Virginia Central Railroad is making its departure from Staunton. In the early 1990s the Virginia Central Railroad ran excursions from Charlottesville to Clifton Forge, Virginia on CSXT. Due to insurance issues the excursions ceased. For several years, the #1286 along with sister 4-6-2 G5d #1238 rested in Staunton, Virginia before spending many years on a hidden siding in Verona, Virginia. After the passing of Jack Showalter, owner of the locomotives, the locomotives came out of hiding in Verona in July 2015. Over the course of a couple weeks, #1286 and #1238 were in the SVRR yard in Staunton where they were loaded onto heavy duty flat cars. When they left, Buckingham Branch Railroad interchanged the cars with Norfolk Southern in Waynesboro, Virginia. From there, these former Canadian Pacific locomotives made their way back to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia boasts some impressive scenery and trains, some of the best in the state. This album is for all photos taken in the Shenandoah Valley.