With their billowing steam and smoke, steam engines are very photogenic and fun to watch. This was especially the case when the Norfolk and Western J class locomotive, the “Spirit of Roanoke” or “611”, came to Manassas, Virginia for their annual Railway Festival in 2015 and 2016. Many photographers enjoyed “train-chasing” in order to capture images of the 611 on its excursion route between Manassas and Front Royal.
The 611 was operated in the 1950’s by the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) in passenger line service and features a distinctive art-deco design. 611 is the only surviving locomotive of its class.
