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| VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION |
March 2011 |
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Greetings!
February was Train Lovers month, to be sure! We were excited to welcome 1,700 visitors for Train Lovers Saturday, and many more have come throughout the month to experience the "Thoroughbreds of Steam," and in particular the C&O 614 which is on loan to us through April. Spring arrives in Virginia this month. Like spring, with its variety of new growth, this issue of our newsletter brings you news about growth at the Museum in multiple modes of transportation. Thank you for your interest and support, and we look forward to welcoming you to the Museum soon! Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr.  Executive Director |
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Help us take flight: Luncheon and Reception for our new aviation gallery, March 23
Plans are moving forward for Wings Over Virginia, our new aviation gallery to recognize Virginia's military and civilian aviators. We received initial funding from Roanoke City and Roanoke County which enabled us to renovate the gallery's space after it was destroyed by a storm, and we have been joined by wonderful friends and partners offering artifacts, stories, and expertise to help us bring this gallery to fruition. Our greatest need now is for your support.
Please join us for a special fundraising reception and luncheon. Featured guests are Vice Admiral Norbert R. Ryan, Jr., USN-Ret, president of the Military Officers
 | | Architectural rendering for new Wings Over Virginia gallery |
Association of America, and Robert Reed, curator of the Piedmont Aviation Historical Society. The reception begins at 11am and the luncheon begins at noon.
Tickets for the luncheon are $40 for a single ticket or $400 for a reserved table of eight. Tickets which include both the luncheon and reception are $250/Friend (admits up to three people); $500/Patron (admits four); and $1,000/Sponsor (admits up to eight). Seating is limited, and reservations are required by March 21. Buy tickets online, or by phone, call Joan Washburn at 540-293-1310. If you can't attend, you can learn more and make a donation online. |
 On display for a limited timeChesapeake & Ohio 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.
Both 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. At the end of April, 2011, the 614 is projected to move to the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge, VA.
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. |
New poster by Andy Fletcher celebrates the
Thoroughbreds of Steam
 To commemorate this once in a lifetime display of the N&W 611, N&W 1218, and C&O 614 together in one place, renowned rail artist Andy Fletcher has designed this handsome poster featuring all three engines. Suitable for framing, this 11" x 17" poster would make a great addition to any room in the house. Available only at the Virginia Museum of Transportation and our Online Store. Only $9.99.
Currently, our online store is featuring new and unique items, including a special collection of 614 and C&O merchandise. Our grand opening special is still in effect. Shop now and receive a 10% discount on your entire purchase! |
 Roanoke Chapter, NRHS Spring Amtrak Excursion announced
On Wednesday, April 20, the Roanoke Chapter, National Railway Historical Society is sponsoring an Amtrak excursion from Lynchburg, VA to Washington, DC, with connecting bus service to and from Roanoke. Buses will board at the Virginia Museum of Transportation beginning at 5:15 am and return at 10 pm.
Passengers may de-train at Alexandria at 11:05 am or Washington Union Station at 11:20, with lunch and sight-seeing on your own. The trip will include over 300 miles of scenic train travel on former Southern Railway tracks. Tickets are $115 for adults, $105 for seniors age 62 and over, and $65 for youth under age 16. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and will likely sell out early.
To purchase tickets by credit or debit card, call the Roanoke Chapter NRHS at 540-774-0611. For more information or details about buying tickets by mail, click here.
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Commonwealth Coach & Trolley Museum announces the restoration of two historic transit buses
The Commonwealth Coach & Trolley Museum, a partner of the Virginia Museum of Transportation, announces the restoration of two of the most significant coaches in its fleet: a 1962 GMC New Look coach from the AB&W (Alexandria, Barcroft & Washington) Bus Company and a 1966 GMC New Look coach from the Virginia Transit Company in Richmond.
 1962 GMC AB&W Coach 319 served the Columbia Pike, Pentagon, and Old Towne areas of Alexandria, VA and connected them to Washington D.C. In 1973, the transit company was purchased by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and the bus was renumbered and repainted. In all, the coach ran for 38 years of continuous service until its retirement in late 2000.
1966 GMC Virginia Transit Company of Richmond Coach 418 had its greatest moment as a co-star in the 1985 HBO film Finnegan, Begin Again with Robert Preston and Mary Tyler Moore who fall in love while riding 418. Two years later, 418 was retired and sold to Blacksburg Transit. Due to its age, it only saw limited service for field trips or as a shuttle bus during VA Tech football games. 418 came to the Museum in August, 2000 with over a million miles on its original Detroit Diesel 6v71 engine.
 The Commonwealth Coach and Trolley Museum was formed in 1999 when the Virginia Museum of Transportation de-accessed its fleet of transit coaches, school buses, and trolleys. The Buseum, as it is also known, is open by appointment and provides transit service for non-profit organizations and public events, transporting approximately 6,000 to 7,000 riders per year in its historic buses with volunteer drivers.
Housing one of the largest bus collections in the United States, the Buseum is the Commonwealth of Virginia's official transit museum. Click here for more information or to request transit service, call 540-342-2383. |
March 15: The O. Winston Link Museum presents the workshop: Get to Know Your Camera: Fill Flash and Beyond. Bring your camera and your favorite flash unit to this workshop to learn how you can use flash to fill in the shadows. 6-8pm. $10/free for Link Museum members and volunteers. To register, call 540-982-5465 or email Leah Gardner.
March 17: The Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society holds its monthly meeting at 7:30pm at the O. Winston Link Museum.
March 18-19: The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society presents See and Know C&O. This classroom and field trip program will take you through the entire history of the C&O Railway from its initial inception to its final merger with the B&O to form the Chessie System. The program includes tours of the C&O Historical Society Archives, various railroad sites within Clifton Forge, and when possible, tours of the abandoned extensive shop facilities at Clifton Forge. $120.
March 23: At the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society's fun meeting, Aubrey Wiley will present Central Virginia's 57 Mile Long Logging Railroad starting with dinner at 6pm at Charley's in Lynchburg. On Saturday, March 26 (April 2 rain date), Wiley will lead a road and walking adventure to Visit the Irish Creek Railroad, an abandoned 57 mile long line which ceased to exist 72 years ago. Pickups, SUVs or 4 WD are recommended and directions will be provided to sights at Yankee Horse Ridge and Cornwall (on N&W's Shenandoah line). The last stop will be lunch/dinner at a good Italian restaurant in Buena Vista, VA.
Coming up April 2: The Virginia Museum of Transportation is turning 49, but everybody's a kid on our birthday! To celebrate, all visitors will be admitted at our children's rate of $6 on our birthday, April 2.
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. Register by March 28, $45. For information and to register: History Museum of Western Virginia, 540-342-5770.
Coming up May 14: Roanoke Rail Festival at the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the O. Winston Link Museum with activities for all ages, and the Alleghany Railroad Heritage Festival at the C&O Railway Heritage Center, Clifton Forge.
Ongoing, Tuesdays: The Roanoke Valley Model Engineers' ON3, HO, and N scale layouts are located in the basement of the Museum. The entrance is on the back of the Museum around the corner from the Jupiter Rocket. 6:30-8pm. New members welcome. For information, call Rick Anderson at Rick's Hobby Shop: 540-362-7033.
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