Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the thrills, sights, and sounds of a railroading icon in action.
We are proud to announce the return of the legendary Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam locomotive to the Shenandoah Valley this fall.
Back by popular demand, the powerful and beloved 611 will once again lead a limited series of special fall foliage excursions, operating as the Shenandoah Valley Limited.
Due to the large number of carriages anticipated to run in this consist, train rides will begin and end at the custom-built Victoria Station in Goshen, Virginia.
The Shenandoah Valley Limited will operate for five consecutive weekends (on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) starting September 26, 2025.
Tickets are not yet on sale.
We encourage you to subscribe to the e-newsletter in the footer of our website to be among the first to know when tickets become available later this summer.
Operation of the Shenandoah Valley Limited is made possible by a joint venture between the Virginia Scenic Railway, the Virginia Museum of Transportation, the Steam Railroading Institute, the Virginia Mechanical Preservation Society, and the combined efforts of hundreds of volunteers.
The sleek and powerful Class J locomotive, designed and built in Roanoke by the Norfolk & Western Railway, has been widely hailed as the finest steam locomotive in the world. The Norfolk and Western 611 was built in 1950 by N&W engineers at the company’s East End facility in Roanoke, Virginia. It was categorized under the “J” class and was one of only 14 ever built. Today, it is the only surviving member of that class.
The locomotive’s bullet-nosed streamlined design is considered one of the most novel and striking in railroad history. It is the official Steam Locomotive of the State of Virginia, a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The N&W Class J 611 is owned and operated by Virginia Museum of Transportation as a traveling exhibit. When not in excursion service, the locomotive is displayed at a trackside location at the museum in Roanoke.
