Eastern Railroad Discussion > Roanoke Trip Recommendations

Hi all, I'll be visiting Roanoke June 5th and 6th for some railfannig. I've been studying the area and have railfanned elsewhere in VA and WV so I have a feel for what traffic is like, but I'd appreciate any tips on specific locations to visit. I'd like to get a mix of mainline traffic along with shortline oddities in photogenic places. So far, I have marked down the VA Transit museum, Vicker coaling tower, and some random road crossings on the Christiansburg and Altavista Districts.

I'm willing to drive up to 2 hours in the radius around town. I'm very interested in the VGN trestles in the coal fields of Southern WV, but recognize traffic is scarce there and may not make the long drive worthwhile.

Thanks for the help! 

If you would like a break, I can recommend the O. Winston Link museum. Extensive collection and display of Mr Link's planning sketches, lighting, authorization letters, etc. All in a 1950s era Art Moderne station with tiling, glass, etc.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation is about a mile away, on the other side of the tracks.  Adjacent to the Amtrak station. Many retired locomotives, passenger cars, etc.  Thoughtful and helpful docents.

If you want to stretch your legs... High Bridge Trail State Park, a scenic ex-N&W crossing over the Appomattox River, is 2 hours east of Roanoke. You can also walk the former N&W passenger main through Percival's Island in the James River at Lynchburg, a little over at hour from Roanoke. 

Clifton Forge is NW of Roanoke about 1hour away.

Paul Boggs
Canton, GA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/26 16:52 by SD608708.

An  outside table at the Hotel Roanoke can offer nice views of the trains passing through town, and there is an enclosed pedestrian bridge across the tracks for nice viewing, too.

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned that the mainline north of Roanoke still has some N&W position light signals. Unless they killed what's left. The VGN main to Alta Vista had some in the last decade too. Someone local will have to update this but some of those may be worth going after. 

The Christiansburg Dist. between Roanoke and Vickers is excellent railfanning. Very chase-able with some great spots such as Shawsville and the Montgomery Tunnels

Thank you all for the comments. These are great callouts.

I'll check out the steam board series, savage

Salem is a good spot. Both lines ex Virginian and ex NW run next to each other. South Yard area is really different with the hospital and motel. The motel there you can get a room that overlooks the yard and you can shoot trains from the window. Usually something interesting going on. Last time we were there the motel was a different chain and they were working on the road bridge so views could have changed. Everytime we have been there some unusual engine has been parked or going thru.

Posted from Android



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/26 09:59 by WLE2679.

Second Shawsville as a very pretty area for photos. Montgomery Tunnel just west of there is good for westbounds in the afternoon. You will miss out on any traffic moving over the former VGN line but trains are still pretty plentiful.

As someone mentioned, the H Line up the valley still has some former N&W CPL's but these have gradually been falling. AFAIK there are still CPLs gaurding the ends of the sidings at Cloverdale, Troutville, and Lithia in the section closest to Roanoke, so those are definitely easy to do if you can find a train headed that way. Unfortunately the CPLs at Arcadia/Solitide and at Glasglow appear to have been replace, but I believe there are still some in at Midvale and Vesuvius/Pkin, which would be an hour's dribve from Roaonoke on the interstate. I *believe* there are presently 2 or 3  train pairs schedule in that section daily 11z/12z, 15T/16T and sometimes 288/289 depeding if they run that way or via the SOU, plus a local. (Corrections welcome)

I was just discussing the N&W CPL's recently with someone. If you want pics/go see them, you need to do it in the near term. Their days are numbered.  For one thing, getting parts for them has become a challenge.......



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/26 15:02 by ns1000.

Right in downtown Roanoke, follow Williamson Road south past the Amtrak servicing facility to JK Interlocking/crossing, the restored Virginian Station and South Yard.

Jim