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E-News * Virginia Museum of Transportation and Fire Up 611! * March 24, 2014
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The Virginia Museum of Transportation and the
North Carolina Transportation Museum (NCTM) in
Spencer, North Carolina, reach an agreement
for the NCTM to house the
Norfolk & Western Class J 611 Locomotive
during its restoration
No date has been set for the Class J 611 to move to NCTM.
 | North Carolina Transportation Museum's Bob Julian Roundhouse
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The Virginia Museum of Transportation's Board of Directors and the Fire Up 611! Committee announce an agreement with the North Carolina Transportation Museum & Foundation (NCTMF) in Spencer, North Carolina, to house the iconic Norfolk & Western Class J 611 Steam Passenger Locomotive during her restoration. After the restoration is complete, the Class J 611 will steam back to its home at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia.
No date has been set for the Class J 611 to move to the North Carolina Transportation Museum (NCTM). Before the Class J 611 can move, the Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT) must raise adequate funding to restore the locomotive and ultimately build a preservation and education facility to house her.
"Like us, the North Carolina Transportation Museum strives to preserve and showcase our rail heritage," said Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., executive director of the Virginia Museum of Transportation. "We can't think of a better venue to host the Class J 611 during her much anticipated restoration."
One of the largest buildings on the North Carolina Transportation Museum campus is the 37-stall Bob Julian Roundhouse. The Roundhouse was built in 1924 and is one of the biggest surviving steam era roundhouses left in North America. Its 100-foot turntable and restoration shop are capable of handling a locomotive the size of Class J 611. The museum, located on 57 acres, encompasses 13 historic shop buildings that were part of Southern Railway's largest steam locomotive shop, which dates to 1896.
"The North Carolina Transportation Museum is honored at the opportunity to partner with the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the Fire Up 611 Committee to provide a location for the restoration of this iconic locomotive," said Steve Mersch, NCTMF president. "Speaking on behalf of the museum and foundation employees, volunteers and the local community we are all very excited that once again Historic Spencer Shops will house the repair of a mainline steam locomotive just as it did in decades past."
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The illustration that adorns our Steel. Guts. Glory shirt won a Silver Medal in the
2013 American Advertising Federation's ADDY awards. The shirt is available for sale in our Museum Store.
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Fire Up 611! Campaign wins top honors
The Fire Up 611! Campaign won top honors in the 2013 American Advertising Federation and Blue Ridge Public Relations Society's competitions.
The Fire Up 611! Campaign video won
Best in Show at the Blue Ridge Public
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The Fire Up 611! Campaign recently mailed our second development piece. Will it win a Gold Medal in next year's American Advertising Federation's Competition?
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The Fire Up 611! Campaign also took home
Gold and Silver Medals in the American Advertising Federation's ADDY awards.
The Gold Medal winner was the "The Time is Now" direct mail piece. Access Advertising and Public Relations of Roanoke, Virginia, designed the piece. Bison Printing of Bedford, Virginia, printed the mailer. Photography was supplied by Pete Lerro of
It was mailed to almost 70,000 homes around the world.
An illustration of the Norfolk & Western Class J 611 took home the Silver Medal. Also designed by Access Advertising and Public Relations, the beautiful illustration adorns the " Steel. Guts. Glory." long sleeve shirt and hoodie for sale in our
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Support for Fire Up 611! continues
The fundraising for Fire Up 611! is going strong! To date, the VMT and the Fire Up 611! Committee have raised over $2.3 million. Donations have poured in from every US state and the District of Columbia and 18 countries!
The Fire Up 611! Committee continues to speak with donors daily. "We have every confidence that we'll hit our ambitious fundraising goals," said Fire Up 611! Committee Chairman Preston Claytor. "Excitement and support of the Fire Up 611! project is strong among rail fans worldwide."
The Virginia Museum of Transportation launched the Fire Up 611! Campaign on June 28, 2013. "From the beginning of the campaign, we have always believed that this will happen," Claytor said. "With every donation, we're one step closer to her restoration."
A donation of $611 or higher gets you advance purchase of excursion tickets!
If you make a donation to Fire Up 611! in any amount, your name will be listed on the Wall of Honor. A donation of $611 or more allows you to purchase excursion tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
To learn more about donor benefits and make your donation, visit fireup611.org or mail your donation to:
Virginia Museum of Transportation Fire Up 611! 303 Norfolk Avenue SW Roanoke, VA 24016
If you have questions about making a donation, please call Fran Ferguson, VMT's Director of Development, at 540-342-5670 (ext. 105) or email fferguson@vmt.org. |
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How to Contact Key Members of Fire Up 611!
Donations to Fire Up 611!:
Fran Ferguson, Director of Development
Virginia Museum of Transportation
540-342-5670
Media Inquiries:
Peg McGuire
Director of Communications
Virginia Museum of Transportation
pmcguire@vmt.org
540-342-5670
Fire Up 611! Committee Chairman:
Preston Claytor
pclaytor@fireup611.org
Fire Up 611! Committee Vice Chairman:
James Stump
jstump@fireup611.org
Executive Director, Virginia Museum of Transportation
Bev Fitzpatrick, Jr.
bfitzpatrick@vmt.org
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