Preservation Group Announces Fundraising Campaign to Save Roanoke Scrapyard Engines

[NW Mailing List]

*Preservation Group Announces Fundraising Campaign to Save Roanoke 
Scrapyard Engines*

 

NATURAL BRIDGE, VA -- The Western Virginia Railroad Preservation Society 
(TWVRPS) is pleased to announce the launch of a new fundraising campaign 
to rescue the remaining historic railroad equipment in the former 
Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal Company scrapyard in Roanoke, VA.  This 
equipment consists of three Norfolk & Western steam locomotives built 
between 1910 and 1911, two rare Baldwin diesel locomotives from the 
Chesapeake Western Railroad, two water canteen cars converted from steam 
locomotive tenders, and a flatcar.

 

A Virginia-based nonprofit organization, TWVRPS was originally formed in 
2003 for the purpose of trying to save the Roanoke locomotives, but 
shifted their focus to other projects after the scrapyard donated the 
equipment to the Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT) later that 
year.  However, given the VMT's financial difficulties and their stated 
primary interest in Roanoke-built steam locomotive number 1151 and one 
of the former Chesapeake Western diesels, it is clear that other 
organizations must now come forward in order to save the remaining 
equipment, and TWVRPS is eager to return to its original objective.

 

It is the goal of TWVRPS to see as many of the Roanoke scrapyard 
locomotives saved as possible, through the coordinated efforts of 
TWVRPS, the VMT, and other interested parties.  A fourth steam 
locomotive, Norfolk & Western 917 was recently acquired by an individual 
in Ohio and removed from the yard.  At an estimated cost of 
approximately $50,000 each to move the three remaining steam 
locomotives, two diesels, two tenders and a flat car, just what can be 
saved will depend on the amount successfully raised before the December 
31, 2008 deadline given by the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing 
Authority, which now owns the scrapyard site.  

 

TWVRPS will support the VMT in their efforts to acquire the 1151, and 
has developed a priority list of the remaining equipment.  The group is 
particularly interested in engine number 1118 (the most intact of the 
three steam locomotives remaining in the yard), and would also like to 
preserve one of the diesels.  The two water tenders, although not 
original to the locomotives, are similar to tenders that these engines 
would have used in their final years of service, and are also high on 
the priority list of items to be saved. 

 

The 1118 and other historic locomotives preserved by TWVRPS are to be 
restored and displayed in the Commonwealth of Virginia as an important 
part of the region's railroad heritage.  The Society is currently in 
negotiations to acquire a permanent site for their museum and 
restoration facility in western Virginia.  The group has identified 
several potential storage sites in the Roanoke area where the equipment 
can be placed out of harm's way and restoration work can commence, 
pending a move to the permanent facility.

 

The Western Virginia Railroad Preservation Society is a 501(c)(3) 
non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible.  More 
information about TWVRPS can be found on the Society's website, 
www.wvrps.org <http://www.wvrps.org/>.  Donations to TWVRPS can be made 
online via PayPal, or by mail to:

 

The Western Virginia Railroad Preservation Society, Inc.

P.O. Box 124

Natural Bridge, VA 24578

 

 

____

 

Press contact:

Andrew Martin

The Western Virginia Railroad Preservation Society, Inc.

P.O. Box 124

Natural Bridge, VA 24578

 

Tel: 1-866-392-0653

Email: amartin at twvrps.org

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