N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2023 6:00 pm

https://www.wdbj7.com/2023/08/02/excurs ... this-fall/

Quote:

The excursions will operate twice daily as the Shenandoah Valley Limited. Passengers will board the train in Goshen, travel east through the fall foliage of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and into the Shenandoah Valley. There, without disembarking, the train will be joined by a pair of diesel locomotives for the return trip to Goshen.

Details at the link. One associates suggests that since they're hawking dome tickets, another train set is being brought in, maybe a Friends Of the 261 set..........

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1504

This is great news!!! Anyone know much about Virginia Scenic Railway? I have never heard of it but obviously their track is in good condition since 611 is the heaviest coal burner operating!

I was happy I got to ride behind her and get lots of video up in Strasburg this may, hopefully I can swing by Virginia this fall!

John D · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:28 pm **Posts:** 448

Virginia Scenic Railway is a part of/runs on Buckingham Branch, ex-C&O:
https://www.virginiascenicrailway.com/

Joshua K. Blay · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2023 7:22 pm

Had a look at the VSR site just now- looks pretty good. Site mentioned that the route also hosts Amtrak and CSX so must be good infrastructure.

Would like to know their mileage and rolling stock, any reviews to be shared from those that have visited? Who owns the track, is this state? I'm thinking so.

Also looked like many of their regular trips were sold out- nice to see!

Joshua

Steamguy73 · **Joined:** Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:15 pm **Posts:** 595

The Virginia Scenic Railway runs on the track of the Buckingham branch railroad, and they primarily operate the former C&O track from Richmond to Clifton Forge via Charlottesville, a good portion of which is used by Amtrak’s Cardinal. It’s around 30 miles from Staunton to Goshen by car, so not a bad run at all.

They just started up last July, so it’s a very new operation, and this is a good way to give some attention to the startup. This is probably the best case scenario for 611: plenty of line it could run on, and not terribly far from Roanoke. Very fitting place for it to run.

The only locomotive that would fit better to run on this line is a certain locomotive in Clifton Forge.

BWills · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2023 1:55 pm **Posts:** 39

Wonder if we will see the 611 operating above 40 mph.

Why run from goshen instead of their VSR station in Staunton?

co614 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2023 7:43 pm

Great news for the 611. Let's hope it proves to be the ice breaker that leads to bigger and better excursions.

Friends in the area tell me that there is lots of work taking place in Goshen to get ready for this program.

Congratulations to the VMT and the BB RR for this important step forward.

Ross Rowland

bigjim4life · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2023 9:06 pm

Steamguy73 wrote:

They just started up last July, so it’s a very new operation, and this is a good way to give some attention to the startup.

It's so new, that they operate with a grand total of one coach. Granted, quite a few of those trips are sold out with the one coach, but so far that's it. They absolutely HAVE TO bring in an outside trainset if they're running 611 and all sorts of other cars.

NJDixon · **Joined:** Mon Dec 06, 2021 4:36 pm **Posts:** 226

Nice to see my suspicions were correct. Right after they moved the #611 down to VA, I searched "611 steam train VA" on Google, just out of idle curiosity, and one of the top hits was an incomplete webpage on the Buckingham Branch site. A day or two later, that website vanished entirely from the search results, which made me suspect that someone inadvertently made the webpage go live and then caught their mistake.

Ed Kapuscinski · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2023 10:43 am

Time for railfans across Virginia to stock up on D Cells!

scratchyX1 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:17 pm **Posts:** 91

Steamguy73 wrote:

The Virginia Scenic Railway runs on the track of the Buckingham branch railroad, and they primarily operate the former C&O track from Richmond to Clifton Forge via Charlottesville, a good portion of which is used by Amtrak’s Cardinal. It’s around 30 miles from Staunton to Goshen by car, so not a bad run at all.

They just started up last July, so it’s a very new operation, and this is a good way to give some attention to the startup. This is probably the best case scenario for 611: plenty of line it could run on, and not terribly far from Roanoke. Very fitting place for it to run.

The only locomotive that would fit better to run on this line is a certain locomotive in Clifton Forge.

I know it has to be at least class 3 track, if the Cardinal runs on it. What are they doing about PTC requirements? I assume the signals are still active.

scratchyX1 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 14, 2020 12:17 pm **Posts:** 91

Anyone know why it's running from Remote Goshen, as opposed to Staunton , which is right off I81?

co614 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2023 3:37 pm

I do. Because at Goshen there was ample room for the VMT to construct a new 1500 ft. siding on which to store/service the excursion consist and the 611, refueling infrastructure to load coal into the 611's tender, and a large new parking lot capable of holding the crowds expected to come.

Staunton is quaint but very crowded with very little parking available anywhere near the depot.

Obviously the VMT is making a long term investment in Goshen which they believe will pay dividends in the future.

Here's wishing them sold out trains and safe operations.

Ross Rowland

BWills · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2023 1:55 pm **Posts:** 39

Gotcha, ya that makes sense. Pretty impressive for VMT to fund the siding build. guessing a few hundred K for that?

If they ran the other direction to clifton forge, the turntable is CSX owned right? so probably a "no" on that for regular use. Maybe if it all works out, VMT will put a turntable or Y at goshen

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1504

BWills wrote:

Gotcha, ya that makes sense. Pretty impressive for VMT to fund the siding build. guessing a few hundred K for that?

If they ran the other direction to clifton forge, the turntable is CSX owned right? so probably a "no" on that for regular use. Maybe if it all works out, VMT will put a turntable or Y at goshen

Isn’t VMT part of the state now? And the state owns this railroad too? So it could be state money.

N&W 611 To Run Oct.-Nov. Excursions In Virginia

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