611 steams home
Bob Wiolletts peered through the windows of a passenger car at the crowd gathered across from Roanoke's East End Shops. "The spirit of Roaoke is back," he said, "and I think you see it out there."
Willetts was riding at the tail end of the train pulled by the newly restored Norfolk & western Class J 611 stema engine, which loosed its deep whistle in response to the cheers of thousands of onlookers gathered to celebrate its return.
Rail fans from all around the country followed the train's progress online, traveled to places all along the 200-mile route to capture new photos of the negine in motion, and even boarded the train fro a nostalgic ride.
"It's a historic engine. It has a beauty and a power that represents what railroads meant to the nation," said Dante Stephensen, a jazz pianist and retired rail worker from Atlanta who gave his age as "probably 80." Stephensen actully lives in a passenger car on five acres near Atlanta, the fulfillment of a childhood dream. In the 1980, that same car was pull by the 611.
Willetts was riding at the tail end of the train pulled by the newly restored Norfolk & western Class J 611 stema engine, which loosed its deep whistle in response to the cheers of thousands of onlookers gathered to celebrate its return.
Rail fans from all around the country followed the train's progress online, traveled to places all along the 200-mile route to capture new photos of the negine in motion, and even boarded the train fro a nostalgic ride.
"It's a historic engine. It has a beauty and a power that represents what railroads meant to the nation," said Dante Stephensen, a jazz pianist and retired rail worker from Atlanta who gave his age as "probably 80." Stephensen actully lives in a passenger car on five acres near Atlanta, the fulfillment of a childhood dream. In the 1980, that same car was pull by the 611.
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