The Virginia Scenic Railway announced today that a joint venture between the Virginia Scenic Railway, The Virginia Museum of Transportation, Inc., the Steam Railroading Institute, and the Virginia Mechanical Preservation Society will bring the famed Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam locomotive back into service for a limited series of passenger excursions this fall.

The sleek and powerful locomotive, designed and built in Roanoke by the Norfolk & Western Railway, has been widely hailed as the finest steam locomotive in the world. The 1950 Norfolk & Western Class J
No. 611 is the sole surviving Class J 4-8-4 steam locomotive. After entering service in 1950, it transported passengers until it retired in 1959. The 611 is owned and operated by Virginia Museum of
Transportation as a traveling exhibit. It is the official Steam Locomotive of the State of Virginia, a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places.

Starting on September 26, 2025 the Virginia Scenic Railway will operate the steam-led passenger excursion as the Shenandoah Valley Limited for five consecutive weekends. Tickets are expected to be
available for purchase later this summer through Virginia Scenic Railway’s website. “We are excited to partner with new and old friends to bring back the thrill of mainline steam excursions
through the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The return of the N&W 611 is sure to bring joy to all who see and ride it,” said Steve Powell, President of the Buckingham Branch Railroad, which operates the
Virginia Scenic Railway.

Due to the large number of carriages anticipated to run in this consist, train rides will begin and end at the custom-built Victoria Station in Goshen, Virginia. Once aboard the train, guests will steam through
the rolling hills, forests and fields of the legendary Shenandoah Valley before the round-trip excursion returns to Goshen.

The Steam Railroading Institute and the Virginia Scenic Railway are providing passenger coaches. Seating options are anticipated to include Coach, Premium Coach, Table Class, and Dome Class. Specific details
about the schedule, price, and ticket release dates will be announced at a later date. For more information about the 611 excursions, subscribe to the e-newsletter on the Virginia Scenic Railway website to be among the first to know when tickets become available.

-via Press Release