Virginian 135

VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION
May 2011
QUICK LINKS
IN THIS ISSUE
Roanoke Rail Day May 14!
Looking for great stories and volunteers
N&W china exhibit
Shop for Father's Day
Great events in Virginia's Rail Heritage Region
Greetings!

May is one of the most exciting months of the year for us. With National Train Day and Roanoke Rail Day, we celebrate our rail heritage.

School field trips are in full swing and we're looking forward to seeing the families that come to visit during the summer. Plus, we're planning special automotive events that are coming up in June!

That makes May a great month to consider joining us as a member, a visitor, or a volunteer. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr. Virginia Museum of Transportation
Executive Director
Mark your calendars for Roanoke Rail Day, May 14!
 

Roanoke's rail museums are teaming up for Roanoke Rail Day on May 14 and offering a supersized day of fun for train fans of all ages.

 

This rail heritage celebration is held jointly with the O. Winston Link Museum. The day will feature special Norfolk Southern rail equipment including the NS Exhibit Car and a locomotive simulator; model trains; rides; kids' activities; blacksmithing, and more. The Archives of the Norfolk & Western Historical Society will also be open.

 

Special daylong activities at the Virginia Museum of Transportation include caboose rides by the Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society using two of the chapter's historic, restored operating engines. In addition to the Chapter's EMD GP30 #522 and Alco T6 #41 locomotives, the Chapter is also bringing baggage/tool car #1407, and caboose #518409. 

Vintage Equipment on the Mainline in Roanoke, VA 5/7/11
The Roanoke Chapter NRHS moves its equipment to the Museum to offer rides on Roanoke Rail Day! 

Learn about the history and operations of Norfolk Southern by touring the NS Exhibit Car. Visitors can meet Andy Fletcher, the Museum's rail artist in residence, and enjoy models by the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the International Plastic Modeler's Society. From 10am to 2pm, there will be blacksmithing demonstrations in the Rail Yard and the Roanoke Valley Model Engineers will hold an Open House of their N, HO, and ON3 layouts. Children can paint a wooden train car or decorate a 611 cut-out from 11am to 4pm. Admission for the day is $8.50/adults, $7.50/seniors, and $6.50/children which includes Roanoke City admissions tax and all the special activities. Members get in free!

 

The Virginia Museum of Transportation is loaning the "Rectifier", an unusual Virginian EL-C 135 electric locomotive to the O. Winston Link Museum to serve as the centerpiece of the Link Museum's celebration.

 

Roanoke Rail DayFrom 10am to 2 pm, the O. Winston Link Museum will feature the Virginian Railway 135, 1/8 scale train rides, telegraphy demonstrations, antique model trains, railroad photography, slideshows, children's activities, face painting, food and beverages, a photobooth and more. That evening, the Link Museum will hold a night photo shoot. $50 per person. Reservations are required: call 540-982-5465 for more information.

 

In addition, The James N. Gillum Archives of the Norfolk & Western Historical Society will be open 8am to 4pm. The Archives is a repository of documents covering over a century and a half of railroad history. These documents primarily include mechanical and engineering drawings and photographic images in many formats. There is no admission charge to visit the Archives.

 

Roanoke Rail Day is made possible by Norfolk Southern Corporation, Amsted, Kroger, Timken, Loram, Harsco, David and Susan Goode, xpedx, Star Headlight and Lantern, and Roanoke Gas; volunteers from the Norfolk & Western Historical Society and the Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society; and media sponsors Wheeler Broadcasting and WDBJ-7.

We're looking for great stories, and volunteers to help us preserve them!

 

Roanoke Public Library Sound Spot
Roanoke Public Libraries staff Joey Klein, Alicia Sell, and Laura Wickstead assembled the Sound Spot.

As part of our effort to design new exhibits, the Museum will begin a program of oral history collection this summer. We want to hear and record the stories of our community's engineers, aviators, and others in all phases of the transportation industry, as well as stories of passengers and shippers/receivers of goods. If you have a story to share, please email us! 

 

The Roanoke Public Libraries has loaned the Museum its Sound Spot recording booth for approximately six months. The booth, created in support of the Virginia Room Oral History Initiative, was funded through the generosity of Carilion Clinic and the Roanoke Public Library Foundation.

 

We are looking for college students and other volunteers to interview visitors and members of the community. Other volunteer opportunities may include research, transcription, or collections management. We are always looking for tour guides, exhibit and building maintenance, and help in the Museum Store and front ticket window. If interested, please send a brief email outlining your interest and experience. A resume is also helpful. Training will be provided.

Fine dining on the N&W: railroad china now on display

 

NThree patterns of china that once graced the tables of the Norfolk & Western's famed dining cars are now on display. These pieces are on loan from the collection of Charles Wehrmeister.

 

"Cavalier" (pictured) is the most widely recognized pattern on the N&W. It was first introduced in 1922 and continued to be used through the end of passenger service in 1971. This china was manufactured by the Lamberton Works of Trenton, NJ. The pattern was originally known as "Rice" after the Rice Hotel in Houston which first ordered it. The "Cavalier" was not so named by the railroad, but by the author of the first guide to railroad china.

