J 611 Black Beauty

Polished and shaped like a black bullet with maroon stripes, she is clearly one of the best surviving passenger “streamliners”.

Caught on an excursion from Roanoke,VA to Spencer, NC, Norfolk & Western’s J611 class Northern locomotive was in good company with the Golden State class Southern Pacific Railroads beautiful #4449 streamliner.

A powerful machine, the J 611 boiler is rated at 300 psi. and could pull 15 cars at 110 miles per hour!

Some quick facts about Norfolk and Western’s J-Class #611

• Manufacturer: Norfolk and Western Roanoke Shops
• build date: 1950
• Wheel alignment: 4-8-4 Northern Class
• Drivers: 70 inches
• Locomotive and tender weight combined: 872,600 lbs
• Maximum speed: 110 MPH

Let us know if you have ever seen this magnificent machine rolling down the tracks. We would love to hear your comments!