Norfolk & Western 611 made a triumphant return to the mainline in the spring and early summer of 2015. Following 20 years of display and a full year of restoration, the J once again returned to the Norfolk Southern mainline to show it could still run just as well as it had in the 1950s and 1980s.
0:00 May 28, a series of photo opportunities at the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, the 611 ran back and forth with a series of freight and passenger trains for photographers and spectators.
9:22 May 30, the homecoming special. The 611 led a number of passenger cars north from Spencer to its home at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA. At the museum, the 611 joined fellow N&W stablemate 2-6-6-4 1218 and for the first time 2-8-8-2 2156, marking the first time since the end of steam on Norfolk & Western that the "Big Three" of J, A and Y were side by side.
13:20 June 6 & 7, the first public mainline excursions the 611 led in 20 years. The 611 led a trio on trips between Manassas and Front Royal, VA.
16:41 June 13 & 14, two day-long trips between Lynchburg and Petersburg.
21:46 July 4th weekend, a total of six trips were operated out of Roanoke to Radford and Lynchburg. These brought the engine back to its hometown.
Norfolk & Western 611 was originally built in 1950 as one of 13 "J" class 4-8-4s for N&W's premiere passenger trains. The 611 was one of the last steam engines built by N&W and one of the last for a major railroad in the United States. It was retired in 1959 and later put on display in Roanoke. In 1982, it was rebuilt for use in the Norfolk Southern steam program for use on their many public excursions. This lasted until 1994 when the program was ended due to insurance concerns and growing expenses. The 611 was the last steam engine to pull excursions for the original Southern/NS steam program, bringing an end to a 28-year program.
With the success of 21st Century Steam in 2011, the funding was brought together to restore 611 again for a new modern steam program. Norfolk Southern would bow out of providing insurance in 2015, although the 611 was able to run a few more excursions in 2016 and 2017. Since then changes in insurance with Amtrak and mainline excursions has left 611 restricted to tourist railroads and deadheads. Mainline steam may never be the same again, but the memory of 611 returning to its former N&W rails lives on.
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