By Justin Franz 

Five months after six of its board members resigned, an investigation into the management of the Virginia Museum of Transportation found no wrongdoing and has determined that the museum is in a “healthy position financially.” 

In June, six board members — some of whom were involved with the operation of Norfolk & Western Class J 4-8-4  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 members that left alleged that the rest of the board was mismanaging funds and operating the steam locomotive in an unsafe manner. 

However a months-long investigation by an outside law firm, Gentry Locke, found that VMT management was following all proper accounting practices. A copy of a two-page letter summarizing the investigation was provided by VMT to Railfan & Railroad. The letter did not address issues regarding railroad safety. 

“After thoroughly reviewing all documentation, investigators determined that there were no identifiable issues or concerns with respect to VMT’s handling, spending or accounting of state grant funds,” the letter reads. “Each grant dollar spent by VMT to date was traced to a specific transaction, all of which were appropriate.”

The turmoil on the board may have indirectly led to N&W 611 not running this year, as well as the need for regular maintenance following 2023’s runs on Virginia’s Buckingham Branch Railroad. In an email to Railfan & Railroad, Executive Director Mendy Flynn stated that 611 was currently receiving some work at VMT and that the museum was continuing to seek “opportunities and engaging in discussions to run 611 in the future.”