By Eric Berger

STRASBURG, Pa. — Norfolk & Western 611 has departed the Strasburg Railroad once again but hasn’t left town.  The legendary 4-8-4 crossed the street to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania on January 31, for a limited-time exhibit during early 2023. The Virginia Museum of Transportation expressed gratitude to the museum for hosting the engine and to SRR for their ongoing partnership.

“This collaboration continues the long-standing history between the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Norfolk & Western that began in 1900,” noted VMT in its announcement, referring to PRR’s purchase of a significant minority share of N&W stock. The majority of the locomotives displayed at the Pennsylvania museum are of PRR heritage.

The 611 was among the last passenger steam locomotives built in the U.S. when out-shopped in May, 1950, at N&W’s East End Shops in Roanoke. It was retired in 1959, but was later taken off display in the early 1980s to become the star of the Norfolk Southern steam program. After it was retired again in 1994, the locomotive was put on display at VMT. In the 2010s, NS briefly revived its steam program and 611 was restored again in 2015. But the new steam program would be short-lived and since then the locomotive has bounced between Spencer, N.C., and Strasburg.

Though no details were revealed, VMT promises an “exciting” 2023 ahead for 611.

For more information on visiting the museum, see rrmuseumpa.org/visit/hours-admissions.