Virginia Museum of Transportation

Took 2 of my granddaughters to visit and they said it was really cool! Really enjoyed sorting Mail in the train car and pretending to drive a bus or sit in the airplane and drive the train! Very interesting and informative. The model trains were really neat and loved the Circus set up upstairs.

Roanoke should be truly proud of this community gem. It is certainly a transportation museum, detailing the automobile, bus, air flight including air stewards, maritime, and their local history as a train depot destination. It was fun for us to remember our grandpa's model train display as we enjoyed yours. Especially neat was the display of the model circus that came to towns by railroad. The hot air balloon basket was an additional highlight. The placards were very descriptive and gave us greater appreciation for the various aspects of transportation in our history. There were many opportunities to enter into examples of transportation. We loved the train yard & enjoyed the movie in the restored rail car. I forget where we read about this neat museum, but we live in Colorado and this was a great stop on our return home. This place is fun for all ages. Thank you Roanoke and your volunteers!

Great place to see some old trains. I loved seeing the N&W 1218,611,and N&W 6. I saw a gg1 which if you know what lionel is then you know what that locomotive is. Amazing model train exhibition. Would go again.

It was an interesting museum showcasing bus, rail, and airplane service across Virginia. It was heavily weighted to the rail portion of transportation, which was fine by me. Roanoke was a big hub for the Norfolk & Western Railway and the donated a lot of the locomotives and rolling stock showcased here, as well as the building, which used to be a significant freight depot for the N&W. The Norfolk & Western Railway merged with the Southern Railway in 1982, and they had a story about the two brothers that made it happen. They had a nice Rail Yard that displayed over a dozen real locomotives as well as rolling stock like cabooses, Railway post office cars, and hoppers, but you coukd only go through one caboose and none of the locomotives. On the particular day I visited, they were doing some work on one of the steam locomotives, so they had roped off about one-third of the rail yard and that left me disappointed. I recommend visiting this museum.

Awesome Museum! A perfect museum to visit if you’re a fan of transportation. They also get a railfan viewing platform on a flatcar where you can watch the Norfolk Southern Trains going by

Interesting info abt railway system in VA, Greyhound/Trailways bus system, airplanes, and the antique cars they have. There is one setup of a model train track, which is very detailed, but we only saw one train running the whole time. So, if you're taking young kids, know that this is very short-lived. Everything else is reading and looking. There isn't a lot of interactive things for kids. Make sure to go out back to see the big engines, and note that outside closes a half hour before the inside. Leave a good 1.5-2 hours if you want to read everything.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation is a must see for train and transportation enthusiasts! From beautiful dioramas, intricate models and large life sized interactive exhibits to the train yard, you don't want to miss this. The Spirit of Roanoke is currently being housed in the yard, with maintenance being performed to keep her in tip top shape.

Wonderful museum! It charmed our whole family. Time to see all the exhibits is not less than 1.5 hours.

Great museum located in the old freight station in downtown Roanoke. Features displays relating to trains, planes, busses and cars. The car exhibit inside features numerous cars mostly from 1900-1960. Brands not widely known such as the Piedmont are included. Early electric cars and NASCAR are also displayed. Outside features train engines. The pride of the shop is the 611 streamline engine built locally by the N&W. The 1218 is an example of common steam engines operated at the time O Winston Link was photographing in the area. This engine was donated by the railroad in his honor. Combining a trip here with the Link Museum at the old passenger station is a great railroading experience.

Nice museum Mostly automobiles and railroad equipment Some exhibits on aviation Many historical locomotives Most are in an open air pavilion Automobiles are indoors Ample parking. Also has a museum store

I got there today around 3:20pm, and there weren't a lot of people there. I expected to see more train engine/cars open. It was a very nice visit.

Do you like Trains, Planes, and Automobiles - well you'll get 2 out of 3 here. Home of 2 of the last Norfolk & Western (now Norfolk Southern) steam engines, a Loewy-designed GG1 electric locomotive, and all sorts of cool cars, and trains, as well as other means of conveyance. Great for kids and adults alike, bring good walking shoes and buy a combo ticket to the O. Winston Link Museum across the tracks - it's a must-see as well. Make a day in Roanoke (that can start and end with Texas Tavern - open 24 hours and not too far away) with this and all the other museums right nearby. Highly recommended!

