Hat tip, Jeff Sturgeon. I note that the creation of this program directly led to the Virginia Museum of Transportation’s decision to study whether the J-611 can be restored to track-worthiness (click here to read further.) From my Inbox to you:

Roanoke departure added to 21st Century Steam schedule for March 17

NORFOLK, VA. – A round trip between Roanoke and Lynchburg, Va., on Sunday, March 17, has been added to the previously announced 21st Century Steam excursions. The train, powered by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s (TVRM) steam locomotive SOU 630, will leave Roanoke at 11 a.m. for a 4.5-hour round trip. Tickets can be purchased at TVRM’s web site at www.tvrail.com.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum was founded in 1961 in Chattanooga to create an interpretive operating museum of historic equipment and artifacts in an authentic setting. Today it operates an extensive schedule of historic and scenic trains in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia, supported by its East Chattanooga shop facility. TVRM is the largest operating
historical excursion railroad in the Southeast. In 2012, more than 100,000 people visited the museum or rode on TRVM-sponsored 21st Century Steam excursions.

21st Century Steam is a partnership between Norfolk Southern and TVRM to operate steam-powered excursions throughout the territory Norfolk Southern serves. More information is available on the 21st Century Steam website at www.21stcenturysteam.com.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial products.