VMI Brothers Volunteer on the 611

Two brothers from Daleville, Virginia, are toiling in the muggy summer heat, doing exhausting work, all while having the time of their lives. Cadet Andrew Quesenberry ’26 and his younger brother, Ryan, who will be matriculating as a member of the VMI Rat Mass of 2026+3 this August, are spending their summer as volunteers at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke doing maintenance work on the Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611, the iconic steam locomotive built locally in 1950.

Ever since they can remember, the brothers have been around tools, helping their father, Travis Quesenberry ’99, and their grandfather work on car engines and tinkering on other projects. They are both huge train enthusiasts, so it is a natural progression that they would find themselves performing a labor of love on the impressively massive locomotive.

Upon first setting sight on the 611, both young and old are instantly awestruck by the size. Affectionately referred to with feminine pronouns, she stands 16 feet high, is 109 feet long, and weighs 494,000 pounds. Despite her imposing proportions, she projects a charming and endearing personality. She is considered one of the most powerful and technologically advanced steam locomotives ever built, and is the only Class J—a class of 14 streamlined steam locomotives built between 1941–50—remaining. She was named a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1984 and is the official steam engine of the Commonwealth. She is considered an engineering marvel by many rail enthusiasts and historians.

As youngsters, Andrew ’26 and Ryan Quesenberry begin their fascination with trains as they stand in awe of the 611.—Photo courtesy of Cadet Andrew Quesenberry ’26.

Andrew shared that their interest in trains began when they were very young. Their father was in the military and often traveled away from home, so their mother, Sarah, searched out activities to keep the boys busy and entertained. “She would bring us to the transportation museum, and with every trip—and there were many—our interest in the 611 grew,” said Andrew. “When plans were announced that the 611 would be restored and running again, we were thrilled. We often returned to the museum to watch the progress of the restoration.”

Both Andrew and Ryan view their summer volunteer service on the locomotive as a dream come true. And they owe it in large part to Andrew’s VMI uniform. “I was in Goshen during the 611 fall excursions in 2023, and Scott Lindsay, chief mechanical officer for VMT, recognized me as a VMI cadet. He has an appreciation for the military and invited me to climb up into the cab and look around. A couple of months later, after the 611 returned to the museum, I went back to see her and met with Scott. We started talking, and after I told him both my brother and I have mechanical skills, he encouraged us to come work on the locomotive.”

Ryan refused to believe the opportunity was true until he arrived at the museum for his first day of work. “I’ll always remember arriving, meeting everybody, and being part of something bigger than myself. When this thing travels, she brings a crowd with her, and I’m proud to be part of the crew and able to share my knowledge about her with others. She’s part of Roanoke’s history and Virginia’s history. Our job now is to keep her running and help the younger generations stay interested.”

Andrew agreed. “When we see kids come and take pictures in front of the locomotive, as we did when we were children, it reminds us of why we’re working on her,” he reflected. “We didn’t have the opportunity to see her running when we were younger, but now that she is in operation again, we’re hopeful that when the kids see her traveling down the tracks and hear her whistle blow, it will spike their interest.”

Zac McGinnis, steam operations manager at VMT, is appreciative of the two brothers being part of the 611 crew. “They fit in very well and bring with them the VMI standards of leadership and following directions,” said McGinnis. “They are extremely helpful. For lack of better terms, it takes a whole army to keep this thing going. I equate it to the wheels on the steam locomotive. You got all the spokes, and every person is a spoke, making the wheels turn. Like Andrew and Ryan, I started out as a little kid loving this stuff. I’m lucky enough to be involved in a leadership position now and am considered one of the old guys on the crew. I want to mentor these kids, like my mentors did for me, and pass the torch on to them.”

The Quesenberry brothers graduated from Lord Botetourt High School. At VMI, Andrew is majoring in international studies. He will graduate in May and commission into the U.S. Army. Ryan plans to major in civil engineering.

More about VMT and the 611 may be found here. More coverage on the Quesenberry brothers may be found here.