N&W 611 crosses the Roanoke River at Altavista, VA. May 2015 -Photo by Kevin The Krazy
The Virginia Museum of Transportation has announced the 2016 excursion schedule for the Norfolk & Western Class J 611 steam engine. The 11 excursions will take place over four weekends. The first two, on April 9-10, will be hosted by the North Carolina museum. The Roanoke museum will preside over the remainder.
Norfolk & Western steam locomotives Nos. 611 and 1218 will be rolled outside together for a special photo shoot at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Four different photo sessions will take place July 12-14. The event is organized by Lerro Productions.
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, this spring will see a total of four weekends of public excursions behind 611 on the Norfolk Southern system.
Following the NCTM excursions, the remaining three excursion weekends will be hosted by the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
The first two trips will be hosted by the North Carolina Transportation Museum. On Saturday, April 9, 611 will run from Spencer, NC to Lynchburg, VA, and return. On Sunday, April 10, it will travel from Spencer, NC, to Asheville, NC, and back via the famous “Loops.”
On April 23 and 24, full-day trips will depart Greensboro, NC, to Roanoke, VA, and return to Greensboro.
N&W 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 round-trip on the morning of Saturday June 4 and two round-trips on Sunday, June 5, as part of the 22nd Annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival.
April 9, 2016 – The Virginian, Spencer, NC, to Lynchburg, VA
April 10, 2016 – The Blue Ridge Special, Spencer, NC, to Asheville, NC
April 23, 2016 – The Roanoker, Greensboro, NC to Roanoke, VA
April 24, 2016 – The Roanoker, Greensboro, NC to Roanoke, VA
May 7, 2016 – The Powhatan Arrow, Roanoke, VA, to Lynchburg, VA
May 7, 2016 – The Pelican, Roanoke, VA, to Walton (Radford), VA
May 8, 2016 – The Powhatan Arrow, Roanoke, VA, to Lynchburg, VA
May 8, 2016 – The Pelican, Roanoke, VA, to Walton (Radford), VA
June 4, 2016 – The American, Manassas, VA, to Front Royal, VA, (runs once)
June 5, 2016 – The American, Manassas, VA, to Front Royal, VA, (runs twice)
June, 2016 – 611 will be on display at the VMT.
July, 2016 – 611 will be featured at the North Carolina Transportation Museum for special events.
Early August, 2016 – 611 will return to the VMT.
Early September, 2016 – 611 again will return to the NCTM for special events and maintenance.
Sept. 24-25, 2016 – 611 will travel to Danville, Va., to be featured during Danville Rail Heritage Days.
611 will return to Roanoke after the NCTM events conclude in the fall.
Click here for more info in the 611 excursions for 2016.
