By David Purtell

david.purtell@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — The sun came out just in time to brighten the moment for several train enthusiasts who came to see the newly-restored Norfolk & Western Class J 611 engine, a steam locomotive, as it came over the Yadkin River on its way back to the N.C. Transportation Museum Thursday afternoon. It was coming back from Greensboro on a test run.

Owned by the Virginia Museum of Transportation, the 611 was fully inspected and restored at the Spencer shops – a process that took almost a year.

The 611, originally built around 1950, will be heading back to Virginia soon. A send-off celebration for the engine is  Saturday at the Transportation Museum.  And a photo charter for the 611 will be held May Thursday at the museum.