More than 5,000 persons showed up for 611's send off party last year, when she left Roanoke for restoration in Spencer, N.C., but this Saturday, over 10,000 persons are expected to be in attendance for the 611 Homecoming Celebration.
N&W No. 611, "The Spirit of Roanoke", is scheduled to arrive home in Roanoke on Saturday, May 30, 2015, sometime between 2-4 p.m., but the 611 Homecoming Celebration begins at 11:00 a.m. at the former Norfolk & Western Passenger Station (currently the O. Winston Link Museum, 101 Shenandoah Ave.) in Roanoke. The Norfolk Southern Lawmen Band will play throughout the day, and various family friendly activities will take place.
On Saturday's run from NC to Roanoke, No. 611 is expected to pull a 18-car train unassisted, with no diesel helpers. This will be 611's second mainline run since her 2015 restoration. No. 611 made a test run of about 90 miles to Greensboro, NC and return, last Thursday.
The Roanoke Times has printed a special section devoted to 611's return to Roanoke which can be viewed online here plus there's a multi-section PDF you can download here with many photos, articles, etc. about No. 611. TV station WBDJ7 offers this video report on the homecoming events.
The Celebration Continue on Sunday, May 31st: The "N&W’s Big Three" Event
The Class J 611, Class A 1218 and the Class Y6a 2156 will all be parked in the Virginia Museum of Transportation rail yard for the first time in 60 years. Attendees will have the chance to sit in the cab of the Class J 611 and to take a bus tour of Roanoke’s East End Shops and Shaffer’s Crossing. Music by the Norfolk Southern Lawmen Band. Food. Activities for the kids. (Admission charge.)
Trains Magazine: Live Coverage
On Saturday, May 30, Trains will follow the train home to Roanoke and will also cover the public events being held at the Virginia Museum of Transportation on May 31.
Live coverage info...
Live Tweets
FireUp611! will be live tweeting 611's journey from NC to VA.
Chasing No. 611
Trains magazine has added an article online that gives tips and advice for anyone thinking about chasing 611 on her trip from Spencer, NC back to Roanoke, VA, that provides a much more detailed map of 611's route than the one below.
611's Schedule
For those of you lucky enough to be close to 611's route, here's 611's schedule and route information:
7:30 a.m.: The Class J 611 leaves the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina, for her trip home to Roanoke.
1 p.m.: The Class J 611 stops in Lynchburg for coal and water.
2 p.m.-4 p.m.: The Class J 611 thunders into Roanoke.
Route info courtesy of Roanoke Times
N&W No. 611, "The Spirit of Roanoke", is scheduled to arrive home in Roanoke on Saturday, May 30, 2015, sometime between 2-4 p.m., but the 611 Homecoming Celebration begins at 11:00 a.m. at the former Norfolk & Western Passenger Station (currently the O. Winston Link Museum, 101 Shenandoah Ave.) in Roanoke. The Norfolk Southern Lawmen Band will play throughout the day, and various family friendly activities will take place.
On Saturday's run from NC to Roanoke, No. 611 is expected to pull a 18-car train unassisted, with no diesel helpers. This will be 611's second mainline run since her 2015 restoration. No. 611 made a test run of about 90 miles to Greensboro, NC and return, last Thursday.
The Roanoke Times has printed a special section devoted to 611's return to Roanoke which can be viewed online here plus there's a multi-section PDF you can download here with many photos, articles, etc. about No. 611. TV station WBDJ7 offers this video report on the homecoming events.
The Celebration Continue on Sunday, May 31st: The "N&W’s Big Three" Event
The Class J 611, Class A 1218 and the Class Y6a 2156 will all be parked in the Virginia Museum of Transportation rail yard for the first time in 60 years. Attendees will have the chance to sit in the cab of the Class J 611 and to take a bus tour of Roanoke’s East End Shops and Shaffer’s Crossing. Music by the Norfolk Southern Lawmen Band. Food. Activities for the kids. (Admission charge.)
![norfolk.jpg](http://www.steamlocomotive.com/northern/norfolk.jpg)
Trains Magazine: Live Coverage
On Saturday, May 30, Trains will follow the train home to Roanoke and will also cover the public events being held at the Virginia Museum of Transportation on May 31.
Live coverage info...
Live Tweets
FireUp611! will be live tweeting 611's journey from NC to VA.
Chasing No. 611
Trains magazine has added an article online that gives tips and advice for anyone thinking about chasing 611 on her trip from Spencer, NC back to Roanoke, VA, that provides a much more detailed map of 611's route than the one below.
611's Schedule
For those of you lucky enough to be close to 611's route, here's 611's schedule and route information:
7:30 a.m.: The Class J 611 leaves the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina, for her trip home to Roanoke.
1 p.m.: The Class J 611 stops in Lynchburg for coal and water.
2 p.m.-4 p.m.: The Class J 611 thunders into Roanoke.
![N&W_611_Route_Home_to_Roanoke.jpg](http://steamsoundz.com/images/Trainz/N&W_611_Route_Home_to_Roanoke.jpg)
Route info courtesy of Roanoke Times
Last edited: