Hi Everyone,
Due to problems I have had with my internet connection I have been
offline
for a while. We have still had some things going on so here is an
update.

1. As you all know we have been given some Machine tools from the PA
Railroad Museum in Strasburg PA. We have been working on finding
someone that can move the tools for us. A hauling company has agreed
to move the machine tools for us for the cost of the fuel to move
them. We have figured a minimum of $3000.00 Dollars costs to more the
equipment back to Virginia. We also have a Deadline set before us
now. The curator of the museum has informed us that they want to
start Restoration on the Flat Car the tools are on this summer so we
need to try and have the tools removed by April 2006. So we need
Donations for the moving of the machine tools. Our goal is to raise
the $3000.00 dollars by the first of April 2006. Any donation will
be greatly appreciated.
These Tools will be used in the restoration of Railroad equipment
that we acquire and equipment that other groups need help restoring.
To get a look at the machine tools go to the following link.
http://andy.wvrps.org
There are other pictures there too even some of the Wheel Lathe that belongs to the NCTM

2. We have started acquiring Data for an online Database of
Railroading History. This project is going to be a work in progress
for years to come.
We are starting with a Builders and Resellers list and going to build
on that. We are looking for People to help work on it. We are also in
the process of setting up a server for the database. I have sent out
several DVDs with the data we have already to some people who are
going to be working on it. A lot of the files are text images
converted to PDF format so these will need to be Transcribed into a
spreadsheet format for ease of transfer into the database. If you are
willing and have some time to help with this contact us.


Thank you
Andrew Martin
President
WVRPS
http://www.wvrps.org

Does anyone have any more information about the C&O Clifton Forge Shops? Is this group trying to buy this place or do they already own it? This place looks good to use again for train restoration.

I found the site that showed those lcocs in the scrap yard. Cudos on your rescue effort. There were several engines in the picture. How many did you rescue? How did you move them?

Later!
Mr. Ed

Well I am answering this one because I haven't seen Western Virginia Railroad Preservation answer this yet. The "Lost Engines" of Roanoke are still setting be side the scrap yard in Roanoke on the same tracks they have been setting on for decades even half a century. I guess it's safe to say they are no longer lost and haven’t been for some time. The locomotives are quite rough and have seen their share of prying hands. I am from Roanoke and visit them when ever I’m out making the photographic rounds of the Roanoke Valley. Last I heard after the Death of Sam Golden the owner of Virginia Scrap that the estate was being settled, and that the "Steam Equipment" at the Jefferson street facility would be donated to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. At this time as well my understanding is that Norfolk Southern is involved in helping relocate the equipment to the Virginia Museums Facility Downtown. Recent events at and around the Virginia Museum “May” for tell of the coming equipment, over the last year or so the Virginia Museum of Transportation has moved to off site storage (Center of Roanoke Hump yard) the following equipment:

Wabash E-unit, RF&P E-unit CofG SD-7, VGN coal hopper, E.J.Levino 0-6-0 tank steam locomotive (Belonging to the Roanoke Chapter NRHS), N&W PG coach, among others. Apparently this move was made by Norfolk Southern with the understanding that nothing in that line could be touched for two years, guessing this is to prevent the Railroad ending up with a headache of we need this could you move that situation. So with these items in storage for now and off site, a noticeable amount of space has opened up inside the grounds of VMT and there is track space available, for what? My understanding is they are making room for the new additions to the collection...

Now these Locomotives and other pieces of rolling stock at Virginia scrap have been available for years, but none of the equipment is even close to moving on its own wheels and likewise the switch to the siding has long been taken out. Another factor to the equipments eventual removal from the location is hampered buy the fact that they are sandwiched between the NS pumpkin vine an active mainline (Feet away) with a river just on the other side of the main complicating things and the back side of a scrap yard on the other. No real room to move around any equipment at this time. The reason and maybe the only reason the equipment has been looked at to move to a new location is that the current site of the scrap yard falls flat in the middle of a multi-million dollar multiple acre medical research center site being developed. All industries in the area have been bought and leveled and relocated with the scrap site being one of the last to go, and it's slowly going.

I was down there when they were pulling Steam Locomotive driver sets out of the piles of scrap, Drivers off the box cab electrics that the VGN and N&W ran, not to mention countless other recognizable parts here and there. My fellow friends and I scrounged around on slow days seeing what we could find and boy did we find goodies! Lest I remind you this scrap yard was established across the street from the Virginians Roanoke Shops and roundhouse, many items the Virginian scrapped went across the street. Also the N&W in town had there Roanoke Shops down the street and around the corner. Lets just say at the end of steam where do you think all the extra parts went that were not saved, yeah that’s right Virginia Scrap. I know this because I've seen with my own eyes crates set aside of new parts in the warehouses of Virginia scrap. Our group went in and offered what we felt was a far price and left for example with 6 new cast Pile National headlights still in there fruit crate style shipping containers stenciled ship to N&W. The Headlights were of different styles from pilot mount to the port hole streamlined as used on the K's and J's. Some of the other items me and the buddies left with were brass air horns and piles of Pyle & Gyrolites as used on the backs of NKP cabooses and Office cars, have to mention that we left with a visible Gas pump or two as well. Now the reason I mention all of this is that railroad scrap yards are mentioned on hear (RYPN) all the time, Is there any "cool stuff" left? Here or there? Well in the Virginia Scrap yard there was. Now most of the small stuff is gone that most "collectors" would want but the big stuff is still there and the following is what is still there:

The four Steam Locomotives (N&W).
Two Baldwin Switchers (CW)
Two auxiliary water tenders, old tenders being converted (Not finished by N&W)
The string of Very early N&W hoppers in very good shape stuck on the tipple. (Would look great behind the 1218!)
Derrick flat car with water tank.
And many small steam locomotive parts even a two axle lead truck? Among others.
Keep in mind this is the same scrap yard and scrap line the N&W 475 used to site in before being saved years ago, now running proudly at Strasburg.

