CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE ROAD. RAIL. AIR. APRIL 2012 |
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Dear Friend,
Everything is in bloom at the Virginia Museum of Transportation! Our galleries are filled with children on field trips and preschoolers are coming out for Transportation Tuesdays. Families are visiting and children are waving as trains pass by our rail yard. It's a beautiful spring!
It's also a happy time for the Virginia Museum of Transportation. We are in the midst of planning our biggest celebration of the year -- Roanoke Rail Fest. We are currently painting our Norfolk and Western RS-3 and our T-6 both made by Alco in the early days of dieseldom. Thanks to a special set of donors, we are preparing to cosmetically restore the Lake Pearl, the finest example of a Pullman Sleeper left in the United States and the Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1 #4919.
We're also proud to report that we were once again selected by the Taubman Foundation as a recipient of their Sustainability Grant of $100,000. Because of this most amazing gift, we'll have a packed schedule of special events to celebrate our 50th Anniversary, hands-on exhibits about science and history in our Wings Over Virginia Aviation Gallery opening in November 2012, and more exciting exhibits in our Advance Auto Parts Automotive Gallery.
Our grateful appreciation goes to Ambassador and Mrs. Nicholas Taubman for their generosity and faith in our significant progress. Community leaders like the Taubmans are making a huge difference in our future and that of the entire Roanoke Valley Region. Come visit us. We can't wait to see you!
Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr.
Executive Director 
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Steam returns to Roanoke!
Roanoke Rail Fest 2012 For the first time in 18 years, ride
behind a steam locomotive in Roanoke! Saturday, May 12, 2012* 10 am to 5 pm
The Hope Valley Railway #17
A steam locomotive built by Vulcan Iron Works in 1941 FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
- Sit in the cab of the Class J 611 and the Class A 1218 -- bring your camera!
- See "Going Home" in the N&W Safety Car 418's theater.
- Ride a vintage rail handcar.
- Learn about our rail history.
- Model train displays.
- Craft Station.
- Face painting.
- Operation Lifesaver.
- Food and music.
- FREE parking.
- Discounted admission: $5 per person. Members and infants 2
and under are free. - Ride behind a real steam locomotive! $2 per person per ride (including members). Infants 2 and under ride the train for free.
 | | Ride Along on Steam Engine # 17 |
*The Train Rides will also be offered on Sunday, May 13, from 1 pm to 5 pm. Regular admission rates and train ticket prices apply.
This event is made possible by the Taubman Foundation, Norfolk Southern, New Hope Valley Railway, North Fork Inc, North Carolina Transportation Museum, Tennesse Valley Railroad Museum and the Roanoke Chapter NRHS. Thank you!
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Happy Birthday VMT!
City of Roanoke gifts the VMT with the best gift ever --
the Norfolk & Western Class J-611 and the Class A-1218
On April 2, we celebrated our 50th birthday, and we received the best present ever!
The City of Roanoke gifted us with the the country's most powerful and advanced steam locomotives of their kind ever built -- the Norfolk & Western Class J-611 and the Class A-1218.
 | VMT Executive Director Bev Fitzpatrick and
Roanoke Mayor David Bowers
at the press conference on April 2.
(Photo courtesy of the Star Sentinel.) |
The proclamation was made on the Museum's 50th Birthday at a press conference in Roanoke, VA. Roanoke Mayor David Bowers delivered the news. Members of Roanoke's City Council, special guests, Museum board, members and volunteers were on hand to cheer the announcement.
"What a wonderful birthday present," said Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., the Museum's executive director. "This gift shows great faith in the Virginia Museum of Transportation by our city leaders and administration. We can't think of a better way to celebrate this important day and to kick off the next 50 years."
The VMT was originally known as the Roanoke Transportation Museum and was founded by the City of Roanoke. The charter was created on April 2, 1962. The Roanoke Transportation Museum opened its doors for the first time over the Memorial Day weekend in 1963. The City of Roanoke transferred operation of the Museum to a private non-profit organization in 1976.
Celebrate with us! We're going to have a year filled with special events, exhibits and fun.
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Roll through the summer at
VMT Road. Rail. Air. and Junior Engineer Summer Camps
We have summer camps for children who love trains, cars, and airplanes! Museum educators will use our extensive collection as a springboard for activities that give children opportunities to climb aboard for fun-filled learning. We know that children love to move, so we have made sure that our daily schedules are full of outside, hands-on experiences.
As children enjoy their snack and lunch in our picnic area, they will get to watch real trains rumble past on the Norfolk Southern tracks. Note: the Museum does not provide food; lunches and snacks must be sent from home. The Virginia Museum of Transportation: it's the best place in town to learn about the science, history, and art of transportation!
ROAD. RAIL. AIR. Camp Pre-K (4- to 5-year olds)
July 9-13, 9:30 - 11:30 am.
