By Justin Franz 

Months after a successful series of excursions on Virginia’s Buckingham Branch Railroad, Norfolk & Western Class J 4-8-4 611 will not run in 2024 thanks to needed maintenance work on the locomotive and turmoil within the Virginia Museum of Transportations’ board of directors. 

In June, six board members — some of whom were involved with the operation of N&W 611 — suddenly resigned. In-depth reporting by the Roanoke Rambler revealed that disagreement about how to operate and manage the steam locomotive was at the core of the dispute. The safety of the museum’s steam operations was also brought up by at least one member, Brian Barton. 

“I do not feel that the VMT is in a financial position to continue to maintain and operate the 611 without very strict financial oversight and compliance,” Barton’s resignation letter stated. “I also have serious concerns regarding safety within the 611 program, particularly in the areas of on-track safety, consistent locomotive airbrake tests, outline qualifications for certain positions, and background screening of all volunteers.”

Another board member, Tom Cox, told the media that he was unaware of any safety issues regarding N&W 611. Cox also told the newspaper that the resignations that sparked the turmoil were a surprise to the rest of the board. “It appeared more like an ambush,” he said. 

In an emailed statement to Railfan & Railroad, Executive Director Mendy Flynn confirmed that N&W 611 would not run in 2024, but that the museum was exploring opportunities in the future. “We do not have time to prepare for a 2024 season,” she wrote. “We are always actively looking for opportunities to run the locomotive. We hope to have it operate in 2025.” 

Flynn attributed the decision to not run this year to the fact that N&W 611 needs “normal” maintenance. That work is expected to begin in September. While the locomotive will not repeat its successful visit to the Buckingham Branch this year, Flynn said it was still a possibility in the future. 

The board members who resigned also raised concerns about the museum’s finances and how the non-profit kept its books. Among their complaints was how the museum recorded losses and profits from last year’s excursions, which brought in $1 million in ticket sales. The museum says they lost about $9,000. But the outgoing board members said the trips actually netted the museum about $200,000. They allege that the museum categorized an excess of merchandise expenses to the excursions. The outgoing board members have said an outside entity should come in and do a financial audit of the museum. 

Bev Fitzpatrick, long-time executive director of VMT, said he was sad to see what was happening to the museum he led for 11 years. 

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that there’s a lot of issues right now that shouldn’t be there. And they need to get them fixed,” he said. 

According to VMT, 13 people remain on the board of directors, including Ted Krumreich who joined in June. Krumreich is a member of 611’s crew.