the J Class #611 steam locomotive, built in Roanoke by the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1950, still pulls tourist trains in Virginia
Source: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), 611 steam16x20H
the J Class #611 steam locomotive, built in Roanoke by the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1950, still pulls tourist trains in Virginia
Source: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), 611 steam16x20H
After Amtrak took over passenger rail service from the private railroads, three tourist train programs have offered an opportunity to "ride the rails" for enjoying the journey rather that getting to a destination.
The Southern Railroad ran a steam train program starting in 1966, in part because W. Graham Claytor, Jr., was a top executive and he was a fan of the company's steam heritage. The excursion trips continued after the Southern Railroad transferred its scheduled passenger trains to Amtrak in 1979 and after it merged with the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1982. The chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the new Norfolk Southern Railroad was Robert B. Claytor, brother of Graham Claytor and equally proud of the railroad's history.
The J Class #611 and various other steam engines pulled tourists on different routes until 1994. The #611 was retired to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke.1
In 2010, in advance of the 30th anniversary of the merger that created the Norfolk Southern Railroad, the company announced it was bringing steam excursions back. The 21st Century Steam Program ran between 2011-2015, initially using a Southern Railroad locomotive that had been restored by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Trips in the southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states included excursions for both Norfolk Southern Railroad employee and the general public.
The success of the program led to a restoration project by the Fire Up 611! committee, starting in 2013, to bring the Norfolk & Western #611 steam engine back into service. It ran in 2015, after which the railroad cancelled the 21st Century Steam Program. The program ended because of increasing insurance costs and the disruption of profitable freight traffic by the tourist trips.2
the Shenandoah Valley Limited trips sold out in 2023
Source: Virginia Scenic Railway, Virginia Scenic Railway Rides
The Virginia Scenic Railway started offering tourism trips from Staunton in August 2022. The service on Thursdays-Sundays was provided by the Buckingham Branch Railroad, using track built originally by the Virginia Central and Chesapeake & Ohio railroads. A diesel engine pulled a 34-passenger car on three expeditions, the Alleghany Special, Blue Ridge Flyer and Santa's Scenic Railway, at an average of 25-30 miles per hour.
All trips started and stopped at Staunton. The Blue Ridge Flyer went east, passing through the Blue Ridge Tunnel to the town of Ivy. The Alleghany Special went west to Goshen, passing through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. Passengers sat in the cars at Goshen for 20 minutes while the locomotive turned around for the return trip.
On each trip, passengers were served a meal. In 2023, tickets cost $120 per person.
Santa's Scenic Railway mimicked the Polar Express train experience during the December holiday season. Those trips in December were 40 minutes long. Passengers were served hot chocolate and cookies in a rail car decorated for the season, and got to meet both Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The following year, the Norfolk & Western J Class #611 steam locomotive pulled the only scheduled sightseeing railroad excursion service in Virginia on Fridays-Sundays between October 6-November 5, 2023. Those three-hour trips started in Goshen. The historic steam engine pulled 14 cars for 32 miles to Staunton, and then the train returned to Goshen powered by diesel engines.
The Virginia Museum of Transportation made the #611 available for the Shenandoah Valley Limited service. At the end of 2023, the locomotive was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination form noted that #611 could reach 100 miles per hour on flat track and 40 miles per hour in the mountains, but the scenic rail trips were at a much slower speed.
Alleghany Special trips of the Virginia Scenic Railway traveled between Staunton and Goshen
Source: ESRI, ArcGIS Online
20,000 people bought Shenandoah Valley Limited tickets in 2023. Based on the scenic railroad program's success, the Buckingham Branch Railroad invested in building its own loading platform separate from the Amtrak station. A new platform at the "C&O Flats" was designed to allow tourists time to take photos without blocking the track through Staunton.3
The Buckingham Branch Railroad built a half-mile of new railroad track in Goshen for use by the Virginia Scenic Railway. The town mayor was enthusiastic about the tourism rail business:4
Source: Blue Comet Productions, Norfolk & Western 611: The Shenandoah Steam Spectacle
#611 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2023
Source: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 Locomotive