Railroad Museum of Virginia Groundbreaking

Click on photos to enlarge

After 11 years of preparation, the ceremonial shovels finally turn the sod at the site of a new

Railroad Museum of Virginia in Portsmouth.

History

In early 1988, a group of Portsmouth citizens approached Mayor James W. Holley III about the establishment of a railroad museum for the people of Virginia. Portsmouth was one of the first communities in America to organize a railroad, establishing the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad Company in 1832.

A Certificate of Incorporation was issued to the newly chartered Railroad Museum of Virginia on August 25, 1999. In October 2004, the Portsmouth City Council passed a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter a lease agreement with the RRMVA for a portion of the former CSX Railroad right-of-way lying east of PortCentre Parkway.

The RRMVA currently owns four historic rail cars on display at the site. Additional items in the collection include several work cars, one of which is a rare velocipede. Other large artifacts, such as a signal post, crossing gates and numerous books, pictures and other railroad memorabilia round out the collection. A revised lease agreement with the City of Portsmouth has recently been completed. The RRMVA worked for months with representatives - including City Council, the City Manager and City Attorney - to craft an agreement which willl help to expand the use and character of the site. The new lease provides for continued use of the property for the display of the rail cars and other artifacts as well as maintenance of the existing track, site improvements, addition of a locomotive and tender, and placement of additional rail for the display of historic work cars.

Locomotive / Tender

The Railroad Musum of Virginia, Inc. has completed an agreement with the Virginia Museum of Transportation for the acquisition of two rare historic rail units - a circa 1910 M class 4-8-0 steam locomotive and an accompanying tender. The locomotive, # 1134, is one of the "Lost Engines of Roanoke", four steam engines sold for scrap by N&W in 1950 and all but forgotten until recently discovered amidst vines and trees in a Roanoke scrap yard.

The locomotive is one of the last surviving examples of three classes of freight engines built for the N&W between 1901 and 1911; the W2 class 2-8-0 and the M2 and M2A class 4-8-0's. The first fifty engines ( nos. 1100-1149 ) were built by Baldwin, with engine no. 1134 arriving in October, 1910. The locomotive and tender will be restored as a static display this summer and delivered to the site by North Fork, Inc. in late fall of 2009.

Check comments at end of post for updates on the move of the engines.
Site Improvements

HBA Architects of Virginia Beach have been working with the Railroad Museum of Virginia, Inc. for over a year to design improvements. These improvements will enhance the visitor's experience, and improve the safety and security of the site. The focal point will be an elevated platform, running the entire length of the cars, covered by a canopy structure resembling a late 19th century train station. A large brick promenade, perimeter fencing, with a mix of period lighting as well as security lighting fixtures. Completion is slated for the fall of 2009.

Mission of the Railroad Museum of Virginia, Inc.

To act as a repository for the collection, preservation and conservation of railroad memorabilia and artifacts aquired from industry and individuals;

To utilize the museum and its exhibits to educate the visiting public regarding the history of the railroad industry and its impact on the economic, industrial and residential development of the locality, state and nation;

To carry out such other educational and charitable activities in connection with the railroad museum as are deemed appropriate to the mission of the organization as stated herein.

Railroad Museum of Virginia, Inc.

500 Crawford Street - Suite 300
Portsmouth VA 23704

Phone: (757) 393-4093

Click here for > Story by Janie Bryant -- The Virginian-Pilot

Other resources > The Lost Engines of Roanoke

VA Tech Digital Library

Great "before" photos > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lostengines/photos/album/0/list

If you have any photos of or related to the Museum, please submit them to the Flickr Group Pool.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/rrmv/

*Update 10/09/2012
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/10/portsmouth-railroad-museum-virginia-ready-open

WEBSITE > http://www.railroadmuseumofvirginia.com/index.html

New Historical Marker for Portsmouth

Historical Marker Erected to Commemorate the Battle of Craney Island

More photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldetownephotos/sets/72157621695177751/

Picture added to Historical Markers Databse > http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=22154

See previous post for more details > http://oldetownephotos.blogspot.com/2009/06/june-20battle-of-craney-island.html

Parade of Sail / Harborfest 2009

Finally, after ten thousand interruptions and Fibromyalgia inconveniences, I have posted the photos I made during the Parade of Sail / Harborfest '09 in my Flickr Photostream / Events / Sets / Parade of Sail. I shot all the images in the RAW format, thinking they would be better and easier to edit (?) and had to convert them to Jpeg for posting. Descriptions may be added later.

Thanks to Captain J.C. Waters and the crew of the Spirit of Independence for letting me tag along for this unforgettable experience.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldetownephotos/sets/72157620979662958/

Happy Independence Day

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 menwho signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: freedom is never free! I hope you will show your support by sending this to as many people as you can, please. It's time we get the word out that patriotismis NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

Have a Great HolidayFrom a Patriot

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_sign.html