ROANOKE, Va. — Norfolk & Western No. 611, the Virginia Museum of Transportation’s celebrated Class J 4-8-4, has gained a new honor: a spot on the National Park Services’ National Register of Historic Places.
The museum learned of the designation earlier this week, and plans an official celebration in the spring, according to social media manager Zac McGinnis. According to McGinnis, the museum was told only 40 steam locomotives are on the more than 112,000 items and locations in the register. No. 611 is expected to be added to the registry sometime in February.
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources, which already includes No. 611 on its own historic registry, assisted in securing the national recognition. As explained in the department’s nominating form — which includes a wealth of details about the locomotive’s design and history — No. 611 has seen minimal alterations since its construction in 1950, giving it excellent historical integrity. Those changes that have been made — a twin sealed beam headlight, modern braking system, and second steam-powered generator to power radios — have been made for safety reasons and to accommodate current operating standards.
More information on the National Register of Historic Places is available here.
— Updated at 3:45 p.m. CT to correct caption.
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