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The Norfolk & Western Railway rail line runs through Buffalo Gap in Augusta County, Virginia.
Credit: Leslie W. Kipp/Virginia Scenic Railway
Virginia’s Most Scenic Fall Train Ride Is Back For 5 Weekends—With a Vintage Steam Engine and Peak Foliage Views
The “Queen of Steam” will roll through the Shenandoah Valley for five weekends only, offering a scenic journey through autumn’s finest.
By Kinsey Gidick
Published on September 3, 2025
Excerpt:
This September, Virginia travelers have a rare chance to ride behind the legendary No. 611, the sole surviving Class J 4-8-4 steam locomotive, a sleek black beauty once hailed as the “Queen of Steam.” The special edition Shenandoah Valley Limited journey will run for just five weekends, beginning Sept. 26, carrying passengers through a blaze of autumn color in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. With its billowing plumes of smoke set against fiery ridgelines, the excursion offers a one-of-a-kind way to see Virginia’s peak foliage season.