Highly overpriced for the experience. It wasn't awful it just cost about twice what it should. We have paid far less at much better transportation museums in other areas.

My two-year-old is obsessed with trains, and we actually travel to Roanoke just to visit this place. There were so many exhibit and it was clean inside. The staff was friendly. Tickets were not expensive at all. Everything in the gift shop was reasonably. The train set up they have is amazing and the biggest I've seen.

Price (3/5): It's $12 per adult. $12 would have been fine if the museum was in better condition. It was a bit rough and rundown. The yard didn't seem very taken care of (there was a christmas tree and a bunch of scrap metal and trash lining the train yard). The train start buttons didn't do what the said they would; we'd push the buttons but nothing would happen. We'd have to wait for the timer to turn on for the trains to move. Car room (3/5): The car room didn't have any doors open, and I feel like the interior of a car is just as important as the exterior. Trains(4/5): It was cool being able to go into some of the trains! They have a cool mail train where you can time yourself sorting mail (I got 1 minute 40 seconds)! There were some vehicles that didn't seem to be stored correctly (outside gathering dust and pollen and exposed to the elements). For the price, these pieces of history should be better taken care of. There were quite a bit of people there too, so they definitely get the foot traffic. I'd say it's worth it to go. We spent 1 hour 20 mins here.

This is a sleeper of a destination spot! Right on the train tracks, this transportation museum used to be a warehouse. It still is - which is great if you're still covid-cautious (high ceilings, massive fans, great ventilation, and a large part of the museum is actually on the tracks, outside). As you enter in, there is a hodgepodge of displays. The large model train will get a lot of attention from the little ones. See if you can find Batman! Hit the buttons (some do stuff, others don't) and watch the trains and cars go around their tracks. To the left as you enter you'll find a large room that's just cars, from the 1800s to more modern ones (including a delorean). Each car has a nice write up, and you can get surprisingly close to cars worth more than my house. Out the back you'll find the train tracks, but don't get off the platform yet. There is a whole wall of wagons - including the first motorized warehouse truck (what we'd use a forklift for today). You'll be shocked at how old that is, but how modern it looks. Okay, first up are the old mail cars on the tracks (fun to explore, you can even sort letters) but you have to walk down the tracks to find the rest of the stuff - ranging from a buses, to an old firetruck to ancient train engines, police cars - it's really cool. Heading back inside you can head to the left side entrance and explore the aviation section, including a plane's passenger section you can get right inside. Don't forget to hit the gift shop on your way out, prices are reasonable and the staff is friendly. Even passing through Roanoke, I'd stop to go here again.

Six stars for the VMT, where I spent a pleasant two hours today. So much to see and experience even in the pandemic days where the interactive displays remain shut down. Trains, trains, trains. The railyard is full of locomotives and cabooses and rail cars and rolling stock and all sorts of railroad exhibits. You obviously can't climb on anything (safety!) but you can certainly get up close and personal. Many, if not most, of the exhibits have captions that detail manufacturer, specifications and some history of the piece. The automobile gallery has some of the oldest and best restored vehicles that I've seen in a couple of years. While definitely smaller than the Henry Ford in Dearborn MI https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-henry-ford-dearborn-2?hrid=DVVQoahBsz2-WU2l8L-sSA and the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville TN https://www.yelp.com/biz/lane-motor-museum-nashville?hrid=GIagYiUi35SpkaF0NE5dyg, they still have some unique cars that are in amazing condition. The aviation gallery has a history of air and air travel from Virginia's perspective. Some of the oral history films were pretty neat and educational. There are a number of other worthwhile exhibits that will keep you and the little ones entertained. A history of circus by rail, a miniature train setup and the history of bus travel in Virginia. Lots and lots of interesting stuff and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. There is free parking here. [Review 13788 overall, 1109 of 2020, number 1222 in Virginia.]

This is a great way to kill a couple hours or more if weather prevents you from doing more outdoor activities. The museum has a nice mixture of different types of transportation on display, but not a lot of each. They have real planes, trains, and automobiles on display here just not a lot. What they do have is very interesting and unique. The model ships and boats are exceptional and displayed well for everyone to see. There's a simulation plane that you climb in the cabin, sit, and look around. The rail yard is really impressive with 3 locomotives that you can go out and look at if you choose. The automobile inventory, thought limited, is still impressive and worth checking out.

