Roanoke, VA - Roanoke Railwalk (Goode Railwalk)
NOTE: This page will be updated later this year. A lot has changed in Roanoke since the new Amtrak station was built, The location of the train station is where much of this RailWalk was located.
The David R. and Susan S. Goode Railwalk extends from Market Street to Warehouse Row, allowing pedestrians to walk along a fence paralleling the train tracks and view historic memorabilia along the way. The Railwalk tells the story about Roanoke’s rail history, both
visually and audibly: There's a platform, signals, whistles, plaques and storyboards with information about the events that formed this history. There's even a radio scanner at one point that allows listeners to hear chatter from engineers and dispatchers. The Railwalk was named after David R. Goode, who was president, chairman and CEO of Norfolk Southern Corp. until 2006 when he
retired. During Goode's tenure, Norfolk Southern donated a number of artifacts from the old Farmville line for use in the railwalk. He also helped deliver to Roanoke the historic 1218 locomotive, which is stored in the transportation museum. The city honored the Goodes for their strong support of Roanoke's rail history.
Location info:
Town / City: Roanoke, VA - Market Street to Warehouse Row
Location Name: Roanoke Railwalk (Goode Railwalk)
Railroad: Norfolk Southern Railway
Rail Traffic: Expect around 40 trains during a 24-hour period.
Site Details: A 1/3-mile sidewalk along the active Norfolk Southern (former Norfolk & Western) mainline. Park benches and a parking lot provide rest between trains. The Railwalk connects to Hotel Roanoke and the Virginia Museum of Transportation, an excellent railroad museum with lots of locomotives and train cars displayed, mostly outdoors! The museum is located next to the NS mainline and is at the east end of Roanoke Yard.
Photography: This is where the RailWalk fails for train-buffs. There is an 8-foot high tightly linked fence along the entire stretch of the railwalk. It’s impossible to photograph clean shots of passing trains. I don't know what or who they expected to keep from passing over this fence, but they succeeded very well. The enclosed pedestrian bridge by Hotel Roanoke [officially called Market Street Walkway] is another photographer’s nightmare. You would think a glass lined walkway would be great for photos, well not this one. There always seems to be a glare on the glass. Additionally, handrails keep people away from touching the glass - so you can't place a camera against the window to minimize the reflection. Photography from the railwalk (area) isn't all dead. There is one area on the railwalk where there is one (1) purposely built camera opening to photograph eastbound trains. Its only one small square, so no sharing allowed. The more logical place to photograph trains in this part of town is from the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial pedestrian bridge. This foot bridge provides excellent views of passing trains in either direction where the City of Roanoke will provide a great back drop. The footbridge is located in the center of the railwalk.
Restrooms on site: Public Restrooms can be found within walking distance of the Railwalk.
Food: Historic Roanoke City Market, located a block south of the Railwalk offers several restaurants, and a coffee house. Additionally, Hotel Roanoke has a fine restaurant, and gift shop that sells snacks and soft drinks / water.
Picnic Area: Just picnic benches located on the Railwalk.
Parking: Roanoke has many Pay-Parking lots, there is no free parking in the area. Gustes staying in Hotel Roanoke can keep their automobile in the hotels paid parking lot. Guests can spend a full day within walking distance of the hotel. Within walking distance is Winston O Link Museum, Taubman Museum of Art, Virginia Museum of Transportation, the Railwalk (and railfanning), and the Market Street eateries. No need to use an automobile.
Lighted for eveing railfanning: Yes. [I am not sure about the safety of the area at night. It seems to be a very quiet area after dark].
Scanner Frequencies: 161.190 - NS (ex N&W) Channel 1-Road / 161.250 - NS (ex N&W) Channel 2-Yard / 160.440 - NS (ex N&W) Channel 3-Road.
Motels / Hotels:Hotel Roanoke (a DoubleTree Hotel property) is located on the Railwalk and is the ideal place for railfan's to stay while in Roanoke. Ask for room overlooking the railroad!