Must be potty-trained.Members: $70. Nonmembers: $85 ROAD. RAIL. AIR. Camp
Kindergarten-First Grade (completed)
July 16-20, 9 am - 4 pm (before and after care available) Members: $180. Nonmembers: $195 ROAD. RAIL. AIR. Camp
Second-Third Grade (completed)
July 23-27, 9 am - 4 pm (before and after care available)
Members: $180. Nonmembers: $195
Junior Engineer Camp
Fourth and Fifth Graders (completed)
July 30 - August 3, 9 am - 4 pm (before and after care available) Members: $185. Nonmembers: $200
Our Junior Engineer Camp is designed to give children an introduction to the many aspects of railroading, both past and present. The camp schedule includes hands-on and climb aboard activities for learning about steam and diesel locomotives. Children will make a model railroad car, they will operate a vintage hand car, they will practice Morse code, and much more! |
TRANSPORTATION TUESDAYS
Play&Learn
10 am every Tuesday
(until May 29)
Transportation Tuesdays are designed to engage preschoolers in hands-on learning, experimentation and creativity in an unsurpassed learning environment.
Designed for children 3- to 5-years-old and their caregivers,
the program will teach and reinforce many preschool-themed topics.
They'll learn about different forms of transportation on display at the Museum.
Transportation Tuesdays are aligned with
Virginia's Foundation Blocks for Early Learning.
Members: $5 per child Non-Members: $10 per child
(Caregivers are not charged for the program.)
SAVE with Transportation Tuesdays Play&Learn Passes Members: $45 for 10 visits. Non-Members: $90 for 10 visits (Caregivers are not charged for the program.) More information can be found at vmt.org or by
emailing Courtney Plaster,
the Museum's education coordinator. |
Virginia Museum of Transportation's
Annual Membership Meeting
Wednesday, May 23 at Noon
All members are invited to the
Virginia Museum of Transportation's
Annual Membership Meeting. Light refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP or call 540-342-5670. |
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Happenings: Road. Rail. Air.
Now until Mid May: The O. Winston Link Museum presents Requiem for Steam: Photographs of David Plowden. A lifelong passion for photographing trains has given David Plowden an extensive body of work for this retrospective collection. Visitors to the Kulp Trackside Gallery will be transported by the photographs' ethereal and poignant beauty of a bygone era.
May 5: The C&O Railway Festival: The C&O Railway Heritage Festival will be held in conjunction with the Magic in the Mountains Festival sponsored by Clifton Forge Main Street. Festivities include Vendor Booths, Railroadiana and more, Handcar Rides, Motorcar Rides, Model Railroad Displays, Live Steam Miniature Locomotives courtesy of Blue Ridge Steamers, Steam Whistle Exhibit, Book Signing by Larry Aaron, author of "The Wreck of the Old '97.' Tour cabooses, a combine car, and a dining car, the 614 Steam Locomotive and the Gil Roberts Gaar-Scott Steam Traction Engine will power Steam Whistles and for rides. The Virginia Canals and Navigations Society and the Mary Marshall batteau and food and fun for all ages.
Admission $5. For more information, visit the C&O Historical Society.
May 10-13: The Norfolk & Western Historical Society Archives Committee holds its next work session. To participate, email the NWHS archives committee.
June 29-June 30: Star City Motor Madness: A weekend made for car lovers. It starts with a Friday night cruise along Williamson Road, Roanoke's main drag for cruising since the 1950s. It's open to any "classic" or "special interest" car that creates a feeling of nostalgia, stimulates a memory or fulfills a fantasy. Spectators are invited to line both sides of Williamson Road to enjoy the cruise. Saturday dawns with the ultimate of car and truck shows in downtown Roanoke. Over 500 vehicles expected from antiques to hot rods to motorcycles. The show will be held on Jefferson St. between Campbell Ave. and Elm Ave., on Franklin Road between Jefferson St. and Williamson Road and at Elmwood Park. For more information, visit the Star City Motor Madness website.
July 2012: The return of the 1776 Locomotive: Rail fans supported its cosmetic restoration and followed its progress to Chattanooga and back for its makeover. Join us in July as the Virginia Museum of Transportation rolls her back into the railyard for all to enjoy. Stay tuned for more details.
Monthly -- 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. 7 pm. For information, email Tim Ward, Chapter President.
Weekly - 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 at the back of the Museum around the corner from the Jupiter Rocket. 6:30 pm to 8 pm. New members welcome! For information, please call Rick Anderson at Rick's Hobby Shop: 540-362-7033.
Monthly - Second Wednesday: Blue Ridge Chapter, National Railway Historical Society meets at Charley's Restaurant, 707 Graves Mills Road, Lynchburg, VA. Dinner begins at 6 pm. Official chapter meeting begins at 7:30 pm.
Monthly - Third Thursday: Roanoke Chapter, National Railway Historical Society meets in the auditorium at the O. Winston Link Museum at 7:30 pm.
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