Is the VMT worth this railfan coming +/- 300 miles to see? I searched TrainsMag.com under "Virginia Museum" looking for a thread about its quality and I came up empty. Your advice will be appreciated, as will be advice on what else to see and do in Roanoke.
motor
In one word, YES.
The VMT has a good number of steam locomotives and rolling stock on display. Nearby is the famous Link museum located in the historic N&W passenger station. Also a well stocked gift/museum shop. It's also the home of the N&W historical society. You can look out the second story big plate glass windows and watch the action on the Norfolk Southern main line. Scattered around the Roanoke area are some static railroad displays and nearby is a well stocked hobby shop.
Other than that there is nothing much else to do, but go hiking, skiing, cycleing, river rafting, relaxing, railfaning, antiqueing, visiting a coal mine w/ town, visit the Blue Ridge Mountains & the Shanadoah Valley, and visiting historical sites both railroad related or not. ect.
You get the idea.
Bring the whole family as there is much to do for everyone, so much in fact that you will have to visit the Roanoke area more than once to see it all.
Enjoy your stay.
Mark.
We'll watch for you on http://www.roanokerailcam.com/
Silly question, how does one get there via Amtrak? Lynchburg?
Don't forget to also go to the O. Winston Link Museum!!!
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If you were going 300+ miles JUST to see the VMT, it would be an iffy proposition. But between the Museum (chronically short of $$ and always in need of an additional admission payment), the utterly brilliant O. Winston Link Museum basically "across the street", the excellent walkway between the two set up to show off passing trains, and the show that NS puts on in the area, you really can't go wrong.
Two other possibilities: The historic Hotel Roanoke (formerly owned by the N&W), across the street from the station/Link Museum, is one of the finest hotels I've ever had the privilege of staying in. It's managed by the Doubletree hotel company; it certainly isn't cheap, but in the end you will be quite satisfied with the value for your dollars! If you make direct reservations, you can ask for a room overlooking the NS main, so you can watch the action from your room.
Also, several N&W steam locomotives still lurk in the remains of a scrap yard south of downtown. Do an Internet search for "Lost Engines of Roanoke".
If you are an NRHS member, I believe your membership card gains you a discount on admission to the Link Museum. Don't count on it, but do ask.
If you do end up going you might go to the Roanoak Amtrak station, I belive that the TRAINS Roanoak webcam is pointed there. Oh and be sure to stay at Hotel Roanoak, where the webcam is fixed atop. ps. try fixing it while you are there!!!
The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.
bubbajustin If you do end up going you might go to the Roanoak Amtrak station, I belive that the TRAINS Roanoak webcam is pointed there. Oh and be sure to stay at Hotel Roanoak, where the webcam is fixed atop. ps. try fixing it while you are there!!!
There is no Amtrak station in Roanoke and the one that was there is up the road and way out of site of that crappy webcam.
BigJim There is no Amtrak station in Roanoke and the one that was there is up the road and way out of site of that crappy webcam.
But they do have a Greyhound bus station, no web cam though.
I went 15 years ago and the equipment collection is impressive. The only thing I could add is that some of the sight lines were narrow if you are going to photograph the equipment, but hey they have the equipment on display.
I was a member of the Virginia Museum of Transportation from its formation until about two years ago when I moved from the area. My office window in the police department used to look out over the museum. VMT was set up as the State museum, but then the state financial support dried up, so they have been struggling financially for some time. This shows in the condition of some of the equipment. Still, there are some pieces in the collection that are well worth the visit, and that is not just the N&W "J" and "A". The only surviving Virginian steam locomotive is there, and my favorite was always the little N&W "G1" 2-8-0. For the diesel fan, there is an original FT and N&Ws first diesel. Some interesting industrial locomotives as well. You will find the staff to be friendly and helpful.
The O. Winston Link museum 3 blocks east of the VMT is almost a "must see" for anyone who goes out to photograph trains or who appreciates top quality RR photography. In between those two sites is the Linear Rail Walk, and the 1st. Street SW Bridge (recently re-named the MLK Bridge) is pedestrian only, so can help in creating some photo options for the busy NS main line. The train servicing the cement plant in Botetourt County uses a caboose every day, and you can also watch for the carloads of Coors Beer passing through between Golden CO and Harrisonburg, VA. Plenty of options for lunch there in the City Market area on the south side of the tracks from the Link Museum.
