The restored J-Class 611 steam engine will return to Manassas in June for the annual Railway Heritage Festival.
The 1950’s-era steam locomotive was fully restored and made its debut excursion last summer with several stops around Virginia, including Manassas. Thousands came to the Manassas rail festival to get a glimpse of the train the steamed into town.
The operators of the 611 will once again this year offer excursion rides from Manassas to Front Royal. The “American” route will take passengers through Virginia wine country, past Civil War ruins, non-stop to Front Royal and back again.
Three excursions will be offered over the weekend of the festival June 4 and 5. Morning trips on Saturday and Sunday leave the Manassas Train Station in Downtown at 8 a.m. and return at 12:30 p.m. A Sunday afternoon excursion leaves the Downtown station at 2 p.m. and returns at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for the trip are sold online range between $129 per person for coach, to $899 for a suite that will seat four people. The locomotive was restored thanks to private donations, and keeps rolling because of donations and revenues generated through tickets sales from these excursion trips, said Virginia Transportation Museum spokesman Walker Nelms.
The Manassas excursion is the final of four trips the 611 will make this year. The three others include trips from Greensboro, N.C. on April 23 and 24, from Roanoke to Lynchburg, and Roanoke to Radford on May 7 and 8.
Last year, the 611 stopped in five towns, including Manassas, and generated between $4.5 and $7 million from for the state, according to information provided by the Virginia Transportation Museum. More than 200,000 came out to see the fully restored locomotive last year.
The locomotive captured the attention of city leaders in Manassas who boarded the train last June before the rail festival. This year’s Manassas Railway Heritage Festival is June 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Recent Stories
Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors easily approved the fiscal year 2025 budget with a few changes on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to take effect on July 1.
School officials in Prince William County say Antisemitic symbols were found painted on the side of Coles Elementary and Benton Middle schools near Woodbridge.
Manassas City Council held a public hearing on the city’s budget, as residents once again are facing the prospect of paying more in taxes.
On April 22, 2024, at approximately 2:16 a.m., the Manassas City Police Department responded to a 911 call for shots fired in the 9100 block of Winterset Drive.
To celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10, 2024), Clean Air Partners is working with A Few Cool Hardware Stores to exchange DC, Maryland and Virginia residents’ gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers at select Ace Hardware locations in the region. DMV residents who turn in their gas-powered lawn tools will receive a FREE Ego Power+ replacement including batteries and chargers, while supplies last.
Compared to gas, electric lawn equipment can reduce emissions, noise pollution, health risks and maintenance costs and time. The program aims to remove about a hundred gas-powered polluting tools from yards in the greater Baltimore-Washington region.
The exchanges will take place the weekends of May 17-19, 2024, and May 31-June 2, 2024, at A Few Cool Hardware Stores network of employee-owned Ace Hardware stores in the DC and Baltimore metro areas. To participate and get your free Ego Power+ lawn tool, sign up at https://qrco.de/CAPExchange to reserve your tool and select your trade-in date and location.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges? Do stress and anxiety seem to dominate your thoughts? At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand that navigating mental health can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Our team of compassionate therapists is here to guide you on your journey toward inner peace and emotional well-being. With a client-centered approach, we tailor our therapy sessions to meet your unique needs and goals. Whether you’re struggling with depression, coping with trauma, or simply seeking personal growth, we provide a safe and supportive space for healing and growth.
Embark on a path of self-discovery with our comprehensive range of therapy services, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and holistic approaches. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to helping you cultivate resilience, develop coping skills, and foster a greater sense of self-awareness.
Free Irish Music Concert
Welcoming Spring with music from the Emerald Isle, the New Dominion Choraliers offer a FREE concert on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.
Joined by Legacy Brass and members of Old
Spring Ceili: An Irish Music Festival
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County and McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance invite you to join them at our Ceili, a grand celebration of Irish music and dance.
A gathering of performance groups throughout Prince William County