Another little known fact is that Virginia scrap also has a second facility in Roanoke, where they have more steam equipment, now not as exciting to most as the locomotives, there is a complete 150ton steam derrick (N&W/VGN) and I mean complete still has coal in the bunker for the upright boiler. Also there is a N&W made box car/power car of 20's 30's vintage, had a Fairbanks Morse power plant in it till recently. Also on site is the Derricks flat car with wooden fence sides and accessories. The Virginia scrap yard #2 is one of those places where they bought scrap for years and are just getting around to selling it off. I've walked the second yard and found piles of Caboose coal stove parts, baggage cart wheel, ice cart wheel sets, coach cars worth of seat frames and parts, riveted single dome tank cars and cast iron wheel sets, not to mention old track tools and parts and again many of the round and square Pyle and Gyrolites that were found on NKP equipment, tubs full of them. .

Ok the point and end of the story is I've lived in Roanoke all my life and Most of these goodies were not found or located till this past year (2005). So for all the “Northwestern Steel and Wire and Virginia Scrap out there could and do hold treasures to be found. Happy Hunting, if any one out there would like to see pictures of any of the items listed above please e-mail me and I’ll be more than happy to e-mail them to you. Including the goodies found!

Hi Everyone,
I am a bit late replying to the questions. Too many irons in the fire.

You are right the Equipment in the scrapyard has been Donated to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The 4 steam engines, the Baldwin diesels, the hopper cars and the tenders and flat car that are there.
I have spoke to one of the executors about it and that is what I was told. It is my understanding that someone from the Virginia Museum of Transportation mentioned something about the large over head crane that is being used in the yard.
I want to thank Mr.Pullman for describing all the things that he has found there. There is a tremendous amount of Items still left there.

The shops at Clifton Forge can be a good place for restoration work. If you have looked at my photo site you can see about 100 photos of what it looks like at this time. What ever is done with it will require lots of work.
We are working on a proposal for the owners If anyone is interested in finding out more please contact me via email. There is a lot of potential there.

Andrew

I asked Steven Smith off-line if he saw any steam pumps or stationary steam engines in the yards. He believed he did; it would be interesting to know just what all can be found between the two yards.

The locomotives and rolling stock understandably get the lion's share of attention; but it sounds like lots of other interesting stuff can be found as well. I wish I lived closer so I could check it out in person.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

Hi James,
I am not sure about steam pumps but I did see an old Steam donkey (Mule aka Winch) at the scrapyard. It has 2 little engines on it and a big tank. I dont know if it is an upright boiler or not but will try to find out. my estimate of the weight of it is around 5000 pounds.
I am going to be going back to the scrapyards in March and I will see if I can get some more pictures of what I have seen. I think I have some pictures so if you are interested in seeing them email me and I will send them to you.
Andrew

Well folks, here is an update on the "other" forgotten Rail Equipment in Roanoke VA. Recently heard that with the cleaning and closing of the Virginia Scrap & Irons Jefferson St. location where the better known steam locomotives and Baldwin’s are, that the other Virginia Scrap & Iron location in town will soon be sold to another local Scrap dealer, Vinton Scrap. Having said this I just want to stress the fact that there are many unique items small to large there of interest as well. Unfortunately I have to inform you that one of the more unique and historic items not yet preserved was lost this last month, an N&W power car as an example is seen in the attached picture in better days (one of it's sisters). The car in the scrap yard had never been modernized from how they looked in this picture with one exception, the trucks. The car currently had a set of Friction Arch bar trucks marked N&W.

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(Image property of Image Base, Virginia Tech)

With in the last month a more aggressive stance has been made to sale and clean up more and more of the scrap "Artifacts", with that last push to make the easy dollar before the Yard changes hands. The Power car had 1/4 of its side and end cut, removed and scraped to facilitate the removal of the Fairbanks Morse (I have pictures of this engine) that formally powered the generator to be sold. The other equipment that remains has the same risk looming in their near future, The N&W 150ton Steam Derrick and tender as well as the large quantities of other items. Recently many of the smaller railroad related artifact have been bought for little to nothing "good" with more still to save. We have lost one significant item from this lot; let’s try to save the others. I have pictures of this equipment if any one wants to see it just send me an e-mail.

Side note a complete Wooden MofW box car train is still stored on a siding in nearby Pulaski VA. Currently seven wooden MofW box cars remain.



(Image property of Image Base, Virginia Tech)

One of the cars has burned in the past but still remains some what complete, with damage to 50% of the wood structure. A couple of years ago the two Steam Tank Locomotives were sold out of this yard, while a N&W combine was scraped a couple of years ago, the trucks remain. This Scrap yard as well is a time capsule of Industrial artifacts from hit and miss engines to gas pumps, air meters. An adjoining yard holds many old autos from the 40' and 50's not to mention ancient tractors and trucks. The scrap yard does have one Steam tractor and other odds and ends worthy of mention. I have pictures of the MofW equipment if anyone wants to see it, just send me an e-mail.

Wow - One of the things I really hate is first learning about something important that survived by reading a repor of its destruction. I am suprised about the power car, as it would have provided a means to provide DC power to all the N&W passenger cars that remain out there. I wonder if this was one of the cars used in Chicago commuter service over the former Wabash in the 1970's - as it would be quite possible to recreate (and operate!) one of these trainsets.

Tom Cornillie