The N&W Shops are then just east of the Link Museum. A couple months ago, several locomotives from the VMT were stored on the north edge of the shops, visible from the public street. Public property photo locations are more limited around Shafer's Crossing (diesel service site) at 24th Street west... and some alertness to your surroundings and caution should be used in that area. The overview of the yard can be made by following Shenandoah Avenue west from downtown.
There are also two model RR hobby shops on the upper end of Williamson Road, within about a mile of one another. Ricks Hobby Shop and The Rail Yard - these are north of the Roanoke city limits.
Having lived there, I admit the postive perspective, but I think that Roanoke is a worthy destination for a visit. All kinds of interesting equipment shows up there at the N&W shops. I did not tire of grabbing the camera on a Sunday afternoon and going out to check the local spots for a couple hours. And if you have the time while near the VMT, walk two blocks south and one block west to 348 W. Campbell Avenue to view the "Officer Down" statue in front of the Police Department (Artist Lawrence Reid Bechtel of Blacksburg, VA; cast in Seagrove, NC).
Bill
Okay, so am I not going to take Amtrak there? I live in Northern VA.
LNER4472 stated my sentiments exactly. I stopped there about 3 years ago mainly to photograph N&W 1218. The rolling stock outside was great. The indoor exhibits were next to nothing. Someone mentioned a well-stocked gift shop, so they must have made a big improvement since.
Sadly, I didn't have time for anything else. But I was only passing thru town on my way home from St. Louis and only had a few hours to spend. Definitely glad I stopped.
No passenger service to Roanoke. Nearest stops would be Staunton or Lynchburg.
From Northern Virginia, take U.S. 29 - much more pleasant road to drive on (at least south of Warrenton) - plus, plenty of places to stop along the way. At Lynchburg, drive over the mountain on U.S. 460 - its also a good quality road and a pleasant drive (I-81 is a horrifyingly bad road to drive on).
The Coors beer train goes to Elkton, VA where their bottling plant is located, not Harrisonburg.
The VMT is definitely worth seeing - especially at what is a fairly reasonable price - and there is enough other stuff around Roanoke to satisfy any railfan. For a decent side trip, you can go west on 460 about 100 miles and also pick up Bluefield, WV.
Yes, the VMT has financial issues and had a sell a locomotive recently - but they still have a pretty good collection - most of which is under cover.
Well, railfans, my 4/20/09 visit to the OWLM and VMT was well worth the combo ticket (and enduring the rain squalls that day). Having my Hotel Roanoke parking ticket validated at the OWLM across the street (I stayed in Salem btw) so I could get out of the lot free didn't hurt either. I also like the market square downtown.
Despite the squalls, I was able to drive up Mill Mtn. to the Roanoke Star and look down on the city and the sprawling N&W/NS shop immediately to the east of the OWL and the NS yard to the west of downtown.
A sideshow to the OWLM is the exhibit on Raymond Loewy and the designs he made (the N&W Roanoke station, now the OWLM, was redesigned by him).
And on the way home to MD, I stopped in Staunton and visited the AMTK station downtown, +/- 3 hours before the wb Cardinal was due.
A very splendid Roanoke experience indeed. Thanks for the information, people.
I have been to both, VMT and the Link Museum, definately worth going.
Other stuff to look for that are rail related, on the ex-virginian track is the old virginian station. It has the roof colapsed but the local rrhs is trying to restore it. $$$$ needed. Also there is some derelict N&W steam locos that are in a fenced off scrap dealers property. If you got a good zoom lense you might get some decent shots.
Enjoy,
Jim
Depends where you are coming from.
If you are going that far, you might also consider dropping by www.nctrans.org (NCTM).
VMT has some nice equipment outside. And one oddity for the area, a GG-1.
Inside, not much. But I have found items in their gift shop they don't have at NCTM.
More cloths at NCTM and of course the Little Choo Choo Shop across the street.
And NCTM has some working equipment. No working steam right now (lack of funds).
Now I am biased.....
If you plan it for June 13-14, NCTM has a special even "Rail Days".
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