Norfolk & Western Class A 2-6-6-4 1218 has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Virginia Historic Landmark, the Virginia Museum of Transportation announced on March 31. 

Locomotive 1218 was built by the N&W at its East End Shops in Roanoke, Va, in the spring of 1943. It was used in freight service until 1959. In the early 1960s, it was acquired by preservationist F. Nelson Blount for his Steamtown collection. In 1971, it was moved to the Roanoke Transportation Museum, where it was on display for more than a decade. In 1985, it was acquired by Norfolk Southern for its steam program and led excursions from 1987 until 1991, when it was scheduled to undergo an overhaul. That overhaul was never completed after NS canceled the steam program at the end of 1994. The locomotive was later transferred to VMT, where it remains on display. 

“We are thrilled to see the N&W 1218 recognized for its historical significance,” said Mendy Flynn, executive director of the Virginia Museum of Transportation. “This designation acknowledges the role that the Norfolk & Western Railway played in shaping the economic and industrial landscape of Virginia and the United States. The 1218’s inclusion on the National Register ensures that future generations will continue to learn about and appreciate this extraordinary piece of American history.” —Justin Franz