Chasing Norfolk & Western 611 between Lynchburg and Petersburg

Job well done to Trains and contributors for providing thrilling video and shot-by-shot photography following Norfolk & Western No. 611.

While I am more of a folding chair-and-book train watcher than swift-footed train chaser, I can offer visitors to central Virginia a few tips on where best to view 611 as she proudly steams between Lynchburg and Petersburg on June 13 and 14 excursions.

First, the bad news. There are no tunnel portals or nice mountain landscapes for framing your shots in this area and the available views are often on very tight angles. Long stretches of the route are flat and the right-of-way is often concealed by the forest canopy. The good news? U.S. Route 460 parallels much of the Norfolk & Western line the excursion will follow, making travel easier. The highway is mostly a divided, four-lane road running through rural Virginia. If you are coming from out of the area and don't wish to overnight in either of the excursion endpoints, there are at least four chain hotels located in the Farmville area.

Since these are 7:30 a.m. departures, you will have the advantage of the morning light on the eastbound trips from Lynchburg. The afternoon departure time from Petersburg is 2:30 p.m., and I found the light not particularly kind as I proceeded west from there. Others have pointed out in Chasing 611 posts on the Trains website that you should try to pick a location or two and then enjoy the view. If you go out both days, you can then mix up your location choices. Be aware, Route 460 does go through several small towns where it seems that there is a sheriff's car close by when you are in a hurry, so you will want to mind your traffic manners, steam-train excursion or not. Be careful and be safe. Obey the law at all times.

That said, here are what I consider the best tips, town-by-town:
LYNCHBURG: ­ I have always found Lynchburg a challenge to easily and quickly get around, so I will point you instead to Concord, which is near the top of the grade coming out of Lynchburg.

CONCORD (Milepost N190, ­approximately): ­ Head south off of U.S. 460 on Phoebe Pond Road (County Route 609); the tracks are just down the hill at a private crossing. The classic N&W color position light signals are still in place, but not for long. I would try to set up on the south side of the crossing for a morning shot on the second day of the excursion, since the train will still be working upgrade from Lynchburg.

APPOMATTOX: ­ Downtown Appomattox is about 8 miles east of Concord. It is slow going getting in and out of this county seat and I would instead take the highway bypass around town. However, I would be inclined to try for an afternoon return trip here on the second day, and the view will be good from Linden Street, on the south side of the tracks, with the best view just a block east from the Court Street crossing. There is a gentle curve here with an open view. The N&W station, located on the north side of the tracks, will provide a nice backdrop. The station serves as the area visitor¹s information center (with restrooms), and a pleasant coffee shop is across the street from the station.

PAMPLIN (Milepost N168): ­ Pamplin is about 11 miles east of Appomattox. It will be easy to get in and out of Pamplin by following U.S. Business 460 off of U.S. 460 from either the west or the east. For a long time, Pamplin was the junction between the more direct, original N&W line, which ran through Farmville, and the newer, lower-grade line, which heads cross-country to the south, where it makes the connection with the former Virginian Railway line. The original line through Farmville is now a rail-trail: High Bridge Trail State Park. For an eastbound, morning view of the excursion, try the location of the N&W Pamplin station. The station has been restored by the town, but the view is very tight here and sometimes obstructed by lumberyard equipment. You can get a longer view on the far side of the road crossing at the end of the little town. Crossing the tracks over to the stub-end remnant of former line to Farmville clearly puts you on railroad property.

For a westbound, afternoon view of the excursion, go to a private crossing not far from the west end of U.S. Business 460. Turn on to Flower Lane (County Route 1108), look for the private crossing at 203 Flower Lane, park, and walk to the crossing (there is no parking space near the crossing itself). A gentle curve starts just off the long tangent at Milepost N170. The roads along the southerly, lower-grade route the excursion will follow from Pamplin to Burkeville do not favor chasing the train, but I believe there is a fair chance of getting ahead of the train by proceeding directly east on U.S. 460 to the junction at Burkeville, while the excursion takes the longer way around. Follow U.S. 460 east from Pamplin approximately 32 miles and then turn onto U.S. Business 460, which is 2nd Street in town. Go east directly into Burkeville, where you should look for Oak Street/State Route 724 on your right. Turn onto Oak Street and park. One note regarding the intersection of U.S. 460 and U.S. 360 around Burkeville: Heading into town, and then to/from Crewe, be sure NOT to get on U.S. 360; keep on U.S. 460 and Business 460.

BURKEVILLE: ­ For me at least, getting good photos of trains here seems like a better idea in theory than in practice. Burkeville was the junction where the low grade route rejoined the original main, but it was first and still is the junction with the Southern Railway¹s route into Richmond. The handsome joint Southern-N&W station, originally built among the junction trackage, was moved to the north side of 2nd Street more than a decade ago ­ it is easily spotted as you resume your trip through town. The junction will be apparent and there is a small tangle of trackage here. The first set of tracks you cross is the former Southern line. The second set of tracks is the N&W line. For viewing the eastbound morning trip, you can try for a shot along the N&W Oak Street crossing. Just short of the crossing, you will be standing below grade with a very tight angle. On the far side of the crossing, where there is a very tight but better view, you can potentially become stuck on the wrong side of the crossing by other trains. For viewing the westbound afternoon return trip, a tight but workable view of the long tangent running to the east into Crewe is available along 1st Street, south of the tracks, just off its intersection with Oak Street.

