Steam locomotives? Cabooses? Lordy, Roanoke IS Heaven!

Norfolk & Western 611 leads the Powhatan Arrow towards Lynchburg as it flies passed the CPL signals at Bedford.

N&W 611 turns her train on the wye in downtown Roanoke immediately following her arrival from an all day ferry move beginning at Spencer, NC. She brought 13 cars along for the ride, including her ... (more)

It was challenging to compose a photo the 611 without having some of the hundreds of photographers and locals in the frame. But the interaction between the fans and the beloved J sometimes made fo... (more)

After turning on the wye at Radford N&W 611 passes under the old coaling dock at Vicker, VA.

Norfolk and Western 611 adds a little life to an otherwise grim scene at Shawsville, VA.

I started devouring Lucius Beebe books in the 1950's. I saw his "Burning of Rome" smoke plumes and thought that was how steam locomotives always looked. Boy, did I ever want to see that! Flash for... (more)

Several hundred spectators gathered in downtown Christiansburg, VA to witness N&W J-Class 611 as it leads a Roanoke to Walton round trip excursion through town.

Climbing Christiansburg Mountain for the third and final time of the weekend, N&W 611 marches upgrade through an s curve just west of Montgomery on the former N&W.

Shortly after conquering the Blue Ridge Grade, N&W J Class 611 marches past the N&W CPL guarding the west end of Bedford, Virginia on the Blue Ridge District.

The Eastbound leg of the N&W 611 excursion to Walton has just turned at the wye and passes under the coaling tower at Vicker.

After climbing up a cliff side, Norfolk & Western 611 leads the westbound Pelican up the Christiansburg grade near Montgomery on its way to turn at the wye at Walton.

N&W 611 rolls through Shawsville in a drenching rain.

Classic N&W: As clouds cover the Blue Ridge Mountains, N&W J Class 611 marches up the steep grade and splits the iconic CPL's at Blue Ridge, Virginia.

Norfolk & Western 611 blasts by the old freight depot in Christiansburg, VA.