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| VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION |
July 2010 |
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BREAKING NEWS! |
Plans call for steam to ride the Norfolk Southern rails again, through excursion program with TVRM. More...
Raising steam fires up hope for train enthusiasts, stoking dreams that Roanoke's 611 could take part. More... |
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Greetings!
Every July 4, we stop and remember our heritage and the brave men and women who fought and won our nation's independence.
Every day in this Museum, we celebrate a significant part of what has made this nation great: transportation!
Because of transportation, people can go to work or school or on vacation, and come back home again. Because of transportation, we have access to products from beyond our own backyards. Transportation built our communities and has made our way of life possible. Many people have worked hard in this industry, and many more continue to innovate every day, to make transportation more effective, affordable, and green.
In July, we invite you to visit and reflect on our heritage. We are open July 4.
Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr.
Executive Director
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Tom Cox and the 1923 Piedmont | One of a Kind Virginia Car Comes Home
Star City Motor Madness to donate rare 1923 Piedmont Touring Car
After a 17-year search, a unique Virginia automotive treasure has been found. Star City Motor Madness has acquired a 1923 Bush model touring car built by the Piedmont Motor Car Company of Lynchburg, VA which will be donated to the Virginia Museum of Transportation for permanent display.
"This car becomes one of the most significant pieces in our collection," said Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., the Museum's executive director. "With our focus on Virginia, it's certainly the most historically significant vehicle we could display. We are enormously grateful to Star City Motor Madness for this incredible gift. As Virginia's Official Transportation Museum, we are honored to be able to display the one car that best represents Virginia's automotive heritage."
Piedmont Motor Company has the distinction of being the only automobile manufacturer originally chartered in Virginia that mass-produced cars in the state. Finding the car was "a high point in automotive archeology," said Star City Motor Madness co-chair Tom Cox, who is also the Museum's past president. "Everyone assumed there weren't any more Piedmont cars anywhere." In fact, the vehicle had been in storage in New York State since 1959. It is one of only two Piedmont cars known to still exist and the only one in mostly original condition. After the car is prepared for display, it will be moved into the Museum later this summer. |
Members of the Association of Colored Trainmen and Locomotive Firemen, Inc. and the Ladies Auxiliary Association of Colored Trainmen, in front of the Gainsboro Library, Roanoke, VA circa 1937. Photo courtesy of the Harrison Museum of African American Culture, Roanoke, VA. | 12th Annual African-American N&W Heritage Celebration: July 10 During the day, tour a locomotive simulator from noon-3pm. NS employees with ID will be admitted for half price all day.
The Special Heritage Celebration Program is 6:30-8:30pm, featuring David Cobbs, Jr., Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity, Norfolk Southern Corporation. Recipients of the group's two new scholarships at Virginia Western Community College will be announced. Hors d'oeuvres, silent auction and raffle of railroad items and reprints. The evening program is free to the public, but seating is limited. Please call 540.342.5670 by July 6, 2010 to reserve your place. Sponsored by Norfolk Southern.
The African-American N&W Heritage Celebration Group meets monthly at the Museum to preserve the achievements of African-Americans who worked for the Norfolk & Western Railway. Its members are seeking profiles of any African-American men who worked on the railroad, including laborers, blacksmiths, dining car waiters, material handlers and conductors. The goal is to gather information for a new book, From Cotton to Silk, a compilation of African-Americans' progress from lower level jobs to higher paying positions. The book also will show how these railroad workers supported their families and educated their children. To submit profiles or for more information, call Al Holland at 540-362-5578; Carl Tinsley at 540-362-2419, or Carroll Swain at 540-389-8788. |
Gene Wyss with his family's collection of matchbox toys, now on display | Oh the fun we had: Matchbox Cars from 1953-1968 roll into view The Wyss Family of Roanoke has generously loaned 350 of the family's collection of Matchbox die cast toys which are now on display near the Museum's O-gauge model railroad. The display includes "A" cars (first editions) of the first 75 vehicles produced, plus many "Models of Yesteryear", and "Kings." In addition to the replicas of cars and trucks, look closely and you'll find many other vehicles, including trains, boats, tractors, horsedrawn wagons, and more. Many of the toys are rare models with gray wheels instead of black. "All of these toys have been loved, and some have been loved a lot," said Gene Wyss. All of them bring back memories. |
We served a lot of cake! | Celebrating the 611's birthday with 1,700 of her closest friends!
