As EMD E units came online In the late 1950's, Norfolk & Western's famed class J streamlined locomotives, having been in service less than a decade, were reassigned to freight service. The engineer assigned this route seemed to be just fine with this decision!
After retirement in 1959, N&W No. 611 served as a steam generator at the East End Shops, the same place were it was built. Due to its excellent condition after being rebuilt from its 1956 accident, then attorney and railfan, W. Graham Claytor Jr. convinced the N&W to preserve it rather than seeing it scrapped.
Taken during a Lerro Productions charter during Strasburg Rail Road's 2019 "Reunion of Steam" event, featuring the Virginia Museum of Transportation's visiting 4-8-4 No. 611, and Strasburg's 4-8-0 No. 475 - the last two operable N&W steam locomotives.
