611 and 614

VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION
February 2011
QUICK LINKS
IN THIS ISSUE
Train Lovers Saturday
C&O 614 now on display
Night Shoot
NS Challenge Survey
Great events in Virginia's Rail Heritage Region
Greetings!

February may be a short month, but we've packed it full of great experiences! We are so pleased to welcome the Chesapeake & Ohio Class J-3a 614 to our Rail Yard. It's comparable to our N&W Class J 611 in so many ways, but you can see for yourself how they are also so very different. The two locomotives form the centerpiece of our new exhibit, The Thoroughbreds of Steam. This exhibit is the first to be developed by the Virginia's Rail Heritage Region partners. Wonderful things are happening as we all work together!

We thank our Rail Heritage partners and we thank you, our friends and supporters, and look forward to seeing all of you on Train Lovers Saturday or during the 614's stay this spring.
 
Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr. Virginia Museum of Transportation
Executive Director
J 611 and J3a 614You're Invited!
Celebrating Train Lovers Saturday
February 12, 10am-5pm
 

The Virginia Museum of Transportation is hosting a day of fun and excitement--and discounted admission--for all ages! The event kicks off a rare opportunity to see three of America's steam locomotive powerhouses as the C&O 614 joins Museum favorites N&W 611 and N&W 1218 for a limited time. Check our web site for details and an activities schedule. Watch a preview on WDBJ-7 TV.

 

Highlights of Train Lovers Saturday include:

  • Discounted admission: $5 for all ages all day, and free parking in the lot out front.
  • Opening Day for the new exhibit: Thoroughbreds of Steam: N&W 611 and C&O 614, the Pinnacle of Steam Locomotive Technology. These rival passenger locomotives have never before been seen together; in fact, the C&O 614 has not been publicly displayed anywhere in a decade.
  • Andy Fletcher and 614
    Andy Fletcher (on right) with his new print of 611, 1218, and 614
  • Our special guest, renowned railroad artist Andrew Fletcher from California, will display a collection of his work. His prints will be on sale and he will be available to sign prints for our visitors, 10am - 3pm.
  • Kids' activities: 10:30am - 1:30pm.
  • Roanoke Valley Model Engineers Open House: 10am - 1pm, featuring an HO track that kids can run, plus a model sale. The group's ON3, HO, and N scale layouts are only open a few times each year, located in the Museum's basement. The entrance is on the back of the Museum just off the Rail Walk and around the corner from the Jupiter Rocket.
  • Shop for your train lover's Valentine gift: all rail-related merchandise in our Museum Store is 15% off all day.
The Thoroughbreds of Steam: N&W 611 and C&O 614

 

The Virginia Museum of Transportation and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Heritage Center jointly present a new exhibit exploring the pinnacle of American steam technology: the two 'J Class' passenger locomotives, the N&W J 611 and the C&O J-3a 614.

 

CO 614Both steam locomotives were built for speed and power based on a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement. The C&O 614, built in 1948, was the last commercially manufactured 4-8-4 and has not been available for public viewing in a decade. The N&W 611 was designed and built in the Norfolk & Western's Roanoke Shops in 1950, finely tuned to excel on the N&W's system.

 

Both locomotives were one of only slightly more than a dozen of their type, or class, ever built and both are the only one of their class that remain. It is likely that these two fierce competitors have never been seen side-by-side before.

"Bringing these two incredible engines together and developing an exhibit that features their outstanding story is a significant achievement for Virginia's Rail Heritage Region," said Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., executive director at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. "The partnership is working hard and working together to showcase Virginia's exciting rail heritage and to make new attractions available."

614 in colorAt the end of April, 2011, the 614 is projected to move to the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge, Virginia to serve as a feature exhibit at this institution which preserves and promotes the history and technology of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.

 
Both organizations gratefully acknowledge the Greenbrier Express Company for the loan of the 614, Norfolk Southern Corporation for moving the 614, and the Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society for preparing the 614 for exhibit. The Norfolk & Western Historical Society and the C&O Historical Society have also been invaluable in developing the exhibit by providing research and historical images.

Another great night shoot is scheduled in April! 

April 8-9, 2011

 

Pete Lerro, Lerro ProductionsAfter the huge success of our 2009 and 2010 night sessions, the Virginia Museum of Transportation has asked Lerro Productions to come back and put on another show! Experience and photograph N&W 611 and N&W 1218, and special guest C&O 614! We will have smoke devices as well as props and actors in order to recreate 1950s scenes. All of the lights in the museum will be turned off, leaving only our special lighting on for photography.

There are only 30 tickets available at each session so that everybody can get a great shot! There will not be a night session at VMT this coming November, so don't miss out on this year's event.

Ticket Prices: One night only: $45; or both nights: $80. Reserve your place online or call 610-999-9809. 

Have you taken our survey?

 

About a year ago, the Museum began a strategic planning process to develop new exhibits and a better visitor experience through the Norfolk Southern Challenge. So far, over 800 people from 38 states and seven countries have responded to our survey to let us know what they think we should change, add, or keep here at the Museum.

 

The responses and comments we have received so far have been invaluable in our planning, and really help us make sure our members, friends, and visitors play a role in the Museum's future. It's time to wrap up the survey--have we heard from you?

 

Please take a moment and share your opinions. We are so grateful! 

More great things to do in Virginia's Rail Heritage Region!  
 
February 9: The Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society holds its monthly meeting at 6pm at Charley's Restaurant in Lynchburg. Featured speaker is Dale Diacont presenting a slide show: If Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It
 
February 10-13: The Norfolk & Western Historical Society Archives Committee holds its next work session. To participate, email the NWHS archives committee.
  

February 17: The Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society's Annual Holiday Gathering, postponed from December because of the snow, will be held at Calvary Baptist Church at 6pm. Members and invited guests should bring their families and a covered dish/desert. The Chapter will provide "some" meat, drinks, and plasticware. The NRHS is a non-profit organization interested in preserving railroad history and artifacts, and educating the public about the importance of railroads in the history of our local communities. Anyone interested in joining should contact the chapter at P.O. Box 13222, Roanoke, VA 24032-3222 or call 540-774-0611. 

 
February 19: The O. Winston Link Museum brings back its very popular workshop: Get to Know Your Photos - Matting and Framing. Learn professional techniques in this two-hour workshop which begins at 10am. The $10 fee (free for members and volunteers) for this class includes supplies to mat one image not to exceed 5"x7". To register, call 540-982-5465 or email Leah Gardner.
 
February 26-27: The C&O Historical Society presents the George Washington Train Show from 9am to 5pm each day. The show is held at the Clifton Forge Armory, 704 Commercial St., Clifton Forge. $4 adults, $2 children. Vendors' tables are available: call 540-862-2210 to reserve your space. 
 
Coming up April 9: The Southwest Virginia Regional Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee and Hollins University present an all-day symposium Railroads, Raids, and Ruin: Laying the Tracks of Destruction in Virginia's Civil War. Speakers include Professor Peter Coogan (Hollins), Chris Calkins, Eric Wittenberg, Clark "Bud" Hall, Gordon Hamilton, and a special appearance by Dr. James I. "Bud" Robertson. $45. For information and to register: History Museum of Western Virginia, 540-342-5770.


For more information about events, attractions, and lodging in and around the region, visit the Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau.