CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE ROAD. RAIL. AIR. May 2012 |
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Dear Friend,
This weekend, we'll have much to celebrate. It's Roanoke Rail Fest and we're celebrating all things railroad by transporting folks back to the golden age of steam. We are hosting the New Hope Valley Railway #17, a steam locomotive that will be pulling the train during this weekends festivities. We'll also have lots of family-friendly activities including music, food, face painting, crafts and more!
We're also unveiling our new logo and identity, designed by Roanoke-based Access Advertising and Public Relations. This new logo celebrates one of Roanoke's finest treasures -- the N&W Class J 611 locomotive, known world-wide as the most modern steam locomotive ever built.
Join us for the celebration this weekend. 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. (Height restrictions apply.)
- Learn about our rail history.
- Model train displays.
- Craft Station.
- Face painting.
- Roanoke Valley International Plastic Modelers Society.
- 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 11 am 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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Coming to Roanoke Rail Fest?
Advance admission and train ticket sales available online
Avoid the lines this Saturday by securely purchasing your admission and train tickets online. Visit our secure site to purchase your admission and train tickets. They'll be waiting at our Member Services booth. Remember, members are always admitted free-of-charge. Train tickets are $2 per person per ride (including members).
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Lifelong learning for the whole family
Introducing the VMT Passport Program
As part of our expansion of educational programs for children and families, the Museum announces its new VMT Passport program. 
The VMT Passport is a series of six sets of interactive activities that families can do together. The goal of the VMT Passport program is to give families an interactive way of learning about the history of transportation in a way that will engage the entire family. Six various activity sets will be offered from May 2012 to the end of the year.
"This is an exciting new venture for us," said Susan Loveman, director of education for the Museum.
"We hope that children and families come away from each activity set knowing more about road, rail and air."
A new activity set will be released every few weeks from May 2012 through December 2012. Different activities will be geared toward specific age groups - from preschooler to high school. Members and families can return again and again and discover something new each time.
The first activity will be introduced during Roanoke Rail Fest! It's free with admission, so plan to explore the Museum and learn about transportation!
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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.
May 17 to June 7: The O. Winston Link Museum presents Adventures in Photography: Therapeutic Recreation Services of the Roanoke Valley: an exhibit of black and white photography from participants in our six-week workshop with Therapeutic Recreation Services. This show will feature one photograph from each student.
May 18 to May 31: The O. Winston Link Museum presents Lucy Shoots: Photos from Lucy Addison's 21st Century Community Learning Center. Lucy Shoots serves students in grades seven and eight, this program provides participants the opportunity to use photography as a creative outlet and communication tool.
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 ON30, HO, Lionel 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. The club also invites younger members ages 8 - 18 to learn about model railroading. New members welcome!
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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