The Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. First organized and chartered in 1955, the group went inactive in 1961. In the fall of 1967 some local folks got together and put together an organizational meeting and the new group was incorporated at the beginning of 1968
Our local organization has over 150 members and is one of the larger chapters of the NRHS in the country. Over the years, we have been a very active group, we operated excursion trains over a great deal of the eastern U.S. almost from our beginning in 1968. We have restored to operating condition a variety of passenger cars, freight cars, and cabooses, as well as several vintage diesel locomotives
The Roanoke Chapter of, the National Railway Historical Society does not and shall not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.
Our largest and most complete restoration effort has been the acquisition and restoration of the nearly fire-destroyed Virginian passenger station in Roanoke, largely completed late in 2016. In recent years, we have also acquired a former Norfolk and Western steam locomotive which is presently undergoing a cosmetic restoration.