Axalta Sponsors Restoration of Class J #611 Steam Locomotive

May 26, 2015 | By Business Wire News

GLEN MILLS, Pa.

Axalta Coating Systems went full throttle to sponsor the restoration and celebration of a Norfolk and Western Class J #611 Steam Locomotive at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina on Saturday, May 23.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150526006207/en/

Norfolk & Western Class J #611 Steam Locomotive coated with Axalta Imron Elite makes debut at celebration held on May 23, 2015. (Photo: Axalta Coating Systems)

The Virginia Museum of Transportation and “Fire Up 611” refurbished the legendary Norfolk and Western Class J #611 at N.C. Transportation Museum, where a send-off celebration was held on May 23. Visitors took photographs and were able to see inside the cab of the restored locomotive at the Bob Julian Roundhouse and photograph the engine on the turntable, among other activities. “Axalta was delighted to support the restoration efforts of ‘Fire Up 611’ and sponsor the North Carolina Transportation Museum’s send-off celebration,” stated Jim Napoleoni, Axalta Rail Account Manager. “The railcar, aircraft and other displays help to preserve the history of the transportation industry and provide valuable information for generations to come.”

Shane Harris of Willetts Railcar Services in Spencer, North Carolina and Chris McBride of Freight Car America used Imron 611P^™ clearcoat to restore and paint the iconic steam locomotive. Ken Miller, a local painter, laid down the gold pinstripe and lettering. Axalta’s Tufcote^™ DTM Black, Imron Elite finishing system, Imron Elite color and Imron 611P clearcoat were used on the J #611. “We have built our business around the nostalgia of the good old days when travelling was an adventure,” said Bob Willetts, owner of Willetts Railcar Services. “We take great pride in restoring and refurbishing old rail cars, so using the best rail finishes in the industry is our only choice.”

The J #611 will return to service with excursions between Washington, D.C. and Roanoke, Virginia on May 28.

For more information about Imron Elite, please visit axalta.us/transportation.

About Axalta Coating Systems

Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the materials we coat to last longer. With more than 145 years of experience in the coatings industry, the over 12,000 people of Axalta continue to find ways to serve our more than 120,000 customers in 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axaltacoatingsystems.com and follow us @axalta on Twitter and on LinkedIn.

About the North Carolina Transportation Museum

The N.C. Transportation Museum, located in historic Spencer Shops, the former Southern Railway repair facility is located just five minutes off I-85 at Exit 79 in Spencer, NC, and about an hour from Charlotte, Greensboro or Winston-Salem. The museum is part of the Division of Historic Sites and the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. Find out more at www.nctrans.org, follow the museum @nctrans on Twitter and “like” the museum on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nctrans.