Roanoke Virginia Railfanning

While you are here, DO NOT miss the O.Winston Link Museum located in the old N&W passenger station across from Hotel Roanoke. As for the stored locos, I don't think that they are there now. I could be wrong though as I don't get over that way very often. You might be able to see what little is in the yard from 10th St. bridge or travel up Shenandoah Ave. from the Link Museum west to 24th Street. In order to see the turntable, you will have to be on NS property located through the small underpass at Shaffer's Crossing (24th St.). Late at night you can spy the Amtrak train stored south of Elm St. on Williamson Rd. and during the day take in the restored Virginian passenger station just a little further south.

Here are some photos from our trip today. We saw two PRLX locomotives (9560 and 4833), the "Rare" NS 3830, BP4 999, Dash 9/8s waiting for rebuild, and many other fun things. Hope you all enjoy the photos from today!

Looks like the 2156 got some fresh paint!

Did you take the time to go to the O.W. Link Museum?

Yes, I have some pictures from the Raymond Loewy exhibit that I will post soon.

I only took a few pictures, and here they are.

NS6770Fan posted:

I only took a few pictures, and here they are.

OK, why display a model of a VERY famous steam locomotive, which never operated on the N&W, without the tender?

Outstanding photos!

I was able to briefly visit the museum in 2005 and clearly need to go back and spend a few days.

Your pictures help me appreciate the models we purchase/desire.

Thanks for sharing.

Hot Water posted:

OK, why display a model of a VERY famous steam locomotive, which never operated on the N&W, without the tender?

The person who donated it may have sold the "coal car" on the big auction site first.

Gilly@N&W posted:

Hot Water posted:

OK, why display a model of a VERY famous steam locomotive, which never operated on the N&W, without the tender?

The person who donated it may have sold the "coal car" on the big auction site first.

Then why bother? I would think the museum curator could find  something much more N&W related to display in that beautiful case.

Maybe at the time that the PRR was operating that locomotive it had a large owner ship share in the N&W somewhere around 49% I have heard. Both railroads had very close ties back then. I have heard they would assist each other testing locomotives.

RJT posted:

Maybe at the time that the PRR was operating that locomotive it had a large owner ship share in the N&W somewhere around 49% I have heard. Both railroads had very close ties back then. I have heard they would assist each other testing locomotives.

OK, but how many people visiting that museum would even know that? Still, the main question is,,,,,,,why no tender??????

All of your photos are great...including the locomotive without the tender.  You're not answerable to self-proclaimed photo critics.  Matt

boin106 posted:

All of your photos are great...including the locomotive without the tender.  You're not answerable to self-proclaimed photo critics.  Matt

To be totally clear, I never criticized ANY of his photos!  Also, I am NOT a "self-proclaimed photo critic". Plus, I don't understand why you keep attacking me.

Hot Water posted:

NS6770Fan posted:

I only took a few pictures, and here they are.

OK, why display a model of a VERY famous steam locomotive, which never operated on the N&W, without the tender?

Well, I guess you didn't read what the original poster wrote:"Yes, I have some pictures from the Raymond Loewy exhibit that I will post soon."

You see, there is a section of the old station where the paymaster's office used to be located that has an exhibit dedicated to Raymond Loewy and his works. And, if you didn't know Mr. Loewy redesigned the N&W passenger station.

Big Jim posted:

Hot Water posted:

NS6770Fan posted:

I only took a few pictures, and here they are.

OK, why display a model of a VERY famous steam locomotive, which never operated on the N&W, without the tender?

Well, I guess you didn't read what the original poster wrote:"Yes, I have some pictures from the Raymond Loewy exhibit that I will post soon."

You see, there is a section of the old station where the paymaster's office used to be located that has an exhibit dedicated to Raymond Loewy and his works. And, if you didn't know Mr. Loewy redesigned the N&W passenger station.

OK. However, that still doesn't explain why there is no tender on a model being displayed in such a high-end museum.

You could send a telegram to the museum curator and ask. 

Farmer_Bill posted:

You could send a telegram to the museum curator and ask. 

What's a "telegram"? Is Western Union still in business?

Hot Water posted:

Farmer_Bill posted:

You could send a telegram to the museum curator and ask. 

What's a "telegram"? Is Western Union still in business?

Yup

Telegram

Jack, its quite surprising to me as a railroad man that you don't remember that it is a Raymond Loewy exhibit and that he was the one who designed the streamlining on the PRR T1. So there's your answer, not matter where the stinkin' tender is! 

Great photos but I didn't see any photos of the O gauge layout inside the museum building.  Is it still there?

Bill

Bill: Yes it is and if you follow Scott Smith his Weekend Photo Fun thread you will see photos of that layout that he posts. There is one area where he changes the theme based on the holidays and the kids area of the layout. Scott does a great job with that layout not sure it would be there in as good a shape as it is without him.

RJT posted:

Bill: Yes it is and if you follow Scott Smith his Weekend Photo Fun thread you will see photos of that layout that he posts. There is one area where he changes the theme based on the holidays and the kids area of the layout. Scott does a great job with that layout not sure it would be there in as good a shape as it is without him.

Rick,

Thanks as that's good news that it is still there and thriving thanks to Scott.

Bill (who spent several years in State College attending PSU)

@NS6770Fan, I hate to ask but could you share some of the best rail fan locations you found?  Thanks

I see that the old Chesapeake Western loco is now in its original paint.  Not sure when that happened, but it is definitely an improvement.  Also it is good to see the Wabash loco has been restored.

I have NO knowledge why the tender is missing, but I will make a guess.  The museum had a display case of a certain size.  They found out that the loco and tender together were too big to fit, so they left the tender off.

The CW Baldwin engine was one of those "lost" engines of Roanoke. It was repainted right after they pulled it out of the weeds behind the old flour mill. It looks real nice.