We spent a full day in the Star City, originally known as
Big Lick, but now known as Roanoke, Virginia.
We enjoyed a guided tour through the Virginia Transportation Museum located
in downtown Roanoke’s century-old freight station. The museum includes an extensive collection
of steam, diesel, and electric locomotives and other types of rail cars. The
pride of the rail yard are two of the most advanced steam locomotives ever
built, the Norfolk & Western Class J 611 and Class A 1218. The Class J is the most powerful passenger
steam engine produced has a top speed of 120 miles per hour. Other exhibits in
the museum include model trains, automotive and aviation exhibits, buggies, a
trolley bus, and a Jupiter Rocket.
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| The N&W J Class Locomotive |
In the afternoon, we traveled in a vintage city bus to the
O. Winston Link Museum, a museum dedicated to the photography of O. Winston
Link. Link is the twentieth century railroad photographer widely considered the master
of the juxtaposition between steam railroading and rural culture. Link’s approach to lighting of night
photographs was considered groundbreaking.
The museum displays hundreds of photographic prints and has interactive
displays, including audio, that provide information on Link's photographic
subjects.
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| Our Vintage City Bus |
After leaving the museum, we traveled on our bus to the Black Dog
Salvage Warehouse. The warehouse is
highlighted on the DIY network television program Salvage Dogs. The site is
considered one of the premier architectural salvage sites. We spent an hour walking through the facility
that is loaded with literally tons of “stuff.” Even though the warehouse contains thousands
of “treasures”, only three people bought small items.
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| What is it? |
Finally, we drove up Mill Mountain in Roanoke to view the
Roanoke Star. The star, constructed in 1949, is the world's largest
freestanding illuminated man-made star. After construction of the star, Roanoke was
nicknamed "Star City of the South". It is visible for 60 miles from
the air and it sits 1,045 feet above the city of Roanoke. The contains neon white, red, and blue light tubes that light up
at night.
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| The Roanoke Star |
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| View From Mill Mountain |
