r/Railroad

Nearly four months later, the “pride and joy” of Virginia’s rail heritage is still sitting in Fishersville.

N&W 611 concluded its excursions nearly four months ago.

And she’s still sitting in Fishersville.

For a locomotive so often described as the crown jewel — the “pride and joy” — of Virginia’s railroad heritage, it’s becoming increasingly difficult not to ask:

What exactly is going on with 611?

No return to Roanoke. No apparent move to another operating location. Very little public explanation. Just one of the most recognizable steam locomotives in America sitting cold where the excursions ended months ago.

There are plenty of rumors floating around, but remarkably little concrete information.

So what’s the actual story?

Mechanical issues? Host railroad logistics? Money?

Negotiations? A future operating agreement that hasn’t been announced?

Or is Fishersville simply 611’s indefinite home now?

At nearly four months, it seems like a fair question:

What’s the plan for the supposed “pride and joy”?

At what point do we start asking whether the Virginia Museum of Transportation is really being a good steward of N&W 611?