Norfolk & Western shop forces have just completed the building of Class J 4-8-4 streamlined steam locomotive #611 on May 30, 1950 and are showing it off to families and friends. The J was rolled out onto the turntable while visiting Nickel Plate PA-1 190 looks on and a GM demonstrator has just been serviced. Flying overhead is a 3-year-old Bell 47 helicopter with dignitaries checking out the celebration. OK - admittedly (as if anyone was buying that to begin with) this was the stage on May 30, 2014 at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina, and amazingly all of the machines featured in the photo - helicopter model inclusive - were 1950 or earlier! Thank you to the NCTM and Norfolk Southern for taking us all back in time to the age of the Streamliners and the Virginia Museum of Transportation for celebrating the 611's birthday and the launch of restoration at the Streamliners event.
