Norfolk and Western 1240 was a four-cylinder simple articulated type steam locomotive, built in May 1950 by the Norfolk and Western's (N&W) East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia as part of the N&W's class "A" fleet of fast freight locomotives.
Norfolk and Western (N&W) No. 1240 was manufactured in May 1950 by the Norfolk and Western Railway at their own Roanoke Shops. It was the third member of the final batch of five N&W class A 2-6-6-4 locomotives, Nos. 1238-1242, built with Timken roller bearings and lightweight reciprocating parts. These arrangements reduces roundhouse maintenance costs, reduction in hammer blow on the rails, and making the locomotives run longer without lubrication services.
No. 1240 was retired from active service on the Norfolk and Western Railway on August 26, 1959, when they began replacing steam locomotives with diesel locomotives.
No. 1240 would be fired up again on July 11, 1959 and used on the N&W's Farewell to Steam excursion train along with class Y6b No. 2174. No. 1240 pulled the excursion from Roanoke, Virginia to Bluefield, West Virginia, where the train was transferred to No. 2174. The 2174 pulled it through the N&W's Pocahontas Division to Iaeger, and then it travelled over the Dry Fork Branch to Cedar Bluff. No. 2174 returned the excursion to Bluefield, and then No. 1240 returned the train to Roanoke, when the Farewell to Steam ended, No. 1240 was later sold for scrap.