Roanoke, VA — The Virginia Museum of Transportation Inc. (VMT) is pleased to announce it has been graciously awarded a $15,000 grant from the Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust. The grant directly supported the fabrication of a new drawbar for the iconic Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam locomotive.

The drawbar is the critical steel component that connects the locomotive to its tender. The newly fabricated drawbar replaces the previous drawbar that had been in service since 1956. Historical research and documentation confirm that No. 611 was involved in a well-publicized derailment on January 23, 1956, at Cedar, West Virginia, when the locomotive overturned along the Tug River embankment after entering a curve at excessive speed. During that incident, the original drawbar was destroyed. When No. 611 was re-railed and rebuilt at the railroad’s Roanoke East End Shops (just 13 days later), a replacement drawbar was stamped 1956 and installed, remaining with the locomotive until the summer of 2025.

While the 1956 drawbar continued to successfully pass all required FRA Annual Inspections, including visual inspections and appropriate Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) testing, it was showing signs of age and long-term wear. In the interest of safety, reliability, and long-term preservation, the decision was made to fabricate and install a new drawbar.

Using original engineering drawings graciously provided by the Norfolk & Western Historical Society, and modern AutoCAD design tools, the museum’s mechanical team engineered a new drawbar faithful to original specifications. Marion Machine of Marion, North Carolina, was selected to complete the fabrication and provided exemplary workmanship and service.

The new drawbar underwent rigorous inspection by the fabricating shop, the museum’s mechanical crew, and passed all required FRA drawbar testing. In accordance with federal regulations, where visual inspection alone could not disclose defects, additional NDE methods were employed - each of which the new drawbar successfully passed.

“We are incredibly thankful for the support of the Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust,” said Mendy Flynn, Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of Transportation. “This grant recognizes the museum and No. 611 as providers of living history. We are extremely proud to be the owners and caretakers of a worldwide-known icon like the 611, and partnerships like this make that responsibility possible.”
“This was a pretty big (and heavy) job, no pun intended,” said Zac McGinnis, Steam Operations Manager for No. 611. “It took a team of veteran, seasoned crew members working side-by-side with our younger crew to make this happen. It was truly a team effort and another great example of teaching the next generation what it takes to keep mainline steam locomotives alive.”

With the new drawbar installed, No. 611 successfully operated 30 fall foliage excursions over five weekends in September and October 2025, in partnership with the Virginia Scenic Railway and the Steam Railroading Institute demonstrating the effectiveness of the upgrade and the continued operational readiness of the locomotive.

For more information about the Virginia Museum of Transportation and Norfolk & Western No. 611, please visit http://www.vmt.org.
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About the Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust
The Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust is a private charitable foundation established on May 15, 1997. The Trust was funded through the generosity of the late Charles G. Patterson, Jr. and his wife, Helen S. Patterson. The Foundation makes grants to eligible, tax-exempt organizations domiciled in the Commonwealth of Virginia.