Norfolk & Western 611: Assault on Christiansburg Mountain (Roanoke to Walton 2016)

On the 7th & 8th of May 2016, N&W 611 ran four excursions out of her hometown of Roanoke, Virginia. It was along this route that the 611 and the rest of the J class hauled famous passenger trains such as the Powhatan Arrow, Cavalier, Pelican, Pocahontas, and Tennessean. The 611 put on a great show doing exactly what she was built to do, hauling a 20-car passenger train in and out of the Roanoke Valley.

The afternoon excursions ran westward out of Roanoke up the Christiansburg Grade to Walton wye, near Radford. I chased both trips, and this video is in geographical order. On Sunday 611 flew pink flags for Mother's Day.

LOCATIONS:
0:10 - Roanoke - Pedestrian overpass near Gainsboro Parking Lot
3:15 - Riverside - West River Rd
4:25 - Ellison - US 460/Lee Hwy
5:20 - west of Shawsville - Friendship Rd
7:08 - Montgomery Tunnel, Den Hill Rd
9:06 - west of Christiansburg - Chrisman Mill Rd
10:13 - Vicker - Switchback Rd
13:15 - west of Christiansburg - Chrisman Mill Rd
15:00 - Riserside - West River Rd
16:25 - Wabun - West River Rd