Chasing Norfolk & Western 611 between Manassas and Front Royal, Virginia

In just two weeks, Norfolk & Western 4-6-4 Class J No. 611 will once again ply the rails on Norfolk Southern’s B Line between Manassas and Front Royal, Virginia.  Three trips are scheduled on this line-a morning run on June 6^th and morning and afternoon runs on June 7^th.  All trips will depart Manassas and run west to Riverton Junction in Front Royal and return to Manassas.  The excursion trains won’t be running as fast as they will be running on other Norfolk Southern lines, however obtaining shots at multiple locations may be a bit of a challenge.

Since both morning runs will be heading west in the morning, if the sun is out lighting angles will be wrong at many locations.  Lighting on the return trips, and the afternoon run, will be better.  Interstate Route 66 and Virginia Route 55 closely parallel the line between Gainesville and Linden, providing easy access.  Leaving Manassas, Wellington Road closely parallels the line all the way to Gainesville, 10 miles.  Sun angles along Wellington Road in the morning are very bad, as expected.  There are a few open places along this stretch, which may be OK for the afternoon run, however Wellington Road is usually busy, and the excursions are going to bring out pacers shooting video from their vehicles, which will be very difficult to get around since this road is mostly single lane in both directions.  

The former wide-open shot at Gainesville is no more-the track is now encased in concrete tunnels under I-66 and U.S. Route 29.  Just to the west of I-66 there is intense development along the track to Haymarket, three miles to the west.  Leaving Gainesville, the line follows Route 55 all the way to Linden, about 40 miles.  From Wellington Road, if you want to get onto Route 55 to get to locations just to the west, as you cross Route 29 go straight—this is Washington Street for a ways, and then it becomes Route 55--John Marshall Highway.  If you want to get to locations further west fast, get onto I-66 here.

If you stay on 55, the next crossing will be at Thoroughfare, about four miles.  If the sun is out the lighting will be terrible for the morning trip, but it should be very good in the afternoon for a head-on shot from Route 55.  

Continuing west on Route 55, the next crossing is at Broad Run.  This is a straight-on, shooting directly into the sun, uninspiring shot in the morning.  The lighting may be OK in the afternoon.  To get to this spot, look for the Broad Run post office on left, go about 1Ž4 mile and turn right on Bust Head Road-Route 628-go under I-66 and take this road to the track.  After getting this shot be sure to go back to Route 55 to continue west, do not continue down Route 628 as it is a slow gravel road.

A Norfolk Southern Office Car Special heads west through Belvoir in the late morning.

The next good spot is at The Plains.  A fairly good spot is just west of the former Southern Railway station from the shoulder of road the station is on, and another good shot is from the shoulder of Route 55 100 yards further.

Leaving The Plains, a very good location is at Belvoir, where photo runbys were held during the Southern Railway/Norfolk Southern excursion era.  The train should be fairly well side lit here on the morning runs. To get to Belvoir, go west from The Plains on Route 55 about 2-3 miles and turn left on Belvoir Road. Go about a mile to the tracks, turn your car around and park along the road facing Route 55 for a quick getaway.

The next crossing is at Marshall, a mile to the west.  There are wide open spaces here on both sides of the crossing, however the lighting for the west bound morning trips will be terrible if the sun is out. The lighting should be OK for the trips returning from Front Royal, and the Sunday afternoon trip.  There is a tall concrete feed mill tower next to the tracks which makes a nice “prop”.

A Norfolk Southern Office Car Special heads east through Marshall in the late morning.

From here, continue west on Route 55 for a short ways and look for I-66 and go west on I-66 four miles to Route 17, and go north to Delaplane.  There are several open, but somewhat tight spots here.  It will be very difficult to beat the train from Marshall to Delaplane.  

If the skies are cloudy, a good shot of a west bound run in the morning is available at the town of Markham.  A very old brick ex-Southern Railway station is on the south side of the tracks at Markham.

Just to the west of Linden the B Line crosses over Route 55 on a short concrete bridge still labeled “Southern Railway”.  Two fairly good shots are on the west side of this bridge, right at the bridge.

A Norfolk Southern Office Car Special heads east through Delaplane in the late morning.

Beyond this location Route 55 goes west, and the track goes north through inaccessible areas.  The next shots are along Happy Creek Road just to the east of Front Royal. To get to Happy Creek Road, backtrack on Route 55 east towards Linden about a half mile and turn left on Dismal Hollow Road, Route 647.  Take this road north until it ends at Happy Creek Road and turn left.  The track parallels this road for a couple miles, the track is north of the road so sun angles are great, there are many good photos spots along the road, and the train should be going slow through this area.  It is doubtful you will be able to beat the train here from the previous location.  The train is going to be turned on the wye between the former Southern Railway and Norfolk & Western’s Shenandoah Line at Riverton Junction, which is just west of Front Royal.  This area is now gated and posted with “No Trespassing” signs.  Shots of the train being turned may be possible with a 300 MM lens at the gate.

A good place to begin the east bound chase back to Manassas is at Front Royal Junction, milepost 50. To get to this location, as you are heading west on Happy Creek Road turn right on Manassas Drive and drive to the tracks.  Wide open spots here—however do NOT go onto NS property.  After getting a shot here go back to Happy Creek Road, turn left and chase eastward.  There are signals two miles to the east at milepost 48, easily photographed from Route 55.

Just like during the days of the Southern Railway/Norfolk Southern excursion era, there will be caravans of chasers all along the route.  Like Samuel Phillips said in his posting about the trips out of Roanoke, it will probably be best if you pick a location, get there early, and let the train come to you.  With a bit of planning, and a lot of patience, you should be rewarded with some great shots.