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| VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION |
October 2010 |
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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.
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 received a great honor this week, one that has to do with many of you!
On Tuesday, we were awarded the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Award for 2010 in the nonprofit arts and cultural organization category. There are many other such organizations in Roanoke doing wonderful work, but we have demonstrated growth and progress--real success!--throughout these difficult economic times, rebounding from a very difficult position four years ago.
Our success is due to a great board and staff, but even more so to our wonderful volunteers, members, donors, sponsors, and friends who have continued their loyal support. Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr. Executive Director |
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The Rare and Remarkable Cars of Lynchburg
 | | 1923 Piedmont |
From rare antique touring cars to Edison2's innovative, prize-winning Very Light Car, the Virginia Museum of Transportation celebrates Lynchburg automotive achievement on Saturday, October 23!
The City of Lynchburg holds a unique place in Virginia's automotive history. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the Very Light Car developed by Lynchburg-based Edison2, which recently won the $5 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, as well as two rare antique vehicles built in Lynchburg in the early 20th century.
To honor the city's heritage, all Lynchburg residents will be admitted to the celebration free with ID. Admission for all other visitors will be discounted to $5 per person, tax included, for the day.
 | | Edison2's Very Light Car achieves over 100 MPGe |
The award-winning Edison2 is a Lynchburg-based automotive innovation company led by Charlottesville developer and racing entrepreneur Oliver Kuttner. The Very Light Car, developed by the Edison2 team, was the only vehicle to survive the grueling Mainstream Class of the X PRIZE, in which cars were required to seat four passengers, travel at least 200 miles on a tank or charge, and meet stringent performance, handling and emissions standards, all while achieving over 100 MPGe. Based on the design principles of the Very Light Car, Edison2 seeks to develop a new market segment in the auto industry: lightweight, safe, aerodynamic cars that fit the wide-ranging needs of consumers.
 | | 1919 Piedmont on loan |
The day also marks the grand unveiling of the Museum's newest exhibit, an extremely rare 1923 Piedmont touring car. The Piedmont Motor Car Company was the only company chartered in Virginia to ever mass produce cars. The firm built an estimated 1,500 cars between 1917 and 1923. Today, only three are known to exist. The 1923 Piedmont has been donated to the Museum by the Star City Motor Madness Committee to become the centerpiece of the Museum's car collection as its only Virginia-made car. For the celebration event, the Museum's vehicle, which is in its original condition, will be joined by a second--a fully restored 1919 Piedmont--on loan from Steve Puckette of Forest, VA.
Additional antique automobiles and buses will be parked in front of the Museum weather permitting, courtesy of the Roanoke Valley Region Antique Automobile Club of America and the Commonwealth Coach & Trolley Museum.
The Museum also is recognizing two area student-designed championship cars:
- The Unitus Racing team from James Madison Middle School in Roanoke and Southeast High School (FL) was the champion in the F1 in Schools World Finals in Singapore in September. Competing teams of students research, design, test, manufacture and race miniature Formula One cars.
- Virginia Western Community College's Baja Team was the top finishing team among community college competitors and the top finishing Virginia college at this year's SAE International Mini Baja Competition in Rochester, NY.
Additional activities are planned throughout the day. Check our web site for details.
The Museum gratefully acknowledges the generous assistance of Edison2, Advance Auto Parts, BB&T, Chas. Lunsford Sons & Associates, Scott Insurance, Wells Fargo Bank, WSET, the Lynchburg Museum System, Commonwealth Coach & Trolley Museum, Steve Puckette, the Roanoke Valley Region Antique Automobile Club of America, VIRginia International Raceway, and Virginia Western Community College. |
This Saturday: Model Train Open House!
Saturday October 9, 10am - 2pm
The Roanoke Valley Model Engineers Club has been working on several layouts in the Museum's basement for years, but they are rarely open to the public.
Come see an HO scale layout featuring the Norfolk & Western, Chesapeake & Ohio, and Virginian Railways; an On30 scale layout depicting narrow gauge mountaineering in the Rocky Mountains; and a creative N scale layout. All three represent imaginative works in progress, with significant attention to detail in all scales.
Concurrently, the Club will hold a model railroad yard sale and offer giveaway items.
The Club's layouts are located in the basement of the Museum, just off the Railwalk at the rear of the building around the corner from the rocket.
The Museum will be charging regular admission that day, but admission to the Open House is FREE. For information about the Open House, or about joining the Club which meets Tuesdays from 6:30 - 8pm, call Rick Anderson at Rick's Hobby Shop: 540-362-7033. |
 | | Aubrey Wiley, author and historian |
Why Remember the Virginian? October 29, 2010, 7pm
Aubrey Wiley's new book, Virginian Railway Pictorial - Pictures and Stories, is the first new book on the Virginian Railway in many years, and the largest in over 40 years. It contains over 225 vintage pictures in black & white from his private collection, and those of others, of the railroad's trains, equipment, structures and locations, as well as many stories from former VGN employees and people who lived along and rode the Virginian.
The author, Aubrey Wiley is a native of Virginia and has co-authored three other railroad books. Having been captivated by trains as a child, the fascination continued and flourished through his professional life as a photojournalist, artist and history teacher. Now retired, he is sharing his knowledge and collection of information and pictures in his new book.
The Friday night, October 29 program by Aubrey Wiley is  entitled "Why Remember the Virginian" and spans the years from its creation a hundred years ago and into its period of huge prosperity. As in his book, Aubrey presents the railroad in a personal manner to describe the character of the Virginian's people, so the program is structured with slides and stories. On Saturday, Aubrey will be at the Museum to discuss the Virginian with visitors and to sign books. |
 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 picking up passengers 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 follows the Heartland Corridor and 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. |
 | | Photo courtesy of Pete Lerro |
Announcing the 2010 Night Photo Shoot
November 12 - 13; 7 - 11 pm
After the huge success of our 2009 night session, Lerro Productions is coming back to put on another show! They are bringing fog and smoke devices, as well as props and costumed actors, in order to recreate 1950s scenes. Images from last year's shoot were published in several national railfan magazines.
Register today to experience and photograph N&W 611 and N&W 1218 as they looked in the glory days of steam. There are only 30 spots each night. Tickets are $60 for one night, or $100 for both sessions.
Click here for photos from last year's night photo session and to register for this year. |
More great things to do in Virginia's Rail Heritage Region!
Now! Tickets are on sale for the Roanoke Chapter, National Railway Historical Society's fall rail excursions. 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. Tickets are on sale now at the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the O. Winston Link Museum, by calling 540-774-0611 or online.
Through October 10: The C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge hosts its Fall Work Session.
Through October 10: The Norfolk & Western Historical Society Archives Committee holds its next work session. To participate, email the NWHS archives committee.
October 8: Opening day for the O. Winston Link Museum's newest exhibition: documentRoanoke! The project includes images that convey specific experiences in the Roanoke Valley. The works on display were selected through a juried photography contest. Through January 13, 2011.
October 13: The Blue Ridge Chapter, National Railway Historical Society holds its next Chapter meeting at Charley's Restaurant, Lynchburg. Dinner begins at 6pm and the official chapter meeting begins at 7:30pm.The program is Postcards through Dixie by Kurt Reisweber. |
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