Virginia Museum of Transportation

The Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia, is the official state transportation museum of Virginia and home to one of the finest collections of historic locomotives and railroad equipment in the American South, anchored by the magnificent Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 — one of the most beautiful and technically advanced steam locomotives ever built in America. The 611 is a 1950-built passenger steam locomotive of extraordinary elegance, frequently described as the epitome of American steam locomotive design, and has been returned to excursion service for special mainline runs on Class I railroads that draw rail enthusiasts from across the country. The museum’s Roanoke location is fitting: Roanoke was the headquarters of the Norfolk & Western Railway and one of the great railroad manufacturing centers of the 20th century, and the museum occupies the historic Freight Station of the N&W in the heart of downtown. The collection includes rare diesel and electric locomotives from the N&W’s pioneering electrification program, historic passenger cars, freight equipment, and one of only two surviving N&W Mallet locomotives. Museum excursions on the adjacent O. Winston Link Museum provide additional perspective on the N&W’s remarkable steam railroad legacy. The museum hosts special excursion events with operating steam locomotives on mainline railroads throughout the region.