NC Train Video Journal 2023 Number 52 Special

Virginia Scenic Railway Shenandoah Valley Limited October 6, 2023 featuring Norfolk & Western J 611
This video covers the first day of the Shenandoah Valley Limited train with passengers and the N&W 611 steam engine on the Buckingham Branch Railroad between Goshen, VA (MP CA 253.9) and Staunton, VA (MP CA 220.8). Return trips to Goshen were handled by Buckingham Branch Railroad engines 7 (GP40) and 13 (GP40-3).
The Shenandoah Valley Limited 9AM train departs Goshen, VA lead by Norfolk and Western J-class steam engine 611 9:36AM 10/6/2023 at Hunters Crossing Road (MP CA 250.8). The tracks here are still bolted together and the train is moving about the fastest I saw it all day on the line.
The Shenandoah Valley Limited 9AM train passes Swoope, VA lead by Norfolk and Western J-class steam engine 611 10:30AM 10/6/2023 at Scott-Christian Road (MP CA 230.81).
The Shenandoah Valley Limited 9AM train approaches Staunton, VA lead by Norfolk and Western J-class steam engine 611 10:51AM 10/6/2023 at Montgomery Avenue.
The Shenandoah Valley Limited 9AM train pulls back into Victoria Station Goshen, VA lead by Norfolk and Western J-class steam engine 611 1:01PM 10/6/2023 at Maury River Road (MP CA 253.06)
The Shenandoah Valley Limited 2:30PM train passes Craigsville, VA lead by Norfolk and Western J-class steam engine 611 3:38PM 10/6/2023 at Hidy Street (MP CA 243.93).
The Shenandoah Valley Limited 2:30PM train passes Swoope, VA lead by Norfolk and Western J-class steam engine 611 4:13M 10/6/2023 at Waldrop Road (MP CA 228.73).
The Shenandoah Valley Limited 9AM train departs Staunton, VA lead by Buckingham Branch locomotive 7 11:29AM 10/6/2023 "West La Grange" (MP CA 223.8) off Buttermilk Spring Road.
The Shenandoah Valley Limited 9AM train passes Swoope, VA lead by Buckingham Branch locomotive 7 11:45AM 10/6/2023 at Scott-Christian Road (MP CA 230.81).
The Shenandoah Valley Limited 9AM train passes Augusta Springs, VA lead by Buckingham Branch locomotive 7 12:07PM 10/6/2023 at Estaline Road (MP CA 230.81).
The Shenandoah Valley Limited 2:30PM train departs Staunton, VA lead by Buckingham Branch Railroad locomotive 7 4:58PM 10/6/2023 at Haile Street.
0:00 Introduction
0:11 Steam engine lead trains
0:18 N&W 611 at Hunters Crossing Road Goshen, VA
2:35 N&W 611 at Scott-Christian Road Swoope, VA
4:14 N&W 611 at Montgomery Avenue Staunton, VA
6:18 N&W 611 at Maury River Road Goshen, VA
9:42 N&W 611 at Hidy Street Craigsville, VA
12:09 N&W 611 at Waldrop Road Swoope, VA
14:11 Diesel locomotive lead trains
14:17 Train Buttermilk Spring Road Staunton, VA
16:40 Train at Scott-Christian Road Swoope, VA
18:32 Train at Estaline Valley Road Agusta Springs, VA
19:59 Train at Haile Street Staunton, VA
23:07 End

[@BillMorris-sx7vi]

I love the J611 train

[@itsyeetorbeyeeted936]

Funnily enough, I think you recorded this on the day my family and I all got to ride it! I was a hardcore train lover as a kid, watched Thomas the Tank Engine religiously and worked with my dad to amass a pretty good collection of old Lionel models, including a N&W J-Class (which I brought with me to the train ride and got to show to the engineer afterward, the guy loved it).

[@DavidUy]

I know. It was great to be able to see 611 running in person. Nothing else like it. I railfan with my dog, so we didn't ride it (No pets) but we had fun chasing it all day.

[@user-vh6zt7ty3b]

Western J 611

[@zapthathattrick]

were you chasing it to each crossing?

[@DavidUy]

Not every crossing. I mapped out every crossing but it is difficult territory to drive through with traffic, construction, people pacing the train from their cars, and an accident in the morning, so I chose a couple that I knew I could get ahead of it. I was seriously happy to have caught it running at roughly its top speed at Hunters Crossing Rd with the bolted rails so everything else after that was just icing on the cake.

[@BillMorris-sx7vi]

Amtrak doesn’t pull as many cars as the J611 pull.

[@DavidUy]

Probably not as elegantly either. If you have an opportunity, thie J is worth seeing in person.