Virginia Museum of Transportation

Today the temperatures hit 91. As I type this it is 87 inside as the maintenance staff does not switch the central system from heating to AC until May. Earlier this week, if we were home we would have been running the furnace.

While we were away, Evie and I visited the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke which is located in some old warehouses just off the downtown area. The museum fits the area as it has been historically a major railroad hub and for that area of the state it serves today as a major highway hub.

Below are some pictures. Later I will be posting some more.

The first locomotive is a 2-8-0 unit that was typical of the largest being being built in the late 1800s and became common in the 1890-1920 area. This unit was built in Philadelphia in 1897.

Above is a 6-6-4 unit built in Roanoke in 1843. This engine and size became the primary engines hauling the heavy loads of coal, tanks and other heavy war material. It was also the type of engine used to whisk troops rapidly from ports of departure.

Below is a larger 6-6-4 that was built in the Roanoke yards in 1950. It was one of the last of the large engines built before the advent of the diesel engines. Its sides were closed in to make it a more streamlined.

Following are pictures of the Norfolk and Western's "President One" which was used to transport the president of the railroad and other major dignitaries.