O Gauge model layout

VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION
July 2011
QUICK LINKS
IN THIS ISSUE
Save the 1776!
Hollywood's Star Cars
Oral History project
Summer fun in our Museum Store
Great events in Virginia's Rail Heritage Region
Dear (Contact First Name),

This month marks my fifth anniversary as executive director, and I want you to know how much this Museum has changed in those five years. I give all the credit to a terrific team of board members, staff, volunteers, and to you -- our visitors and supporters. Here is just some of what we've accomplished, one small step at a time...

 

Five years ago, the Museum was deep in debt, had no volunteers, and attendance was at an all-time low. To add insult to injury, a storm blew the roof off a quarter of the building in my first week here. 
  
Today, attendance is up 142% over five years ago and we are operating in the black, both of which are remarkable given recent economic conditions. We have nearly 100 volunteers we couldn't do without. We are designing exhibits and beginning to restore our rail equipment. We have taken steps to improve our facility to make the building more comfortable for our visitors in every season.
  
Our future looks much brighter than it did five years ago. Thank you for your role in our success!
  
Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr. Virginia Museum of Transportation
Executive Director
N&W 1776Help us save the 1776, Norfolk & Western's Bicentennial Diesel!

 

The Virginia Museum of Transportation announces plans to restore a unique symbol of this nation's independence. In the mid-1970s, the Norfolk & Western Railway boldly painted a locomotive -- the number 1776 -- red, white, and blue to celebrate the USA's Bicentennial and to demonstrate the railroad's commitment to America's strong future.

 

Today, the 1776 is one of the most beloved diesel engines at the Museum. The locomotive's last restoration was in 1991, and her paint and her glory are now fading. The Museum has set a goal of $10,000 to bring back the engine's true colors.

 

On July 4, one dollar of every visitor's admission fee will be designated for the 1776's restoration. Supporters can donate securely online.

 

Andy Fletcher, our rail artist in residence, wants to see this locomotive restored, too, so he has completed a stunning drawing for us of the restored 1776. Donors who make a gift of $100 or more will receive a signed print of his drawing of the 1776, with our hearty thanks.

 

"This Museum is Virginia's official transportation museum, but doesn't receive any state funding," said Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., the Museum's executive director. "When state support ended a decade ago, our restoration efforts came to a halt, until now. We have completed the cosmetic restoration of several pieces of rail stock in the past year, and are now preparing to begin work on this locomotive that is a true railfan favorite and national icon. It's time to restore her proud gleam once again." Read more about this great engine...

Don't miss this summer sizzler: Hollywood's Star Cars!

 

Ghost Busters Ecto 1Through July 31, the Virginia Museum of Transportation presents Hollywood's Star Cars, a never before seen exhibit of some of the baddest moonshine-running, bad-guy-chasing, paranormal-busting racing cars to ever scream across the screen.

 

Special cars on display include: 

The 1959 Cadillac ambulance Ecto 1 used in the promotion of the 1984 movie Ghost Busters. Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray careen through the streets of New York in the Ectomobile in search of pesky poltergeists, ghosts, and other spirits. They save not only the desperate metropolis, but also Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, and William Atherton.

 

The Boss HoggThe moonshine-running General Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger, driven by Duke cousins Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott, plus the Boss Hogg, a Cadillac driven in hot pursuit of the Dukes by Burt Reynolds in the 2005 movie The Dukes of Hazzard. When not racing through Georgia, the General Lee also provided a perch for sexy cousin Daisy Duke (Jessica Simpson). Also featured in the movie are A.J. Foyt, IV, Willie Nelson, and Lynda Carter.

 

The tricked-out 2000 Ford Crown Victoria taxi driven by Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon as they recklessly chased criminals through the streets of New York in the 2004 movie Taxi. Jeff Gordon--married in real life to one of the actresses playing a sizzling Brazilian bank robber--also made an appearance.

 

the famous VWJeff Gordon's 1993 Dupont-sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo (reproduction) featured in the 2003 movie Looney Tunes Back in Action. The live and animated cast included Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, Steve Martin, Timothy Dalton, Heather Locklear, Joan Cusack, Roger Corman, Jeff Gordon, and the whole Looney Tunes gang on a mission to save a mythical diamond from the clutches of The Acme Corporation. The Monte Carlo is on loan from Warner Brothers Studios.

 

Sylvester Stallone pursued a serial killer and his army of psychopaths in a souped-up 1950 Mercury in the 1986 Rambo-style movie Cobra. The ruthless, leather-jacketed LAPD lieutenant is the "strong arm of the law." Cobra also starred Brigitte Nielsen.

