Norfolk & Western Class J 4-8-4 611 will return to the Buckingham Branch Railroad this fall for a series of excursions. It will be the first time the locomotive has operated on the main line since 2023. 

The excursions are scheduled to start on September 26 and will last for five consecutive weekends, departing from Goshen, Va. The trips are organized by the Buckingham Branch’s Virginia Scenic Railroad and the Virginia Museum of Transportation, which owns and maintains the 4-8-4. Organizers are also collaborating with the Steam Railroading Institute to supply coaches for the trips. 

“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.

Tickets are not yet for sale, but will be available at VirginiaScenicRailway.com.

—Justin Franz