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April 23, 2009<br><br>
For Immediate Release<br><br>
Contact: Fran Ferguson/ 540.342.5670/
<a href="mailto:fferguson@vmt.org">fferguson@vmt.org</a><br><br>
<br><br>
<b>In conjunction with the O. Winston Link Museum, <br><br>
Virginia Museum of Transportation celebrates Rail Day with a full day of
festivities<br><br>
Note: Change of date from June 20, 2009 (previously announced) to May 9,
2009<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
(Roanoke, VA)The Virginia Museum of Transportation presents Rail Day,
featuring one-of-a-kind opportunities for rail fans, guided tours, and
fun activities for all ages. Bring your camera! Rail Day will be held at
the Museum at 303 Norfolk Avenue in Downtown Roanoke on National Train
Day, May 9, 2009, 10am-5pm. Phone: 540/342.5670.
<a href="http://www.vmt.org">www.vmt.org</a> <br><br>
<br><br>
For this one special day, the Museum will welcome visitors into the cab
of its world-famous Class J 611 Locomotive, the only locomotive of
its class that exists anywhere in the world today. Visitors will enjoy a
rare opportunity to sit in the engineer’s and fireman’s seats of this
sleek and powerful steam engine. Climbing inside the Museum’s newest
permanent exhibit the cab of Norfolk Southern’s SD-40 Locomotive 1594
is also a great photo opportunity. <br><br>
<br><br>
The Museum’s much-beloved Class A 1218 Locomotive will travel to the O.
Winston Link Museum on Rail Day as the centerpiece for the Link Museum’s
Celebration at the Station. In the 1218’s usual location, Norfolk
Southern will have a special exhibit of its current equipment, including
the cutting-edge Clean GE Evolution<sup>TM</sup> Series Locomotive, its
research slug, and a crew caboose. <br><br>
<br><br>
According to GE’s website, the Evolution<sup>TM</sup> Locomotive produces
4,400 horsepower using a 12-cylinder engine. Its advanced technologies
save fuel and reduce emissions, air pollution and noise. The research
slugthe only one of its kind in the United Statesis a converted
locomotive now equipped to monitor rail safety. It is tentatively
scheduled, subject to its availability. <br><br>
<br><br>
Volunteers, including past and present Norfolk Southern employees, will
be on hand to lead tours and answer questions. They will showcase Norfolk
Southern Research Car 31, which is on permanent display at the Museum but
seldom open for tours. <br><br>
<br><br>
“We are so excited to work with the O. Winston Link Museum to make
National Train Day a whole lot of fun for everybody who loves trains,”
says Bev Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of
Transportation. “Because what each museum does best is so different,
together we can offer a really outstanding day full of special events. We
always encourage our visitors to enjoy a stroll up the Railwalk, watch
live trains, and visit the O. Winston Link Museum.”<br><br>
<br><br>
The Virginia Museum of Transportation thanks Norfolk Southern for its
generous assistance in moving rolling stock and for allowing the Museum
to display current operating equipment.<br><br>
<br><br>
<u>About the Virginia Museum of Transportation:<br><br>
</u>Home to two of the most powerful steam locomotives in existence
todaythe Class A 1218 and the Class J 611the Virginia Museum of
Transportation regularly attracts visitors of all ages from across the
U.S. and 45 foreign countries. Through exhibits, artifacts, and an
outstanding collection of rail equipment, cars, trucks, airplanes, and
more, the Museum tells the rich story of Virginia’s transportation
heritage. The Virginia Museum of Transportation is the Commonwealth of
Virginia’s Official Transportation Museum located in the historic N&W
Freight Station at 303 Norfolk Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24016. Open
Monday-Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 1-5. 540/342.5670.
<a href="http://www.vmt.org">www.vmt.org</a><br><br>
<br><br>
<u>Other Train Day experiences in our area: <br><br>
</u>O. Winston Link Museum: Celebration at the Station <br><br>
101 Shenandoah Ave NE, Roanoke, VA<br><br>
May 9, 10am-2pm: A Rail Heritage Festival Celebrating the History of
Roanoke with the Class A No. 1218 Locomotive, Norfolk Southern Business
Cars, Diesel F-Units, and 1/8 scale train rides. <br><br>
7- 10pm: Late Night at the Link! Bring your camera for a night shoot on
the tracks behind the O. Winston Link Museum. <br><br>
<a href="http://www.linkmuseum.org">www.linkmuseum.org</a> for ticket
information<br><br>
<br><br>
David R. and Susan S. Goode Railwalk<br><br>
Connects the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the O. Winston Link
Museum in Downtown Roanoke<br><br>
Always open, always free: part museum, part linear park, the Railwalk
stretches approximately 1/3 of a mile along Norfolk Southern’s mainline
tracks in the heart of downtown Roanoke. More than 20 story boards and
numerous rail artifactsmany of which are interactivebring Roanoke’s
rail heritage to life.
<a href="http://www.roanokeva.gov/WebMgmt/ywbase61b.nsf/DocName/$railwalk">
http://www.roanokeva.gov/WebMgmt/ywbase61b.nsf/DocName/$railwalk</a> for
more information <br><br>
<br><br>
C&O Historical Society: Railroad Heritage Festival<br><br>
705 East Main Street, Clifton Forge, VA<br><br>
May 9, 10am-6pm: A day long festival at the Heritage Center featuring
booths, food, etc. <br><br>
<a href="http://www.cohs.org">www.cohs.org</a> for more
information<br><br>
<br><br>
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