Brett Cooper sent us this drawing of 611 | Even though many of her out-of-state fans had to send their regrets, the Class J 611 enjoyed a huge crowd that turned out on June 19 to celebrate her 60th anniversary. In addition to our fantastic guests, we have a lot of other folks to thank: Advance Auto Parts for sponsoring the event, Q99FM Radio, and everybody involved in bringing the models, making the cakes, running the rail speeder rides, setting up the balloons, and so much more! Thanks also to our many volunteers who were on hand to refill the drink coolers, answer questions, empty the trash, and keep the day going smoothly--we wouldn't have had as much fun without you! |
Announcing the Train Lovers Package at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center  Traveling from out of town? Consider a stay at the N&W's historic railroad hotel, The Hotel Roanoke! Now offering a Train Lovers Package which includes accomodations overlooking NS' mainline tracks, breakfast for two in the Regency Room, and tickets for two to the O. Winston Link Museum and the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Visit the Hotel Roanoke's web site for information and reservations. |
Make Downtown Roanoke your destination for a fun day!
 The Virginia Museum of Transportation is part of a program to make a great day in Roanoke even more affordable. Visit www.destinationdowntownroanoke.com to download a coupon good for $1 off admission at participating attractions. Show your coupon and save a dollar for every member of your family. You can use your coupon one time per museum, or return for multiple visits through October 31, 2010!
Participating attractions include Center in the Square; History Museum of Western Virginia; O. Winston Link Museum; Science Museum of Western Virginia; Taubman Museum of Art and Virginia Museum of Transportation, all located within easy walking distance from convenient parking. While you're Downtown, explore its beautiful Historic Roanoke City Market, unique boutiques, and great restaurants.
The Destination Downtown Roanoke promotion is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Roanoke. |
 Save $5 on the most popular train set in our Store!
Melissa and Doug Figure 8 Train Set: now ONLY $27, now through August 31, 2010. Melissa and Doug cars and locomotives are well-built and compatible with all major wooden track sets, such as Thomas and Brio. Additional cars are available. Offer cannot be combined with other discounts. Good while supplies last.
New!! Simulator 2010 Engineers Edition: Hard-to-find train simulator program. Create and operate the Railroad of your dreams on your PC. Includes the Great American Train Ride 4-disc collector's DVD set.
Dining by Rail: The History and the Recipes of America's Golden Age of Railroad Cuisine by James D. Porterfield. Photographs, histories, and 250 recipes from 48 railroad lines bring back the romance of traveling by rail.
Appetite for America: How Visionary Businessman Fred Harvey Built a Railroad Hospitality Empire That Civilized the Wild West by Stephen Fried. This book chronicles the history of the company that built the nation's first chain of restaurants, lunchrooms, hotels, and bookstores--in fact, the first national chain of anything--which inspired everything from McDonald's and Starbucks to all the major national hotels.
Destinations is open Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. Call to order: 540-342-5670. |
More great things to do in Virginia's Rail Heritage Region!
The Norfolk & Western Historical Society Archives Committee holds its next work session July 8-11. To participate, email NWHS President Ron Davis. The Blue Ridge Chapter, National Railway Historical Society holds its monthly membership meeting on July 14 and its quarterly fun meeting on July 28. Both meetings begin at 6pm with dinner at Charley's Restaurant in Lynchburg. The Chapter is also planning Lynchburg Rail Day, August 14, 9am-4pm. This annual model train show, a Lynchburg tradition, features a variety of model layouts with operating trains plus a children's corner. Concessions and lunch will be served throughout the day. Admission is only $6 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free! The Roanoke Chapter, National Railway Historical Society holds its next Chapter meeting on July 15, at 7:30pm in the Auditorium at the O. Winston Link Museum. The Chapter announces its plans for another weekend of rail excursions this fall. On Saturday, November 6, a round trip is planned from Roanoke to Danville, VA, and on Sunday, November 7, the Chapter will again offer the very popular roundtrip to Bluefield, WV. Save the dates! Details are being worked out now. The C&O Historical Society is now accepting reservations for its 41st Annual Conference, to be held August 4 - 8 at the Berkeley Hotel in Richmond. The Conference includes a full slate of tours, speakers and book signings, and is also a modeler's symposium. Attendees are encouraged to bring modeling projects, photographs, and artifacts for display. Registration is $40. Click here for conference information and to register. The O. Winston Link Museum announces documentRoanoke!, a juried photography contest and exhibition. The Museum is seeking images by photographers at all levels that convey specific experiences in the Roanoke Valley. Entries will be accepted through August 13. A group of images will be selected for exhibition October 8 - January 13, 2011 at the Museum. For entry guidelines and prize information, please visit the Museum's Facebook event page or email programs@linkmuseum.org. |
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