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| VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION |
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Visit our Museum Store! |
We've got great books, DVDs, toys, and gifts for train, car, or plane lovers, including really unique and hard-to-find items.
Come in and see a replica of the N&W Shop sign that used to light up Roanoke at night. It is available by custom order.
The Museum Store is open Mon-Sat 10-5 and Sun 1-5. You don't have to pay admission to the Museum to come in and shop!
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Greetings!
We've been really busy behind-the-scenes, making improvements and planning upcoming events. With only five full-time staff members, we really rely on our volunteers!
Recently we counted up all the hours that more than 100 volunteers have so generously given us over the past year: over 7,500 hours, and it really shows! These great people do all our building and exhibit maintenance, pick up trash, move tables and cars and locomotives, mow grass, lead tours, work in the store and front office, care for our flowers and our website, help with events and a zillion other things. Some of these fine folks are pictured below. If you see any of them, please join us in saying "thank you!" Or, consider joining our volunteer corps--there is always something more to do!
The cooler fall weather is perfect for exploring our Rail Yard. Please come see us!
Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr.
Executive Director
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 The Piedmont is coming in October!
Mark your calendars now for two very special events to welcome a rare Virginia automotive treasure! Piedmont Motor Car Company in Lynchburg, VA was the only Virginia company to ever manufacture cars.
Now only two are known to exist. Both Piedmont automobiles, a fully restored 1919 car and the Museum's 1923 model in original condition, will be on display.
The public grand opening will be held on Saturday, October 23. In recognition of the contribution of Lynchburg citizens to Virginia's automotive history, all Lynchburg City residents with ID will receive free admission on that Saturday.
More details about these events are forthcoming. The Piedmont is a gift of the Star City Motor Madness Committee. |
Other great Museum events: mark your calendars now!
Saturday, September 18: Rev Up to Read and Art Cars (And Other Modes of TranspARTation). Not our event, but we're happy to help the Roanoke City Public Libraries and The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. "Art Cars" decorated by artists will be on display in the parking lot in front of the Museum all day.
Saturday, September 25: Smithsonian Museum Day. Present a Museum Day Admission card (required) and two people per household get in FREE. Get a card, and more information about participating museums across the country at the Smithsonian magazine's site.
Friday, October 29: Aubrey Wiley, author of the new book Virginian Railway Pictorial - Pictures and Stories presents "Why the Virginian," with slides and stories of the people of the Virginian Railway, 7pm. On Saturday, October 30, Aubrey will sign copies of his new book. Saturday/Sunday, November 6-7: The Roanoke Chapter, NRHS is sponsoring Fall Rail Excursions to Danville and Bluefield, giving passengers an opportunity to enjoy fall leaves and experience a part of the route of the Heartland Corridor. Tickets are now on sale at VMT and the Link Museum, online or call (540) 774-0611.
Friday/Saturday, November 12-13: Roanoke Night Photo Shoot by Lerro Productions, 7-11pm. Reserve your spot now online, and check out some of the great photos from last year.
Saturday, December 11: Santa visits VMT for the holidays. |
 The Virginian Railway Rectifier locomotive #135 now open
While some restoration and interpretive work remains to be done, the Museum is pleased to reopen the Virginian Railway Rectifier for public viewing. A General Electric EL-C, #135 was an electric engine manufactured in 1956. The Virginian Railway had electrified its tracks between Roanoke, VA and Mullins, WV (a distance of 133.6 miles) in April 1925. Although it proved to be a very successful design, no more EL-Cs were produced due to the small number of railroads with electric lines.
Only 12 EL-Cs were ever produced, all for the Virginian Railway which merged with the N&W in 1959. The locomotive pulled coal trains from 1956 to 1962, but was removed from service in 1962 when the N&W dismantled the electrified lines in favor of having an all diesel fleet. Eventually, all 12 EL-Cs were sold to the New Haven Railroad for operation between New Haven, CT and New York City. |
Restoration has begun on the N&W Safety Car Thanks to funding from the Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust and the Beirne Carter Foundation, we're working to restore N&W Safety Car #418. The safety car is important both for its place in history, and also because it will serve as an important tool for our educational programming.
