ROANOKE, Va. — Norfolk & Western J class No. 611 will receive a red, white, and blue scheme to mark America’s 250th anniversary, according to a statement from the Virginia Museum of Transportation, the locomotive’s owner. No. 611 will wear the patriotic livery, inspired by the paint design of the American Freedom Train, during its Summer of Steam excursions on the Virginia Scenic Railway.
“This is an incredibly exciting moment for the Virginia Museum of Transportation and for the future story of the 611,” says Mendy Flynn, Virginia Museum of Transportation executive director. “This special scheme represents a bold new chapter in the locomotive’s storied history while paying tribute to our nation’s 250th Anniversary and the role railroads played in building America. We are thrilled and deeply thankful to partner with Sunset Models 3rd Rail to help bring this historic event to life.”
The design No. 611 will wear draws its inspiration from original concept artwork created for the American Freedom Train, which ran for the U.S. Bicentennial during 1975-76. Although No. 611 did not pull the actual AFT, its image was used in concept drawings and promotional materials during the planning and organizational phases of the project…