What a fabulous museum. Had been on my bucket list. Went with friends. About a 2 hour drive down I81 from my house near Mt Jackson, VA. Where do I start. There is the yard is the 611 engine and 2 tenders. Rode behind this beauty from Manassas VA to Front Royal and back. What a thrill to stand beside her. Many many excellent displays. Secret!!! There is a GM electric car test model that was supposed to be destroyed by GM after the experiment was shut down.

Bottom Line: A great museum with a significant emphasis on trains but also plenty of good stuff related to cars and air transportation. I saw the Virginia Museum of Transportation on Salvage Dogs and as a train junky I was curious. Several years later my husband and I made the nearly five hour drive to Roanoke to visit the museum and other places on our Roanoke bucket list. Like most museums featuring heavy locomotives, large cars, rolling stock, etc. the museum is trackside and is located in the old Norfolk & Western freight station. Here are some of my favorite exhibits throughout the museum: - On Main Street I was surprisingly impressed with the exhibit about bus travel in Virginia - In the Rail Gallery I really enjoyed the "From Cotton to Silk" exhibit that told what life was like for African American railroad workers - In the Rail Yard I liked seeing the variety and was awestruck by the A-1218 behemoth - In the Aviation Gallery I got a kick of the photos of the flight attendants in their tiny circa 1960 mini-skirts and the photo of the MV-22. - In the Automotive Gallery I know the DeLorean DMC-12 is a big draw but for me I thought the Bookmobile was neat The museum includes some nice ship models but with Virginia's significant shipbuilding industry in the Hampton Roads area I was surprised there wasn't more coverage on ship transportation. In my opinion the real superstar of the museum's collection is the Norfolk and Western J-611 steam locomotive but it was not there when I visited! :-( The circa 1940s locomotive is the only one of its class to survive and it has that sexy, super cool streamlined appearance to rival the sleek design of, well, its rival, the airplane. I the understand it to be absolutely massive, even compared to other locos. I think the wheels alone to be close to six feet tall. Anyway, I guess it is temporarily at another museum in Spencer, NC so I hope visitors to NC Transportation Museum are gushing over it. Also impressive in size but not nearly as swanky is the Norfolk & Western Class A-1218 locomotive. It is also gargantuan! I am not a stranger to trains but I was still really impressed by the size of this thing! My husband and I had fun gawking at it and taking pictures in front of it. More impressive than its size is that it was built in two weeks because it was needed for WWII. TWO WEEKS! (And that is why that is the greatest generation!)Like the J-611 the A-1218 is also a highly prized item by VMT. We visited during COVID so a few exhibits were closed where social distancing isn't possible. Interactive exhibits were also closed. Most staff members were wearing masks and all guests were required to wear masks.

Wide selection of transportation and educational displays. They live on donations and it looks like they have done well with the limited budget they have.

We'll - I went there recently before they opened to get in and out quickly while passing through town and a bus was parked by museum parking and it looked like all the bus passengers were stretching legs and I did t want to park my car there with them all hanging out. Not to be mean but they all looked homeless or just got out of jail.... They were there for at least 20 min. So we left and never waited for them to open.