CREWE: ­ Downtown Crewe is about 4.5 miles from Burkeville. Getting through Crewe will be the slowest going part of the drive to Petersburg as U.S. 460 proceeds through town in unmodified, two-lane form with traffic lights. Crewe was founded as an N&W town and division point, and it remains a crew change point with an active yard. The yard itself is largely hemmed in with trees, the current offices are inaccessible, and all entrances are clearly posted as "No Trespassing." You can try for a photo facing west towards the yard from the side edge of the State Route 49 / The Falls Road bridge, as the bridge crosses over the east throat of the yard (there is fencing on the bridge). 

The Crewe Railroad Museum, a modest museum in town next to the yard, stands near the site of the long-gone roundhouse; a water tower from the steam days still exists, with an image of 611 painted on it. If you do not wish to chase the train all the way to Petersburg, consider coming back to the museum to check out the old photos and train layout inside, and then having a look at 2-8-0 No. 606 and restored N&W coach No. 1723 on the grounds. Adjacent to the museum is a small park with a view of the yards. Gas and a combination fast food franchise / convenience store is located four blocks east of the State Route 49 / Falls Road bridge, and you can have your lunch at the park near the museum.

BLACKSTONE: ­ Blackstone is 10 miles east of Crewe but is bypassed by modern U.S. 460. Getting through town is slow going, but if you are planning to follow the train on both days, on the second day you might want to check out the sweeping curve at the station site on Mill Street (you can see the concrete floor of the station).

WILSONS (Milepost N109): ­ Nine miles east from Blackstone is Wilsons. Turn south off U.S. 460 onto Springston Road (County Route 639), then onto Wilson Road, and you will be at the crossing. There are open views here looking both east and west.

FORD (Milepost N102): ­ Ford is about 8 miles east of Wilsons. Turn north off U.S. 460 onto Baltimore Road (County Route 622) and proceed a short distance to the crossing, where there are views facing east and west.

ADDISON (Milepost N89): ­ About 12 or so miles east of Ford, just off U.S. 460, is the crossing at Olgers Road (County Route 632). The views are very tight here, and if you are planning to shoot video, there is a lot of traffic noise. Just to the east of this crossing is where the original N&W line, running northeastward into Petersburg, diverges from the Petersburg Belt Line, which continues east, bypassing Petersburg to the south. These lines reconnect at the wye on the southeast side of Petersburg. Unless the train first loops around at the wye, if you stop in Addison you will not be able to meet the train as it comes in to Petersburg. To go into Petersburg to look at the train during its layover, follow U.S. 460 east to U.S. Route 1/Boydton Plank Road. Turn left onto U.S. 1, which becomes Washington Street, and continue into Petersburg. After you cross under the CSX (former Atlantic Coast Line) bridge, U.S. 1 splits directionally. Bear right (east) onto Wythe Street and follow it until you get to Sycamore Street. Turn left (north) onto Sycamore Street and follow it all the way until it ends at Old Street, and find a place to park. Walk north to the N&W station.

PETERSBURG: ­ It will be crowded in Petersburg and the midday sun will be present. You can get an easterly, overhead view from the stairs leading up to the U.S. 1 bridge, or from the sidewalk on the bridge itself. There is no sidewalk on the west side of the bridge. In addition to being able to view the stopped excursion train itself, there are some other nearby items of interest. The excursion train will pass by, but not stop at, the restored N&W passenger station. According to Don Traser¹s Virginia Railway Depots, this station is very similar in appearance to the Roanoke station prior to its Loewy remodeling. Also near the tracks is the original 1854 Southside Railroad station. The 1925 Richmond-Petersburg interurban station is a block south of the N&W station, and the small, awning canopy for the former station stop is at the level of the U.S. 1 bridge. The headhouse for the 1900 Seaboard Air Line station is a few blocks away at 208 N. Market Street. A few miles to the north, in the town of Ettrick, is the 1950¹s Atlantic Coast Line combination station for Petersburg, still in use by Amtrak.

An important note of caution: when I was checking out a possible photo location (which I rejected due to safety and parking concerns), an NS employee stopped by to see what I was doing. He warned me to stay off the tracks and politely but firmly admonished me to respect railroad property, pointing out that everything within 15 feet of the tracks was railroad property that was used for a business, not entertainment. He worried about the potential for injuries from the crowds that will get too close to the tracks for the excursion. Finally, he allowed that "the steam locomotive is a great, beautiful thing, but it was a pain in the [neck] in the '80's, and it¹s a pain in the [neck] now." So, please be sure to be safe, and to represent our hobby in the best possible manner. It would be a shame if something unfortunate occurred while we are making the most of enjoying and celebrating 611¹s return to glory.

Many, many thanks are in order to Norfolk Southern, the Fire Up 611! Committee, the Virginia Museum of Transportation, and the Committee's many donors for making the 611s return to steam and the excursion program possible. And if you get to Pamplin and Burkeville before me on Saturday morning, please make a little room for me! Good luck!