 

Also on display are two other patterns, "Yellow Bird (Wide Band)" and "Yellow Bird (Narrow Band)." Both patterns were customized for the N&W by the Shenango China Company of New Castle, PA. "Wide Band" was introduced first, with the introduction of the N&W's first new post-WWII dining cars in 1949. "Wide Band" created a striking presentation to diners, but the wide bands soon began to show wear. "Narrow Band" china began to replace worn pieces beginning in the early 1950s. N&W last ordered these patterns in 1961.

Ceramic mugs
New! Exclusive, hand-thrown ceramic mugs by Sunset Hill Stoneware!

Father's Day is coming up! Find gifts dad will love in our Museum Store

 

There is something in our store every dad will love, whether he prefers trains, cars, planes, trucks, boats or tractors!

 

Check out our great selection of DVDs, novelty signs, books, T-shirts and baseball caps. We have a wide selection of prints by Andy Fletcher, including new works created since he became the Museum's rail artist in residence. We've got great rail photography too.

 

Maybe dad would enjoy a gift of books or toys to share his love of transportation with the children or grandchildren in his life? Our quality wooden trains, models, and puzzles by Melissa and Doug are a hard-to-find family favorite.

 

We make it easy! Online, dads can make a wish list and share it by email. Order from our Online Store by June 10 to assure delivery. Please note that matted prints and photographs cannot be shipped, but can be ordered online and picked up at the Museum. Our Museum Store is open seven days a week. You don't have to pay admission to shop, and parking is free!

More great things to do in Virginia's Rail Heritage Region!  
 

May 11: Annual Membership Meeting of the Virginia Museum of Transportation, 4pm.

 

May 11: The Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society holds its monthly meeting at 6pm at Charley's in Lynchburg. Program is by Kurt Reisweber.

 

May 12-15: The Norfolk & Western Historical Society Archives Committee holds its next work session. To participate, email the NWHS archives committee.

 

May 14: The C&O Railway Heritage Center presents the Alleghany Railroad Heritage Festival, a daylong celebration of the region's railroad heritage. Highlights of the day include the C&O 614, a railroad folk song concert, live steam miniature train rides, regional rail heritage sites booths, model trains, a caboose pull competition, railroad slide shows and movies, food and fun for all ages. 10am-4pm. Admission is $5.

 

May 19: The Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society holds its monthly meeting at 7:30pm at the O. Winston Link Museum.

 

May 21: The O. Winston Link Museum presents Get to Know Your Camera workshop. Demystify the digital process: bring your camera, owner's manual and questions! 10am-noon. $10/free for Link Museum members and volunteers. To register, call 540-982-5465 or email Leah Gardner.

 

May 25: The Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society holds a fun meeting featuring a presentation by Tom Dixon of the C&O Historical Society. The meeting starts with dinner at 6pm at Charley's in Lynchburg.

 

Ongoing, Tuesdays: The Roanoke Valley Model Engineers work on their ON3, HO, and N scale layouts each week 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.

 

Coming up June 11: The 13th Annual African-American N&W Heritage Celebration at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. During the day, all NS employees (with ID) and their immediate families will be admitted free. NS engineers will be on hand to give tours of an NS locomotive simulator. The evening program, 6:30-8:30pm, features Mr. Charles W. "Wick" Moorman, Chairman, President and CEO of the Norfolk Southern Corporation with music by the True Praise Choir under the direction of Rev. Robert Walker, Sr., First Baptist Church, Cloverdale. A scholarship will be awarded to a Virginia Western Community College student, and there will be hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction of railroad prints. The program is free; seating is limited. RSVP by June 3: 540-342-5670. Sponsored by the African-American N&W Heritage Celebration Group, Norfolk Southern Corporation/Virginia Division, and the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

 

Coming up June 22-26: The Norfolk & Western Historical Society presents its 2011 Convention: Where Rails Meet Sails in Norfolk, VA. The convention schedule is packed with tours (including a visit to the first of Roanoke's Lost Engines to be restored), clinics, displays and presentations, banquet, and an evening harbor cruise! Register before May 15 to get the discounted group rate at the Crowne Plaza Norfolk. Click here for more information and online registration.

 

Coming up June 24-25: Advance Auto Parts and the Williamson Road Area Business Association present Star City Motor Madness, one of the biggest annual automotive events in Virginia. The event is a celebration of America's passion for the automobile and the love of cruising, with a Cruise on Friday night and a Car and Truck Show on Saturday. Both events are free to the public. Saturday night at 7pm kicks off the Star City Motor Madness 10th Anniversary Celebration Party. Entertainment provided by Departure, the Journey Tribute Band at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Tickets are $10, and proceeds benefit CHIP and the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

 

Coming up June 26-July 31: Hollywood's Star Cars! Plan to come for this special limited-time exhibit of automobiles that have played a starring role in some of your favorite movies! Details coming soon.

 

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