N&W No. 611 will run at Spencer, N.C., in September before returning to Roanoke, Va.
Trains: Jim Wrinn
SPENCER, N.C. — Norfolk & Western Class J 4-8-4 No. 611 isn’t pulling mainline steam trips this year, but it’s got a busy late summer lined up.
The streamlined 1950 passenger engine will operate on site at the N.C. Transportation Museum between Aug. 31 and Sept. 23 before heading home to Roanoke, Va., for an event Sept. 29 at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Offered at various times during that three-week window are throttle time, fireman experience, fire up and preparation experience, caboose rides, cab jump seat rides, a night photo session with Trains correspondent Chase Gunnoe, and Labor Day operation of the museum’s train ride.
After a ferry run on Norfolk Southern, the engine will be the star of VMT’s Big Lick Train Tug event in Roanoke on Sept. 29.
No. 611 has been at Spencer much of 2018 for staybolt work and other maintenance.
For details about planned events, visit nctrans.org or fireup611.org.
Thank you for the good news Trains!