ROANOKE, Va. — As Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 gears up for fall excursions on the Buckingham Branch Railroad, having arrived at the short line from Roanoke on Sept. 18, the Virginia Museum of Transportation is also gearing up for a new fundraising initiative. The campaign, aptly titled “Steaming into the Future – Protect, Preserve, Sustain,” aims to secure essential funding for the 4-8-4’s anticipated 1,472-day boiler inspection, set for 2030 under the Federal Railroad Administration.
VMT has partnered with Rail & Roads Auctions to orchestrate a unique fundraising auction. The event will feature coveted opportunities and memorabilia, including cab rides aboard No. 611 during the upcoming Shenandoah Valley Limited excursions on the Buckingham Branch, an original painting of the locomotive, and unique artifacts from Nos. 611 and 1218…