Making schedules on mountain grades with heavy passenger trains was becoming a challenge to the N&W in the late 30s and a new loco was clearly needed. In the fall of 1941, the road rolled out the first of five new class J 4-8-4s. Combining beauty and brawn, the locos incorporated the latest technology under a graceful streamlined shroud. To handle wartime traffic five more were built in 1943, but to comply with material restrictions, they were built without streamlining (shrouds were applied after the war) and classed as J-1 freight engines. In 1950, a final three were constructed, which were the last steam passenger engines built in America. The class continued to serve through 1959, often in freight service toward the end of their careers. Engine #611 was saved and placed on display at Roanoke, Virginia. The loco was overhauled in the early 1980s for excursion service, and is now displayed at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
 
Models feature authentic exhaust, whistle and bell sounds, as well as working knuckle couplers at front and rear.