Is it possible to give 10 stars? Because I loved this museum so much after I visited in the morning, I came back in the afternoon. I really like trains and this place satisfies a craving for trains like no other. Located in the heart of downtown (a seven minute walk from the Hampton Inn where I was staying) this conveniently located and comprehensive transportation museum has something for kids of all ages. For a bargain $10 for adults (cheaper for kids) you have access to planes, trains, buses, automobiles and even ships! Oh, and there is a Jupiter missile outside to boot! Entering the museum, going to the left you first see a pretty comprehensive model railroad. It operates on a couple of levels so the tots get a kids' eye view of trains and the adults can look from up above. Something about the sound of model trains softens my heart and I could have stayed there for an hour looking at the dioramas and watching the trains. It's not as grand as the model train setup at the LIRR Museum in Riverhead, NY but it's still great. Since this is an old Norfolk & Western freight terminal, there is plenty of space for displays. There is a giant space filled with old cars along with a mockup of an old service station. Lots of cool gas station and other business signs as well. My faves were the Camaro "barn find" and the AMC Ambassador coupe. That was gorgeous. Continuing inside, there is a section on buses. Lots of information about Greyhound and Trailways, as well as Abbott Bus Lines, which I remember from my childhood. Lots of memorabilia including some old uniforms! After some more train information inside, there is a small section on ships and then further in the back, an entire aviation section. There's a lot about aviation in Roanoke over the years and tons of information about airports in Virginia. I found that fascinating. Seeing some of the airport signal lights as well as airplane engines (the Pratt & Whitney was a beauty) was great. All around the museum you see random historical objects like traffic lights, street signs, license plates, etc. that capture your attention. I loved it. There are also interactive exhibits as well as a couple of videos about trains. Of course the highlight of the museum is the train yard. It abuts active train lines so while you're out there (there is a cover) you're likely to see real trains going by. There are so many train cars and engines out there that it's hard to choose favorites. Actually, I made that up. Although all of the train cars and engines (particular the streamlined Wabash engine) are beautiful in their own ways, the star of the show is the J Class 611 steam engine. It's truly epic in scale and breathtaking in its beauty. It's not hard to see why the men at the Roanoke Shops took such pride in the J Class, nor is it difficult to see why so many men and women work so diligently to keep the history of the 611 and her sisters alive. With new safety regulations required (Positive Train Control technology), the 611 won't be going on any excursions soon but if they can get her up to snuff and start running excursions with her again, you better believe I would be the first in line. Since excursions were a big way to raise funds, that puts a crimp in their ability to upgrade this giant beast but you can help by making a donation http://fireup611.org/support/ I was happy to contribute. I also bought two DVDs about the 611. You can also have events here. There was a kid's b-day party going on the day I was here and later that evening I was speaking to a lady who had her wedding reception here. If I ever get married, it may be here! Please, please support the work being done here. Take your family here, bring a date. I could easily spend an entire day here and I think even the most jaded person will leave with a smile on their face once they hear the whistle of the 611 on one of the videos in the museum.

Been to few of these on the east coast, this one is one of the better ones. Plenty of well maintained exhibits to occupy a few hours

This museum was one of the highlights of our summer vacation this year. To set the scene -- we were catering to an active 5 year old and a baby, plus twin 6 year olds and an 8 year old, all of whom love planes, trains, automobiles and things that go! This was an awesome use of our day! The museum has several exhibits -- one with several classic cars, a toy train set up that is huge and interactive, a circus exhibit (that was upstairs, and may be a rotating exhibit?), a room on ships, a great exhibit on building the railroad and its intersections with race in the area, a fabulous exhibit on women in aviation (my favorite!), and a lot of other things related to airplanes. The big draw is the train yard -- you haven't really lived until you've stood in the shadow of these massive creations! They are truly amazing. You can board and explore several of them. We had a fun time checking out the mail train and trying to beat their sorting time. The kids were in awe of how big the trains were (as was I!), and they had such a fun time exploring all of the areas of the museum. For little ones, there's even a play area with all kinds of wooden and toy trains. That was a great break for the baby (and mama, who'd been carrying him around everywhere). For the entry fee ($10), I'd highly recommend this as a way to use half a day and let your kids get out a lot of energy! We went to several other indoor children's activities on our vacation, but this one was by far the favorite overall.

Museum This is a great museum in Roanoke that illustrates the various modes of vehicular transport, but the stars of the show are primarily the steam locomotives. Since my little guy is at the age where trains and trucks are fascinating to him, and being a train buff myself, I decided a trip to see some real trains was in order. We were not disappointed. The museum is housed in the old freight station of The Norfolk and Western Railway with the inside mainly done in train themes, but also housing cars, trucks, airplanes and some functional train layouts and other transportation related displays, but the real show is outside on the tracks adjacent to the museum. The cost is $10 to enter and you can spend as much time there as you like looking at all they have to offer. Since it is currently winter we could not fully appreciate the steam engines and various other rolling stock outside as it was too cold to have the little man out there for too long, but I definitely plant to return in the warmer weather. The steam engines are incredible and you can walk right up to them. The J Class 611 was fully restored and makes a variety of runs in the warmer weather - which means it is not sitting at the museum at that time so make sure you know the dates when it will be there so as not to miss out. The rest of the stock is not functional that I am aware of but still awesome to see. As a double bonus the museum tracks are right next to the Norfolk and Southern tracks and there are general freight trains moving around there too. The O gage layout inside is well done and fairly large- there are different levels and at the lowest level are trains more geared to the littles like Thomas the Tank Engine and trains with animals etc. They can hit the button and make the trains move - big fun for them. We killed a few hours in there and probably would have spent more time if the weather was nicer - but we definitely will return. Parking is available right along the building.

