The 1218 is northbound on the Shenandoah Valley Line on a circle trip from Roanoke to Balcony Falls on the C&O, down the James River Line to Lynchburg, and back to Roanoke over Blue Ridge. Moments before the photo was snapped, the engine was hidden in the shadow of its own smoke- the assembled fans breathed a sigh of relief when the stack momentarily cleared!
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.