Is this the END for 611? Final Weekend of the 2025 Shenandoah Valley Limited

Описание: The last weekend of October 2025 saw Norfolk & Western 611 set to run six excursions along the former Chesapeake & Ohio mainline between Goshen and Staunton, Virginia. However, after successful trips on Friday and Saturday, the Queen of Steam failed about five miles outside of Goshen on Sunday morning. As the morning excursion proceeded with diesels, crews attempted to repair the J for the afternoon departure. And the steam crew managed to work a miracle as the 611 returned for one final evening excursion, returning to Goshen under cover of darkness assisted by a former MARC GP40WH-2 as there is nowhere to turn the train at either end of the line.

With Pere Marquette 1225 set to take over operations on the Buckingham Branch until the much anticipated restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio 614 is completed, the future is murky for 611. Five years remain on the boiler ticket before an extensive 1472 day overhaul is required, and operational prospects seem to be limited without installation of Positive Train Control, unlikely to happen before the upcoming overhaul. 611 did not operate at all in 2024, and while the new board of the Virginia Museum of Transportation finalized a purchase of former N&W baggage car 1407 for permanent use as 611's tool car and subsequently announced fundraising for the 1472, the future remains uncertain. Here is hoping that this wasn't the last time we will see 611 hauling a fully loaded passenger train on mainline rails.