There is so much to see! This is a fun museum to go to, to learn some local history with transportation and some beyond. It seems ideal for younger children and people who likes trains or history. I was with a teenager that was not overly intrigued. Though I was here 10 years ago with little update or changes since then. A lot of hands on stuff to do. It is nice to climb through and walk into a lot of the trains. There is a lot of hands on activities, with everything working. The whole museum was clean, including the restrooms. There is free parking for museum goers. If you have time, include the O'Wiston Link Museum. It is nice to learn more of the history of the steam trains and the attempt to gather photo documentation of that era in transportation history.

As a 3rd generation retired railroader married to a railroader, this was a fantastic place to bring the family and reminisce and give the kids a hands on of what I did for years.

Fun two hours with emphasis on train and bus transport history in the Roanoke Valley Visitors from all over. Some cool preserved and/or restored autos including an electric car that competed favorably with gas for a while. See pics. Pluses: + Free parking available adjacent to the museum. Paid private parking is unnecessary if you arrive early or later. + Senior Adult price starts at only 60 years old. Small Gripe: - Most of the train stuff you can look but not touch or explore inside Tips: Remember your AAA membership for discount. Trains and buses are of course outside so remember your coat if cold and sun glasses if sunny.

Such an amazing museum! Antique trains, buses, fire trucks, and more. Staff was very welcoming as well. My son, now 12 yrs old, has loved trains all his life. This museum made him love them even more. You won't regret a visit here.

We had heard from friends about this museum and knew we would love it. We have a train-crazy 5 y.o. and we bought the family membership since we were planning on visiting Roanoke in the fall. And it worked out because we returned the next (mostly to watch the model trains). Beamer's 25 is a convenient place for lunch (walk-able from the museum). Also, if you drive electric. They have a charging station.

If you love trains than this downtown Roanoke museum is a great place to visit. They have many old train cars, stream engine locomotive and diesels engines. They have a large Lionel scale layout as well. Also on display is antique cars, historic busses, trucks and aircraft. It's only $10 admission and a great museum to visit if you're in the area. Recommended.

How cute was this place! They had so much to see. They even offered a train schedule that traveled to your nearest city. I wish I had a child to that I could have brought with me. It's a great place to learn about our history in transportation. The smell of all the historical items just made your imagination take you back to these times. A+ from me.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles! This was a nice stop on our way home. They cover transportation from covered wagons to present day. The layout of this museum is great. It brings you along each section in a logical way and you don't miss anything or have to backtrack. The trains and cars were the highlight for me. They had a big outdoor trainyard with plenty to explore. A few trains you can even go inside. They had every kind of train you could imagine. It was fun to wander around the trainyard and explore. And the cars.... oh the cars.... Anyone who knows me knows I love classic cars and anytime there's a car show, I'm game. This museum had quite a lineup of beauties. They even had an EVI, which aren't supposed to exist anymore. From the first cars manufactured, right up to that EVI, they had a good representation of all cars past. A drool worthy collection for sure. If you're in Roanoke and need to kill a few hours, this is a good way to spend your time. Also would be great to take the kids to, to see a bit of transportation history.

My home town, haven't been to the Virginia Museum of Transportation for probably 45 years! This is a wonderful display of transportation as well as Roanoke history and must see! There's a wonderful 20 minute movie on The Great 611. Do t miss the gift shop.

While making the long drive from Washington DC to Nashville we stopped in at this museum to stretch our legs and to see what they had in their collection. When we originally saw the signs we didn't expect to see much but we were pleasantly surprised by what we found. This transportation museum had a huge selection of items ranging from cars, to trains, to planes. The staff here was extremely polite and made it a point to not only greet us but to make conversation as we toured the facility. Our favorite sections were their indoor car museum as well as their selection of trains outside. In the end we were happy that we stopped in at this museum and we wish we had more time on our trip to dedicate to this museum. We rushed our visit a bit but have to say that what we did see was incredible as people who love different modes of transportation.

