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For Immediate Release<br><br>
July 15, 2009 <br><br>
For images, contact Fran Ferguson 540-342-5670 ext. 105,
<a href="mailto:fferguson@vmt.org">fferguson@vmt.org</a><br><br>
<br><br>
<b>Virginia Museum of Transportation Saves the “Lost Engines of
Roanoke”<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
(Roanoke, VA)For nearly sixty years, one-of-a-kind examples of cherished
American steam locomotives from the early Twentieth Century have
languished in a Roanoke scrap yard. Today, the Virginia Museum of
Transportation announces a partnership that will lead to the preservation
of these locomotives and other rolling stock.<br><br>
<br><br>
Originally faced with a cost of $50,000 per piece to remove the rail
stock, the partnership provides an arrangement to save not only the steam
locomotives, but virtually all but one of the pieces of rail equipment
now impounded at the old Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal Co. yard in
Roanoke, VA.<br><br>
<br><br>
“The Museum has been working to rescue these locomotives for nearly
thirty years,” said Eugene M. Elliott, Jr., a long-time board member of
the Museum. “We are grateful to our partners and the community that will
allow us to bring these engines home, and save them for generations to
come. Most of these pieces have a direct connection to Roanoke, and
illustrate a story that should not be lost of the Valley’s hard-working
railroad employees.”<br><br>
<br><br>
The “Lost Engines of Roanoke” and other rail stock have been at the scrap
yard since the 1950s. The yard was recently sold to make way for Carilion
Clinic’s growing medical campus on South Jefferson Street, providing a
window of opportunity to save these engines. <br><br>
<br><br>
The following are all playing an important role in saving the Lost
Engines:<br><br>
· The Virginia Museum of
Transportation, the Official Transportation Museum of the Commonwealth of
Virginia located in Roanoke, VA.<br><br>
· Virginia Scrap Iron
& Metal Co. which generously donated the locomotives and rail
stock.<br><br>
· The Roanoke
Redevelopment and Housing Authority which currently owns the
property.<br><br>
· The Railway Museum of
Virginia in Portsmouth, VA which has been working for several years to
develop a rail heritage site. Groundbreaking is scheduled for later this
month. <br><br>
· Will Harris of North
Fork Lumber Co., who will move the equipment.<br><br>
· Carilion Clinic, future
owner of the site, which has concurred with plans to move the
engines.<br><br>
<br><br>
“We are excited to be taking action on the Lost Engines and to be able to
put together such a wonderful coalition of partners to make it happen,”
said Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., the Museum’s Executive Director. “The
Lost Engines will be saved, but it will take additional funding and
support from the community to restore these pieces and put them on
display.” All of the equipment is expected to be moved by September 30,
2009.<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>The Lost Engines: three N&W Class M-2 and M-2c steam
locomotives<br><br>
</b>The steam locomotives in the Roanoke scrap yard are the very last
surviving examples of two classes of Norfolk & Western heavy freight
locomotives, the M2 and M2c classes. The Classes serve as an important
example in the development of heavy freight locomotive technology in the
pre-World War I era. Originally intended for heavy freight service, the
Class M2s were soon displaced by larger engines and reassigned to local
freight and switching duties. By 1950, they were among the oldest engines
on the N&W roster and were designated as surplus to operations. All
were sold for scrap, the last ones in 1957. <br><br>
<br><br>
<u>Norfolk & Western Class M2c # 1151 steam locomotive: to the
Virginia Museum of Transportation<br><br>
</u> <br><br>
This M2c engine was built in Roanoke by the N&W in June of 1911, one
of eleven built to the Norfolk & Western’s own M2 design. It included
a number of advancements for its time, including the Baker valve gear and
mechanical stokers. The locomotive’s Baker valve gear which gives it a
signature ‘Roanoke’ look: the N&W used the Baker more than any other
valve arrangement and was still using it on the last steam engine built
in the East End Shops 41 years later. The #1151 arrived at the Roanoke
scrap yard in 1950 and is the last survivor of its class.<br><br>
<u> <br><br>
Norfolk & Western Class M2 steam locomotives: #1134: to the
Railroad Museum of Virginia and <br><br>
# 1118 to Will Harris/North Fork Lumber Co. <br><br>
</u> <br><br>
Fifty Class M2 engines were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in
Philadelphia in 1910. Engine #1118 was delivered to the Norfolk &
Western in September of that year, and fellow survivor #1134 arrived in
October. Both were sent to the Roanoke scrap yard in 1950 after forty
years of service. Today, engines #1118 and #1134 are the last of the
original M2s that still survive.<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>Two Baldwin diesel locomotives: one to the Virginia Museum of
Transportation<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
Two “first generation” diesel locomotives are in the scrap yard. Built by
Baldwin in Eddystone, PA in 1946, these diesels represent an historic
step in the development of the technology that displaced steam from
America's railroads in the 1940s and 1950s. These two locomotives are the
Chesapeake Western #662 and #663, 660 horsepower locomotives which
transitioned the Chesapeake Western from steam to diesel. The surviving
Chesapeake Western blue paint with gold stripes is striking. The
shortline railroad ran from the Norfolk & Western connection at
Elkton, VA to Harrisonburg, Bridgewater and Staunton, giving these
engines an important Virginia connection. The engine in the best
condition will go to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The other
will provide parts or be scrapped to defray expenses.<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>Two Norfolk & Western steam locomotive tenders: one to the
Virginia Museum of Transportation, one to the Railroad Museum of
Virginia<br><br>
<br><br>
</b>While not the tenders originally associated with the steam
locomotives in the scrap yard, two other tenders, similar in design but
modified to serve as water canteens, are there. The first tender is
N&W 150006, a fifteen thousand gallon tender. Its Pilcher trucks were
designed by a N&W employee in Roanoke, fabricated at the East End
Shops, and are rare. No car number is visible on the second tender, which
is a sixteen thousand gallon tender. <br><br>
<br><br>
<b>Norfolk & Western Maintenance of Way Flat Car: to Will
Harris/North Fork Lumber Co.<br><br>
</b>Built in 1916, flat car 516605 was first used in revenue service,
then placed in maintenance of way service, and later sold to the
Chesapeake Western. The car may be the last class FE flat car remaining.
<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>About the Virginia Museum of Transportation:<br><br>
</b>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>
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