NOTE: This page will be updated later this year. A lot has changed in Roanoke since the new Amtrak station was built, The location of the train station is where much of this RailWalk was located.
The David R. and Susan S. Goode Railwalk extends from Market Street to Warehouse Row, allowing pedestrians to walk along a fence paralleling the train tracks and view historic memorabilia along the way. The Railwalk tells the story about Roanoke’s rail history, both
visually and audibly: There's a platform, signals, whistles, plaques and storyboards with information about the events that formed this history. There's even a radio scanner at one point that allows listeners to hear chatter from engineers and dispatchers. The Railwalk was named after David R. Goode, who was president, chairman and CEO of Norfolk Southern Corp. until 2006 when he
retired. During Goode's tenure, Norfolk Southern donated a number of artifacts from the old Farmville line for use in the railwalk. He also helped deliver to Roanoke the historic 1218 locomotive, which is stored in the transportation museum. The city honored the Goodes for their strong support of Roanoke's rail history.
Location info:
Town / City: Roanoke, VA - Market Street to Warehouse Row
Location Name: Roanoke Railwalk (Goode Railwalk)
Railroad: Norfolk Southern Railway
Rail Traffic: Expect around 40 trains during a 24-hour period.
Site Details: A 1/3-mile sidewalk along the active Norfolk Southern (former Norfolk & Western) mainline. Park benches and a parking lot provide rest between trains. The Railwalk connects to Hotel Roanoke and the Virginia Museum of Transportation, an excellent railroad museum with lots of locomotives and train cars displayed, mostly outdoors! The museum is located next to the NS mainline and is at the east end of Roanoke Yard.
Photography: This is where the RailWalk fails for train-buffs. There is an 8-foot high tightly linked fence along the entire stretch of the railwalk. It’s impossible to photograph clean shots of passing trains. I don't know what or who they expected to keep from passing over this fence, but they succeeded very well. The enclosed pedestrian bridge by Hotel Roanoke [officially called Market Street Walkway] is another photographer’s nightmare. You would think a glass lined walkway would be great for photos, well not this one. There always seems to be a glare on the glass. Additionally, handrails keep people away from touching the glass - so you can't place a camera against the window to minimize the reflection. Photography from the railwalk (area) isn't all dead. There is one area on the railwalk where there is one (1) purposely built camera opening to photograph eastbound trains. Its only one small square, so no sharing allowed. The more logical place to photograph trains in this part of town is from the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial pedestrian bridge. This foot bridge provides excellent views of passing trains in either direction where the City of Roanoke will provide a great back drop. The footbridge is located in the center of the railwalk.
Restrooms on site: Public Restrooms can be found within walking distance of the Railwalk.
Food: Historic Roanoke City Market, located a block south of the Railwalk offers several restaurants, and a coffee house. Additionally, Hotel Roanoke has a fine restaurant, and gift shop that sells snacks and soft drinks / water.
Picnic Area: Just picnic benches located on the Railwalk.
Parking: Roanoke has many Pay-Parking lots, there is no free parking in the area. Gustes staying in Hotel Roanoke can keep their automobile in the hotels paid parking lot. Guests can spend a full day within walking distance of the hotel. Within walking distance is Winston O Link Museum, Taubman Museum of Art, Virginia Museum of Transportation, the Railwalk (and railfanning), and the Market Street eateries. No need to use an automobile.
Lighted for eveing railfanning: Yes. [I am not sure about the safety of the area at night. It seems to be a very quiet area after dark].
Scanner Frequencies: 161.190 - NS (ex N&W) Channel 1-Road / 161.250 - NS (ex N&W) Channel 2-Yard / 160.440 - NS (ex N&W) Channel 3-Road.
Motels / Hotels:Hotel Roanoke (a DoubleTree Hotel property) is located on the Railwalk and is the ideal place for railfan's to stay while in Roanoke. Ask for room overlooking the railroad!