CALENDAR

The Virginia Museum of Transportation, with support from the 2012-2013 Taubman Foundation Sustainability Grant, is planning an entire year of events that celebrate Road, Rail and Air! Consider signing up for our email newsletter or becoming a member. You’re not going to want to miss a minute of fun this year. We're going places!

Registration now open for Summer Camp!
Extra-special summer camps are planned for boys and girls on the go! Wings and Wheels Summer Camp offers fun and active learning for children of preschool age up through those who have completed fifth grade. Click for more information and to register online...

New Hope Valley 17AT THE THROTTLE
Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, 9 am to 5 pm
YOU can operate a steam engine! AT THE THROTTLE puts you in control of the New Hope Valley Railway #17, a 0-4-0 tank steam engine.

Experience the power of steam. Reach up, open the throttle and feel the engine move on your command. Pull and listen to the scream of the whistle. The engineer sessions are 30 minutes long and a qualified engineer will be in the cab with you at all times. Boarding is from the dock behind the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Cost: $125. Register here!

Because this is an actual steam locomotive, there are a few rules:

  • Participants must be 18-years-old or older and have a valid driver's license.
  • Long pants and closed toe shoes are REQUIRED.
  • Long sleeve shirts are recommended, but not necessary.
  • The temperature inside the steam locomotive can reach 125 degrees, so be certain you can take the heat.
  • Bring your work gloves -- most valves and levers are HOT.
  • You must be able to climb into the locomotive cab and stand for over a half-hour unassisted.

Wings and Wheels Summer Camp!
June 17 - 21 and 24 - 28, July 8 - 12 and 15 - 19
Super fun summer camps for preschoolers through fifth graders! Click for more information and registration.

15th Annual African-American N&W Heritage Celebration
Saturday, June 22
Family activities during the day, and a special heritage celebration program in the evening with a guest speaker, special music, and recognitions of achievement.

Star City Motor Madness
Friday, June 28, 6 to 10 pm: Cruise-in on Williamson Road
Saturday, June 29, 10 am to 4 pm: Car and Truck Show, Downtown Roanoke
One of the East Coast's biggest car shows, now in its 13th year. Read more...

Pete Lerro Productions Night Photo Shoot
Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14
For the first time in nearly 20 years, both the N&W 611 and N&W 1218 will be outside together in the open air as the star attractions for a photo shoot by Lerro Productions. Unlike previous photo shoots, the steam locomotives will be pulled out from under the Claytor Pavilion, allowing you to photograph them like never before. Because of all the moves that are required, the engines will be left in the open all weekend, allowing photographers clear views throughout the day and in various lighting conditions. The locomotives face East so the early morning sun will produce dramatic light and color. View images from previous photo shoots.

The area where the locomotives will be staged has more room than where the engines are exhibited, so we can create much bigger settings. Our night sessions will feature dramatic lighting, human-interest scenes, actors, props, antique automobiles and artificial smoke. The day sessions will feature all the fun of the night sessions but will allow us to photograph the live action of the actors without the use of a tripod or long exposures. Other steam locomotives will also be used. Register here for the Lerro Productions Photo Shoots...

Grandparents Day
Saturday, September 7, 10 am to 5 pm
Sponsored by BB&T
Celebrating grandparents and grandchildren and everyone in between. Train rides, family friendly activities, and more!

Candy Cane Express
Saturday, December 9, 10 am to 5 pm
Celebrate the holidays at the VMT! Train rides, take your own pictures with Santa, decorate an ornament for your tree, family friendly activities, model train displays, and more!

Safety Car Theatre: Now showing "Going Home"
Ongoing
"Going Home," is a documentary produced by Norfolk Southern (1983) about the N&W Class J 611. Watch the 611 being built in the Roanoke Shops, restored for excursion service in 1982, and running under her own steam. Learn why this important engine is the Pride of Roanoke! (run time: 21 minutes, suitable for all ages.) Monday - Saturday showtimes: 11 am and 2 pm. Sunday showtimes: 2 pm. Showtimes subject to change. The safety car has a narrow hallway and is not wheelchair accessible.

Rail Yard Restoration Projects
Ongoing
The Museum has begun the cosmetic restoration of several pieces of rail equipment. The following are not on display, or may be intermittently closed, while work is in progress:

Roanoke Valley Model Engineers
Tuesdays, 6:30-8pm
The Roanoke Valley Model Engineers' ON3, HO, and N scale layouts are located in the basement of the Museum. The entrance is on the back of the Museum just off the Rail Walk and around the corner from the Jupiter Rocket. To drive to the back of the Museum, take Salem Avenue to 1-1/2 Street at Warehouse Row, turn left and head under the 2nd Street bridge to the back of the Museum. The Club's layouts are down the stairs.

International Plastic Modelers' Society, Roanoke Valley Chapter
Second and Fourth Thursdays, 7pm
The Chapter hosts builds and business meetings each month, as well as compteing 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. To drive to the back of the Museum, take Salem Avenue to 1-1/2 Street at Warehouse Row, turn left and head under the 2nd Street bridge to the back of the Museum. The meeting room is up the stairs. For information, email Tim Ward, Chapter President.