 Built in 1947 and once the lounge car on the famous Wabash Cannonball, #418 was refitted by the Norfolk & Western Railway as a mobile classroom for employee safety instruction. The car features a 48-seat theatre, plus quarters for the instructor--a bedroom, shower, bathroom, and office--which provide a glimpse into life on a train.
Work is underway to clean and paint the car, repair seats, and install HVAC for year-round comfort. The Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society has generously offered to letter the car (exterior stenciling) as an inkind donation. We hope to have all work complete in the next couple of months. |
Behind-the-Scenes: more improvements underway!
This year, the Museum received a significant bequest from the estate of Jack M. Goodykoontz, a former Board member. Through his forward-looking generosity, the Museum is tackling high-priority facilities improvements and rail car restoration.
Even though we're Virginia's official transportation museum, all state funding ceased several years ago. The Museum's Railway Post Office Car was caught in limbo: restoration activities in progress also ceased when the funding stopped, leaving the car in its current undesirable condition. The bequest is enabling us to finally resume work on the car to improve its exterior appearance. More funding will be necessary before we can reopen the car, but we are pleased to be able to take the first step.
We are also taking steps to stabilize the condition of the Lake Pearl, which was identified by the Smithsonian as the country's best remaining Pullman sleeper car.
Getting to the cars has also become easier. In addition to the new ramp into the railyard installed this spring, the Museum has installed a new, second set of stairs from the dock to the back of Claytor Pavilion. Other new steps constructed by volunteers will eventually enable visitors to enter some of the Museum's other rail equipment.
Also look for improvements inside the Museum. The galleries are now brighter on rainy days since we replaced lighting throughout the Museum with energy-saving fixtures (assisted also by AEP). We installed HVAC in Navigation Station--our classroom and birthday party room--to make it comfortable year-round. |
 Trains coming and going: National Railway Historical Society Chapters offering fall excusions!
Virginia is gorgeous in the fall, and tickets are on sale now for an excursion from NC to Roanoke and two excursions that originate in Roanoke. How's this for a great railfan weekend: book the Train Lovers' Package at the Hotel Roanoke steeped in N&W history, visit this Museum and the O. Winston Link Museum together on one day (tickets included in the package) and enjoy an excursion on the other! Be sure to bring your camera!
On Saturday, October 30, the N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation and the Watauga Valley Chapter of the NRHS will host the Virginia Autumn Special. Departing from the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer and including passenger pick-up in Greensboro, travelers will see amazing views of the North Carolina Piedmont and Central Virginia. After crossing the Dan and Roanoke Rivers, travelers will enjoy Roanoke's rail and other attractions. Click for information and tickets.
The following weekend, our Rail Heritage Region partner the Roanoke Chapter of the NHRS will offer two outstanding trips. On Saturday, November 6, the train will head east via the former Virginian mainline and the former Southern mainline to the historic city of Danville, VA. The return trip is by a different route, by way of Lynchburg via the N&W. On Sunday, November 7, the Chapter again offers one of its most popular trips: mountain railroading at its finest traveling to Bluefield, WV. The excursion features the climb up Christiansburg Mountain, the beautiful New River Valley, bridges, tunnels and a final climb to Bluefield. Click for information and to order tickets online or by phone. |
More great things to do in Virginia's Rail Heritage Region!
September 18: The O. Winston Link Museum presents Get to Know Your Camera Workshop, 10am - noon. Baffled by the symbols and options on your digital camera? This class, open to beginners or those more advanced, will demystify the tricks and tools your camera has to offer. $10, members free. To register, email Leah Gardner.
October 5: The O. Winston Link Museum is accepting reservations for Dinner with Wick Moorman: Norfolk Southern and the Role of the Public-Private Partnership, 6:30-8pm to be held at the Jefferson Center, Fitzpatrick Hall, 541 Luck Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24016. Tickets are $50 per person; call 540-982-5465 to reserve. For more information about events, attractions, and lodging in and around the region, visit the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau. |
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