Shenandoah Valley Limited: Fall Train Excursions from Rockbridge County

The legendary Norfolk & Western Class J 611 steam locomotive rolls out of the brand new Victoria Station in Goshen, Virginia for an exclusive series of dates this fall. Dubbed the Shenandoah Valley Limited, the excursions will highlight the fall foliage the Shenandoah Valley is known for.

Excursion Details

Four levels of tickets are available:

Coach: $99 (concessions available for purchase)
Coach Plus: $199 (bi-level passenger car; concessions available for purchase)
Premium: $189 (complimentary drink and snack provided)
Specialty and Group Seating: $189-$1,134 (includes dome, sleeper, and private suites; complimentary drink and snack provided)

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Norfolk & Western Class J 611. Photo courtesy Virginia Museum of Transportation.

Victoria Station is new and has been built specifically for these excursions. It is located at 340 Victoria Lane in Goshen, VA 24439. Parking is gravel lot and will close when capacity is reached.

The 3.5 to 4-hour excursions are offered twice daily (9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) the following weekends:

October 6-8, 2023
October 13-15, 2023
October 20-22, 2023
October 27-29, 2023
November 3-5, 2023

The route will leave Goshen bound for Staunton, but passengers will not disembark. Rather, two other locomotives will join the train to lead the reverse trip.

Important Notes:

ADA accessibility is quite limited due to the historic rail equipment. An ADA-compliant restroom is provided at the boarding location, however. Call 434-391-9772 after reading the additional info found here.
There are restrooms on the train.
The passenger cars are climate controlled.
Strollers, bicycles, and car seats are prohibited.
No smoking or outside food or drink is allowed.

Lodging Opportunities

Prior to and after your trip, you may be interested in extending your stay in Rockbridge County. We wholeheartedly invite you to do so! Please refer to our lodging options for guidance.

Closest Accommodations:

Lodging Directory

Dining Opportunities

While you will not be permitted to board with food, you will undoubtedly need a meal prior to or after your excursion. Food trucks will be selling their menus in the hours between morning and afternoon excursions. Expect to find our very own Bizzee B's from Glasgow, among others TBA. You can also enjoy other dining options nearby:

BG's 2
House Mountain Inn Restaurant (reservations required)
Devils Backbone Outpost Tap Room & Kitchen
Muchacho Alegre

Restaurant Directory

Other Exciting Opportunities

LOVE

While the 611 is the obvious star of the show, we're pleased to announce the LOVE letters will also be in attendance the last two weekends of excursions (October 26 through November 5). It's one more chance to add a LOVE sighting to your photo album, and a great way to memorialize your train trip!

Area Events

Catch an event or participate in another activity surrounding your excursion. There are many things happening in Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County this fall, plus it's peak foliage season! See and do all you can!

October 5-8: Dressage Finals at Virginia Horse Center
October 6: Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors perform at Lime Kiln Theater
October 7: Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery Harvest Festival in Raphine
October 7: 17th Annual McCormick Farm Day in Raphine
October 13-14: The LargeCarMag Southern Classic Truck Show at White's Truck Stop
October 14: Mountain Day Festival in Buena Vista
October 14: Spectacle: A Wild Notion at Boxerwood Gardens
October 14: Washington & Lee University (W&L) Generals hosts the Ferrum College Panthers for Hall of Fame Weekend
October 14-15: House Mountain Horse Show at Virginia Horse Center
October 17-22: Team Penning National Finals at Virginia Horse Center
October 21: Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets welcome Samford University Bulldogs for Family Weekend
October 21: Goose Creek Horse Show at Virginia Horse Center
October 21: 27th Annual Wade's Mill Apple Butter Festival at Wade's Mill
October 22: Washington & Lee Intercollegiate Horse Show at Virginia Horse Center
October 26-29: SWVA Hunter/Jumper Finals at Virginia Horse Center
October 28: VMI hosts The University of Tennessee Chattanooga at Foster Stadium
October 28: Southern Virginia University (SVU) Knights welcome Greensboro College Pride for Homecoming Weekend
November 1-5: Virginia Horse Center Eventing Show at Virginia Horse Center
November 4: Chessie Trail Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and 26.2 Relay
November 4: SVU hosts Belhaven University Blazers
November 4: W&L welcomes Bridgewater College Eagles for Young Alumni Weekend
November 5: Ecco Adesso 5K/10K

More Events

About the Norfolk & Western Class J 611

An icon, the 611 is the last remaining Class J steam locomotive of its kind. It and 13 others were built in Roanoke between 1941 and 1950. The 611 was entered into service on May 29, 1950 and ran regular passenger service until 1959. Its storied history includes the title of National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, per the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The 611 is owned and operated by the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia.

The Norfolk & Western Class J 611 is being offered for the Shenandoah Valley Limited in partnership between the Virginia Museum of Transportation and Virginia Scenic Railway.

Last Updated 9/13/23