On April 23 and 24, full-day trips will depart Greensboro, N.C., to Roanoke, Va., and return to Greensboro. 

  

611 will return to Roanoke to lead half-day excursions on May 7 and 8. Morning excursions will run from Roanoke to Lynchburg and back via the Blue Ridge grade. Afternoon trips will run from Roanoke to Walton and return via the Christiansburg grade. The morning and afternoon trips are separate excursions.

  

On June 4 and 5, 611 will pull a total of three trips from Manassas, Va., to Front Royal, Va., and return: One roundtrip on the morning of Saturday June 4 and two roundtrips on Sunday, June 5, as part of the 22nd Annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival.  

For safety reasons, there will be no open vestibules or open vestibule windows, or photo run-bys. The public is encouraged to take pictures of 611 for personal use when the locomotive is stopped in publicly accessible locations and when it is in operation. All passengers and spectators must stay off and away from the tracks, respect Norfolk Southern and other private property, and adhere to all instructions from NS and other security personnel.

Look for an announcement soon for ticket prices, sale dates and the exciting, new train consist, which includes first class and dome seating towards the front of the train. Follow this link for excursion information and to sign up for email notifications...

  

  

In addition to opportunities to ride and watch 611 roll by on excursions, the public is invited to take advantage of a number of special opportunities to get up close to 611 under steam, take photos, and meet the crew.

  

"We are very excited to offer this experience that people haven't had before, to get really close to 611," said Jim Stump, Forward 611 committee chair for the VMT. "We will be taking 611 to new destinations and giving communities an exciting opportunity to celebrate their history and rail heritage. It is amazing to experience this engine fired up."

The events at the NCTM and the City of Danville involve only the locomotive and its crew. No excursions to Danville or to Spencer (NCTM) are offered.  Follow this link for event information and to sign up for email notifications...

  

"We are so grateful to Norfolk Southern Corporation for allowing the Class J 611 to run during 2016," said Fitzpatrick. "We are also thankful to many partners including the North Carolina Transportation Museum, the Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, the Norfolk & Western Historical Society, and the many donors who are helping us bring back the wonder for 611's passengers and fans of all ages."

  

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial products.

  

The Virginia Museum of Transportation is home to the famed Norfolk & Western "Big Three" steam locomotives. The N&W Class J 611 and the N&W Class A 1218 are the stars of the Museum's collection while the N&W Class Y6a 2156 is on loan from the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Mo. The Museum is the Official Transportation Museum of the Commonwealth of Virginia, but receives no state funding. The Museum is located in the historic N&W Freight Station at 303 Norfolk Avenue SW, Roanoke, Va., 24016. Open Monday-Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 1-5. www.vmt.org and www.FireUp611.org.  

  

The N.C. Transportation Museum, located in historic Spencer Shops, the former Southern Railway repair facility is located just five minutes off I-85 at Exit 79 in Spencer, N.C., and about an hour from Charlotte, Greensboro or Winston-Salem. 411 S. Salisbury Ave, Spencer, N.C. 28159. [email protected], 704/636.2889. www.nctrans.org.