Norfolk and Western 4-8-4 #611, owned by the Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT), is scheduled to pull excursions on the Virginia Scenic Railway in Fall 2023. The Virginia Scenic Railroad is the public excursion arm of the Buckingham Branch Railroad in Virginia, and will host the 611 throughout October and November.
Excursions start on October 6 and run every weekend through November 5th. Four different seating options will be available, with prices running from $99 – $249 per seat. Trips will start in Goshen, VA and will be joined by diesels at the halfway point to return.
The Buckingham Branch is Virginia’s largest shortline railroad, and only recently entered the excursion business. As a result, passenger cars are being brought in from third parties to provide capacity for these trips. Seven of the passenger cars have been spotted arriving, including ex-VRE bilevel cars and ex-Iowa Pacific cars.
611’s arrival date or ferry plans have not been announced. The locomotive will be receiving its FRA annual inspection in Roanoke before traveling to the Buckingham Branch. Tickets for the excursions will go on sale mid-April.
Learn more
Press release from the VMT
Virginia Scenic Railway site
Buckingham Branch Railroad site
Trains Newswire article
Railfan and Railroad article
RYPN discussion
Video of passenger cars arriving