N&W 611 thunders westbound toward Roanoke with the hottest train on the railroad.
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.
N&W 611 accelerates out of the Roanoke area toward Lynchburg, VA with the morning trip. This was my first time seeing the 611 under steam and she made a mighty fine impression.
Norfolk and Western 611 works hard to pull its long consist of passenger cars out of Petersburg, VA putting on a nice show for the trackside railfans. Seeing 611 work on her own was a sight to be... (more)
N&W 611 tackles the grade at Blue Ridge as it heads for Lynchburg.
N&W 611 pulls 21 passenger cars up the Christiansburg Grade through Shawsville, VA. This is one of many S-Curves along the route.
Reunited in Roanoke After much fanfare over the past month, Norfolk & Western 611 sits quietly with its firebox still warm alongside its Roanoke-built sisters at the Virginia M... (more)
N&W 611 puts on a show as she climbs the grade at Villamont on the way back to Roanoke from Lynchburg, falling down to a walking pace and slipping her big drivers on the wet rail several times.
Her Majesty has left the building. With Fire-up 611 crews carefully monitoring her every move, Norfolk & Western 611 eases out of a stall in the Bob Julian Roundhouse and onto the Spencer T... (more)
611 chugs past the classic CPLs at Forest, VA.
A little afternoon rain starts as N&W #611 heads back to Roanoke, VA
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.
The Eastbound morning excursion to Lynchburg has taken off from Roanoke and fills the air with smoke passing under the CPL signals at Webster.