For the first time in almost 21 years, N&W J Class Locomotive 611 works southbound on museum property and beside of Norfolk Southern's "Southern" 3170.

With her first cruise around the museum property complete, 611 rests for the night outside the roundhouse.

The J's first move of the 21st century under her own power has just been completed as she sits on the NCTM's turntable smoking away.

The 611 has successfully made a move all the way to the end of NCTM property and is now shoving back next to the remainder of the Old Spencer Yard.

History was made at 5:34pm on this day as N&W Class J 611's wheels turned under her own power for the first time in 20 years and 153 days. It's smiles all around, both for the crew and those of us... (more)

Norfolk & Western Class J steam locomotive 611 belonging to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in her birthplace of Roanoke Va, rests outside the roundhouse at the North Carolina Transportation... (more)

Photographer- Bruce Nelson- from the 35 mm original Kodachrome slide. August 20, 1982. N&W 611 accelerates through a Kudzu laden fill shortly after leaving Irondale on her journey back to her ... (more)

Fans on the west end of the 7107 foot new Elkhorn tunnel helped clear engine exhaust ahead of slow moving east-bound trains. N&W also maintained ventilation fans on the single-track Cowan tunnel,... (more)

The new Elkhorn line had been in service only six years. Working hard with clear stack, sanders and rail-washer working, N&W 2198 is about to enter Elkhorn Tunnel. Sister 2181 is pushing on the re... (more)

Photographer- Dave Augsburger- from the 35 mm original Kodachrome slide. A late Spring day finds the 'Mercedes of Steam'; N&W 'A' Class 1218 less than a month into her excursion career, shown here... (more)

This is the current state of the fast moving Fire Up 611 campaign. The superheater unit is back in and the boiler has passed its hydrostatic test. As evidenced in this shot, clearly the Southern r... (more)

Photographer- unknown- from my personal collection. 35mm Anscochrome slide. July 11, 1959 finds Y6b 2174 performing a photo run by at the giant Trace Fork viaduct on the Dry Fork Branch of the ... (more)

Photographer- Larry Smith- from my personal collection. One of the highlights of the 1987 NRHS Convention, besides the side by side running of Class J 611 and Class A 1218, was this night phot... (more)

Builder's plate on Norfolk & Western J-Class #611. Photo taken while #611 sits steaming just outside the Southern Railway System Norris Yard Steam Shop.

Photographer- Greg Stadter- from my personal collection. N&W Class "A" 1218 is shown here on her first excursion rounding a bend near Shawsville, VA on her way from Roanoke to Bluefi... (more)