Love the trains the most. AWESOME I take my 2 nephews and we stay there for hours!! It's been a great learning tool.

Absolutely fabulous! Great for all ages. The locomotives are amazing! The bus history and the circus exhibits are great.

The museum offers something for everyone, planes, trains and automobiles. We had traveled to Roanoke specifically to see this museum as well as some other attractions. The staff in the ticketing area was friendly, even offering that we could leave to have lunch, leave our car in their lot, and come back in on the same admission. He even offered a very good lunch recommendation. There is certainly something for everyone to see there and worth spending the time to look. It is sad that society is losing its interest in such things although it was refreshing to see so many grandparents and grandchildren inside. I loved seeing the 611 up close. It is MASSIVE! I had seen it on one of its excursions a few years ago and will have the chance to ride an excursion in Strasburg, PA in September. I'm excited!

We went here a few weeks ago (the last time I went here was +10 years ago) and was floored! Absolutely AMAZED by the highly-detailed and intricate modules and exhibits. I could spend all day here! We really enjoyed it.

EXCELLENT!! If you like transportation like me, you'll enjoy this little gem of an attraction. Mostly trains (my primary interest), but an ample amount of cars, trucks etc. One great call out is the recognition of the Black history segment of the Norfolk & Western Railway. Very impressive and well-done. Moderately priced and it's along the Norfolk Southern mainline for your rail buffs.

Trains, Automobiles, Planes. You name it and they have it. Took my girls here when they were younger. Now they are teens and still remember it. We have it on our "To Do Again" list. Definitely worth the trip for young and old. Informative and Interesting!

Was in Roanoke for a few days and saw the Transportation Museum was close by. What a wonderful time! The main attraction, aside from monstrous stream engines, the antique car collection, model train set, was MR. Charles Hardy! This man is a walking encyclopedia of railroad knowledge. My wife and I were tang in the sites and happened to pass by 3 other visitors, who were listening to a guide. We tagged along and about 1 hour land listened to wonderful stories and facts Mr. Hardy had to tell. His Dad and Uncle as well as himself all worked for the railroad right in the exact location we were standing. His enthusiasm was contagious. A couple of trains came by and he identified the very type of engine was pulling the train by JUST HEARING THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE!!!! He knew the specs of each engine, fuel capacities, horsepower, manufacturer, dates of completion, routes & names of the current and past lines. He was an invaluable asset to the museum. I was impressed by the friendliness of all the volunteers. If you do go you must check out the story of "The 611". After watching the movie and listening to Mr. Hardy I bought a T shirt with "611" emblazoned on the front. The museum is a must when visiting Roanoke, however being able to educated by Mr. Hardy is the icing on the cake!

Great museum. Would highly recommend. Lots of trains and automobiles to see outside. Very cool train model inside. Price is right too. Would recommend spending. 2 hours to visit. Also going at sunset makes for some cool pics. Wish more of the trains would have been open to explore

What a great place to visit! I knew my 2 year old would love it, since she loves trucks and trains, and I was surprised to discover that even my little 7 month old was entertained. Both kids were riveted by the model train display, and the 2 year old was thrilled with the chance to see the big trains up close. Of course, my husband, in-laws, and I had a great time checking out the cars, planes, and everything else on display. I'd love to go back the next time we're in Roanoke!

Great spot for kids and adults! This was our 2nd time and we brought friends this time. Everybody had a great time.

If you like, planes, trains, and automobiles (OK, really just the latter two), then spend a few hours in this fun museum learning all about the history of rail in the Roanoke valley. Gawk at the enormous model train exhibit, and even step into an old steam engine and passenger car. Also on exhibit are some amazingly preserved automobiles from the early 20s through the mid 80s. A great place for the curious individual or the whole family. Don't miss the circus exhibit on the 2nd floor.

If you are a train enthusiast, this is the place for you. It is great fun for children of all ages, from 2 thru 92.

This place was alright overall. However I was extremely disappointed at how few of the trains were open for viewing. Other train museums I have visited were a much more hands on experience. I really wanted to go inside the trains instead of walk next to them. A good place to kill a hour. Maybe two.