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Celebrate all things Railroad at
Roanoke Railfest!
Saturday, June 21!
Train rides, music, food and fun for the entire family!
Saturday, June 21 from 10 am to 5 pm
Introducing the Wabash 1009 -- now at the head of
Track One in our Railyard!
$5 admission. Museum Members and infants 2 and under admitted free.
Train Rides: $2 per person, including members. Infants 2 and under ride for free.
Train Rides provided by the Roanoke Chapter of the
National Railway Historical Society.
See the cosmetically restored Wabash 1009 and special equipment on loan for
Norfolk Southern: An MP15AC Switcher, a Genset Locomotive #301, and a restored Heritage Southern Caboose.
The African American Norfolk & Western Heritage Group will also be signing their new book of oral histories: African American Railroad Workers of Roanoke, Oral Histories of the Norfolk & Western. Also see the plans for From Cotton to Silk, a new exhibit honoring the African American Norfolk & Western Railway Heritage Group.
About the Wabash 1009 The Wabash 1009 is historically significant as the 10,000th unit manufactured by
Electric Motive Division of General Motors of LeGrange, IL. This 1951 diesel,
a part of the Museum's collection but offsite for decades following the flood of 1985
in Roanoke, has been beautifully restored by Norfolk Southern. The Wabash 1009
debuted at the North Carolina Transportation Museum's Streamliners event in May,
and now has returned to a place of honor at the VMT.
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The Norfolk & Western
Class Y6a 2156
is coming home!
The Norfolk & Western Class Y6a 2156 Steam Freight Locomotive will return to Roanoke for display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
The Class Y6a 2156 locomotive is currently on display at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri. The move will allow the Class Y6a to be reunited with the only remaining Class J and Class A locomotives that are already part of the VMT's collection.
Together, the locomotives make up the "Big Three" of powerful Norfolk & Western (N&W) designed and built steam locomotives.
The Class Y6a 2156 steam locomotive was designed and built in Roanoke in 1942 at the famed Norfolk & Western East End Shops and is the sole survivor of the of N&W's Y-Class.
Like other N&W locomotives, the Class Y6a is considered to be among the most powerful and technologically advanced steam locomotives. They were used primarily for slower, heavy coal trains in the railroad's mountainous districts. The locomotive was articulated which allowed for sharp turns through the mountains. The Class Y6a was also a compound locomotive, using high-pressured steam to power the front pistons and then using the low pressure exhaust steam to power the back pistons.
A date for the locomotive's return to Roanoke has not been set.
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Make this the summer of the 611!
Save $6.11 off your order of $50 or more with coupon code VMT611.
Offer expires June 30, 2014.
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The 1918 Virginia-made Kline Kar
a welcome addition to the
Advance Auto Parts Automotive Gallery
The Advance Auto  Parts Automotive Gallery recently saw a new addition to its vast array of antique and historic vehicles -- a 1918 seven-passenger touring "Kline Kar." The automobile is about 75 percent res
tored.
Kline Motor Car Corporation was located in York, Pennsylvania, from 1910 - 1912 before relocating to Richmond, Virginia, in 1912.
Like many small motor companies, it ceased operations in 1923 because it failed to adopt the assembly line method introduced in Detroit. This 1918 Kline Kar was purchased new by Alfred D. Price, Sr., proprietor of the Richmond-based A.D. Price Funeral Establishment, one of the oldest African American funeral businesses in the United States. Two Virginia-based auto manufacturers are represented in the Auto Gallery: Kline and Piedmont (Lynchburg). The Kline Kar is on loan from the Virginia Historical Society.
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Celebrate America's passion for the automobile at
Star City Motor Madness
June 27 and June 28
It's more than a car show. It's a tribute to America's passion for the automobile and the love of cruising.
 One of the largest car shows in the Mid-Atlantic, Star City Motor Madness supports the Virginia Museum of Transportation and other non-profit organizations. On Friday, June 27, take a seat along Williamson Road and celebrate the all-American pastime of cruising. Watch classic and antique automobiles roll by.
On Saturday, June 28, join car lovers in downtown Roanoke for a summertime display of America's finest automobiles. In its 13th year, Star City Motor Madness is THE best family fun, car-centered event in Roanoke. Find more information at starcitymotormadness.com.
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See the Class J 611 under restoration!
FAMILY FUN FIELD TRIP
to the North Carolina Transportation Museum
Friday, July 11, 2014
See the Class J 611 under restoration at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC! After a visit to the Class J 611, see the exhibits, program and a TRAIN RIDE! Round trip transportation provided from the VMT. (All ages welcome! Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.) Preregistration required. $25 per person for Museum Members. $30 per person for non-members. Register in person at the VMT or online at vmt.org. For more information, contact cplaster@vmt.org.
We make the plans! You have the FUN!
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Restoration of the Class J 611 begins
On May 30, at  the historic Streamliners Event at the North Carolina Transportation
Museum in Spencer, North Carolina -- and just one day past the Class J 611's 64th birthday -- Wick Moorman, the CEO of Norfolk Southern, turned the first bolt on the Class J 611.
The restoration is moving at a good clip, and our hope is that she will thunder home to Roanoke in Spring 2015.
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Membership at the Virginia Museum of Transportation
The most affordable option for families!
The Virginia Museum of Transportation offers the most affordable family memberships in the Roanoke Valley. For just $50 per year, families enjoy free admission year-round (including special events), discounts in the Museum Store (online too!) and reduced prices for our popular Wings & Wheels Summer Camp programs.
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Happenings: Road. Rail. Air.
June 12-14: Norfolk & Western Historical Society: Archives Work Session.
June 14: Join Star City Corvettes at the 5th Annual Mountain View Antique & Classic Car Show in Daleville, Virginia.
June 21: Advance Auto Parts Cruise-In at the Advance Auto Parts Store Support Center. 5008 Airport RD, Roanoke VA 24012. Festivities kick off at 4 pm.
June 25 - June 29: National N-Scale Convention in Roanoke, Virginia. A model railroaders dream! Tour historic rail sites around Roanoke, learn new layouts and connect with other enthusiasts.
June 26-June 29, 2014: Norfolk & Western Historical Society Annual Convention in Roanoke, Virginia. It will be a weekend filled with information, tours of historic rail sites in and around Roanoke, receptions and seminars.
Monthly - Second and Fourth Thursdays at 7 pm: 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.
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 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. The club also welcomes younger hobbyists 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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