 

The distinctive red and white 1974 Ford Gran Torino from the second season of the crime-fighting TV drama "Starsky & Hutch," which premiered in 1975. The popularity of the two streetwise cops' signature ride led Ford to market 1,000 special edition Gran Torino hardtops with the Starsky & Hutch paint job during the 1976 model year. In addition to the Gran Torino, David Soul, Paul Michael Glaser, Bernie Hamilton, and Antonio Fargas had starring roles.

 

The exhibit is courtesy of The Lindisfarne Collection and is sponsored by Grand Home Furnishings. Preview all the Star Cars!

We're hearing great stories: our Oral History project is now in full swing!

oral history team
Cord Johnson, Ellen Brown, Michael Vella, and David Atkins are ready to record YOUR story!

 

As part of our effort to design new exhibits, the Museum has initiated 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.

 

Our team is already hard at work! A local historian, Ellen Brown, is coordinating our project. Joining her are interns David Atkins (Radford University), Cord Johnson (Roanoke College), and Michael Vella (Virginia Tech). They have recorded the stories of Museum visitors, and traveled as far as Martinsville, VA to meet with others with a story to tell. The team is transcribing the recordings and in the process of developing ways to share these wonderful stories with the public. 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.

Melissa and Doug Figure 8 Train Set

Now 40% off! Works with Brio and Thomas, too.

Find great summer fun in our Museum Store and Online Store

 

It's summer! We've got toys to keep kids busy and books that adults are sure to enjoy!

 

Our popular wooden train set by Melissa & Doug is 40% off. Or pick up a few Whittle Short Line train cars, painted like the real trains your kids love. We've got other train toys, plus items for car, truck, and plane lovers -- even cute new water bottles for hot summer days!

 

N&W Pocahontas DivisionAdults will find many books and DVDs to choose from. Our favorite new arrival is the hardback book Norfolk & Western's Pocahontas Division by Mason Y. Cooper, featuring 330 pages of photographs, drawings, and great insights into the workings of this division at the heart of the Norfolk & Western Railway. N&W Pocahontas Division is one of several great books we have in stock published by the Norfolk & Western Historical Society. 

 

Find these great items and more in our Online Store, or stop by our Museum Store, open Mondays - Saturdays 10 am to 5 pm, and Sundays 1 to 5 pm.

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

July 1: The C&O Railway Heritage Center presents Steam Under the Stars, a slideshow of images from its 614 night shoot, starting at 7:30 pm at the Clifton Forge School of the Arts, 618 Church Street.

 

July 7-10: The Norfolk & Western Historical Society Archives Committee holds its next work session. To participate, email the NWHS archives committee.

 

July 12: the O. Winston Link Museum is hosting an information session for people interested in getting involved with Help-Portrait, photographers who come together to use their photography to give back to their local community, 6 - 9 pm. Email Leah Gardner for more information.

 

July 13: The Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society holds its monthly meeting at 6 pm at Charley's restaurant in Lynchburg. Program by Fred Mayer.

 

July 19: First day of Smart Way Bus service connecting Roanoke/Christiansburg to the Lynchburg Amtrak Station. Fare is $4 each way. Bus schedules are coordinated with the rail schedule.

 

July 21: The Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society holds its monthly meeting at 7:30 pm at the O. Winston Link Museum.

 

July 27: The Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society holds a fun meeting at 6pm at Charley's restaurant in Lynchburg. The program will feature selected slide/video/digital presentations.

 

Upcoming, August 3-7: The C&O Historical Society's 42nd Annual Conference will be held at the Marriott Cincinnati at River Center in Covington, KY, just across the river from Cincinnati. The conference will celebrate the C&O in Cincinnati and Ohio, and there will be many interesting presentations.

 

Upcoming, August 13: "All aboard" for this year's Lynchburg Rail Day, presented by the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. This annual model train show with operating trains is a Lynchburg tradition well attended by newcomers and veteran modelers alike. Enjoy the trains, browse the vendor tables, and stay for lunch! 9am-4pm at the Boonsboro Ruritan Club, just off of U.S. 501 North. Admission: $6/person; $10/family; children 12 and under free with a paying adult.

 

Upcoming October 29: Tickets are now on sale for the Virginia Autumn Special, an Amtrak excursion from Spencer/Greensboro, NC to Roanoke sponsored by the NC Transportation Museum Foundation and the Watauga Valley Chapter, NRHS. Passengers detrain just blocks from the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

 

Upcoming, November 5-6: Mark your calendars for Fall Amtrak Excursions to Abingdon, VA and Bluefield, WV sponsored by the Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

 

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.

 

Ongoing, Second and Fourth Thursdays: The International Plastic Modelers' Society, Roanoke Valley Chapter hosts building and business meetings at the Museum each month, and competes in area shows. The entrance is on the back of the Museum just off the Rail Walk and around the corner from the Jupiter Rocket. 7pm. For information, email Tim Ward, Chapter President.

 


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