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When she was built in the Roanoke Shops in 1950, it's unlikely that anyone believed 611's life would become so eventful. She was removed from official service twice, removed from excursion service once, and within the last decade made a grand return to operation. She's one of the most famous and recognizable steam locomotives in the world. She is Norfolk and Western 611: the Spirit of Roanoke and the Queen of Steam.

0:00 Intro
0:30 Construction and Service
10:47 Retirement and Revival
15:57 First Excursion Career
25:50 Retired Again
32:05 Grand Return and Current Status

"Norfolk and Western 611, also known as the "Spirit of Roanoke" and the "Queen of Steam", is a Norfolk and Western (N&W) class J 484 "Northern" streamlined steam locomotive built in May 1950 at N&W's Roanoke (East End) Shops in Roanoke, Virginia. It was one of the last mainline passenger steam locomotives built in the United States and represents the pinnacle of steam locomotive technology."

Further reading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Grah....

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