The restoration of the Virginian's Roanoke passenger station is the Chapter's largest project to date and we are proud to announce, after 15 years and 10 months since the fire, the station is substantially complete. The station is presently under lease to Chatacleer Catering. The display area is closed until COVID19 restrictions are lifted.
On the night of January 29, 2001, 45 years to the day of the Virginian's last passenger train operation, a major fire nearly destroyed the station.
A few weeks later, a consortium of local groups met to discuss the rrestoration of the station. This meeting culminated in the donation of the station by Norfolk Southern Corporation in 2005.
The Chapter has been working in conjunction with the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation to bring this project to fruition. It took almost 16 years to complete the project.
The building has been restored to its appearance as built in 1909. The smaller baggage and express building will be used as a museum to memorialize the Virginian Railway and honor its employees. The passenger station building will be leased to a commercial tenant to provide an income stream to sustain future operations of both buildings.
For more information on the Virginian and the station itself, go to our Virginian History page.
Learn more about being a supporter for this project by going to the Station Sponsor page.
Our thanks to Brian Crosier for the top photo, taken just after the fire,
and Jeff Sanders for providing the 1909 photo at the bottom.
and may not be reproduced without express written permission.
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