For a limited time only, train enthusiasts will have a unique opportunity to see the Shenandoah Valley’s fall color show by rail, pulled behind the legendary 611 — the sole surviving Class J steam locomotive built by Norfolk & Western Railway.

The 611 excursion is owned and operated by the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
The Virginia Museum of Transportation, Inc. (VMT) and the Virginia Scenic Railway (VSR) are excited to jointly announce that the Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam passenger locomotive is returning to service in the Shenandoah Valley this fall on a series of specially scheduled passenger excursions.
The 1950 Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 is exclusively owned and operated by Virginia Museum of Transportation as a traveling exhibit. The Virginia Scenic Railway is delighted to host these 611 excursions in partnership with the museum; the 611 will run twice daily as the Shenandoah Valley Limited this fall.
Trips start and end at the Victoria Station in Goshen, Virginia. Upon boarding the train in Goshen, Virginia, guests will travel under steam eastward through the fall foliage of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, into the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley all the way to the historic city of Staunton where the train will pause without disembarking, to be joined by a pair of diesel locomotives for the return trip back to Goshen.
The sleek and powerful Class J locomotives, designed and built in Roanoke by the Norfolk & Western Railway, were widely hailed as the finest steam passenger locomotives in the world.
Seating options will include Coach, Premium Coach, First Class, and Dome Classes, ranging from $99.00 to $249.00 per seat.
611’s Excursion Schedule
The Shenandoah Valley Limited will depart at 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM on the following weekends:
- October 6 – 8, 2023
- October 13 – 15, 2023
- October 20 – 22, 2023
- October 27–29, 2023
- November 3 – 5, 2023
Scroll down for Frequently Asked Questions about Shenandoah Valley Limited.