The 611 locomotive is officially chugging along the train tracks ahead of its fall excursions beginning next week.

The 611 train is preparing to leave the station for fall excursions starting next week.

The Virginia Scenic Railway has announced a partnership with the Virginia Museum of Transportation, the Steam Railroading Institute and the Virginia Mechanical Preservation Society to bring the legendary Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam locomotive back into service this fall!

Car enthusiasts from all across the region flocked to Downtown Roanoke to take part in the Star City Motor Madness Car Show on Saturday afternoon.

Ink, art and fashion will collide in downtown Roanoke this weekend in the form of the third annual Tattoo Experience! The event is set to host top tattoo artists, painters, designers and other creators.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources just announced that nine historic sites have officially been designated as Virginia Landmarks.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation’s push to gain state agency status has been halted again.

A special celebration for a NASCAR legend at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

Organizers have announced that the annual Williamson Road ‘cruise-in’ won’t be kicking off Star City Motor Madness this summer due to crime concerns.

A bill is making its way through the General Assembly to make the museum in Roanoke a state agency.

The Queen of Steam will not be in use for this weekend’s remaining Shenandoah Valley Limited Excursions, according to the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

All aboard the 611! Public excursions on the beloved “Queen of Steam” locomotive begin this fall.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation and the Virginia Scenic Railway have announced a series of 611 passenger excursions coming this fall.

People from across the region came to Roanoke Saturday to blow the whistle on the beloved 611 locomotive.

With the Queen of Steam finally back in town after over four years, the Virginia Museum of Transportation will welcome visitors on Saturday.

The Queen of Steam is set to return to the Star City Friday, according to Virginia Museum of Transportation officials.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation has announced the return of the Norfolk and Western J-Class 611 train to Roanoke at the beginning of June.

It’s feeling like the Polar Express, matching the holiday season with train rides at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

Chugging along for the last time this weekend, families got a taste of the Candy Cane Express at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

Hop on board the Candy Cane Express! The holiday-themed train ride returns to Roanoke this weekend. It will be at the Virginia Museum of Transportation on December 4th and 5th.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation had a spooktacular trunk or treat event this year.

A few dozen people spent the night at the Virginia Museum of Transportation to bring together classic cars, live music and fun in the railyard.

Star City Motor Madness returned to Roanoke Friday night.

The Queen of Steam is on the move and passed through our area Monday, a welcome sight to railfans.

Roanoke’s history is deeply rooted in the railroad.

If you love watching Roanoke trains, you can now watch them right from your home!

The Queen of Steam will be back on the move.

ROANOKE, Va. – The Virginia Museum of Transportation started reviving a piece of Roanoke’s rail history Sunday afternoon. Volunteers began clearing a stretch of track in Wasena Park, known as the beltline, of plants and debris. It’s so important to keep the knowledge passed down from one generation to another.”Volunteers begin clearing an abandoned rail track at Wasena Park in Roanoke. The beltline is owned by the museum and is where the museum first started in 1963. This is the first step in a long journey.”AdThe museum plans to return to Wasena Park at least once a month to work on the track.

ROANOKE, Va. – The Virginia Museum of Transportation held its first Spring Fling Poker Run on Saturday. There were vehicles of all types from motorcycles to classic cars and hot rods. The run went from the museum to a spot along Smith Mountain Lake and back again. Organizers said they wanted to bring people out but still allow for social distancing. The museum hopes to bring the Poker Run back again next year.

City council voted 7-0 Monday night to change downtown zoning code to allow the relocation and construction of the bus station by right, rather than through a special exemption. “We’re committed to getting a bus station that all of our citizens can utilize and deserve," Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea said. The current bus station, Campbell Court, pre-dated current zoning code and was grandfathered in. The two republican candidates, Peg McGuire and Maynard Keller, both expressed concern over the project, as did the Roanoke City Republican Committee. The new bus station will first be a temporary station at the new site, and then be built in sections around it.

ROANOKE, Va. On Thursday night, we got our first look at the plans for the temporary bus station in downtown Roanoke. This is all part of the bigger picture plan to relocate the bus station from Campbell Court to in front of the Virginia Museum of Transportation, and replace Campbell Court with a new mixed use development. Poster boards were up Thursday night at a public open house to show a glimpse of the future to come. The old bus station will come down and a new one will go up in the parking lot across from the museum. A few weeks ag, we got a first look at the final design of the permanent station, but now for the first time theyve released new drawings that show how a temporary station will open, and then the permanent station will be built at the same time.

ROANOKE, Va. – The Virginia Museum of Transportation reopens on Thursday. The date, 6-11, is the same number as the famous Norfolk Southern steam engine in Roanoke, known as “The Queen of Steam.”When the museum reopens, the price of admission will be reduced because not all features are usable due to coronavirus restrictions. “6-11 seemed like the appropriate day to move forward, so we’ve been in here this week doing final cleaning and hanging the appropriate signs that we’re required to hang,” museum interim director Don Moser said. “We’re looking forward to having our VMT community back.”All of the features that are currently unusable are expected to be back once the state enters phase three of the governor’s reopening plan.

ROANOKE, Va. – It’s the end of an era in Roanoke as one of what are known as “The Big Three” class of Norfolk Southern steam engines leaves. Engine 2156 left Wednesday afternoon for the transportation museum in St. Louis. It had been loaned to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke for the past five years to be with engines from the other two classes. “We did work with the museum in St. Louis to try to come to an agreement on possibly keeping it. He said the museum may try to get it back in the future.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will release its outlook for the 2020 Hurricane Season today. An average season has 12 tropical storms, six hurricanes and two intense hurricanes with winds over 110 mph. Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. The Giles County School Board could approve the calendar for the next school year today. Today is Celebrate Transportation in Virginia Day.

ROANOKE, Va. – The Virginia Museum of Transportation held it’s annual “Candy Cane Express” event Saturday. The event allowed families to stop by and see what the museum has to offer. It also allowed children to take a photo with Santa and ride take a train ride. Employees said the event was a way to get people in who normally wouldn’t stop by. The Candy Cane Express will run again Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All aboard! We're about to get on The Candy Corn Express for details on the Virginia Museum of Transportation's family-friendly, not so spooky Halloween party! Mendy Flynn, the director of special events, is joining Jenna in the studio. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation hosted the third annual Big Lick Train Tug on Saturday. Teams gave it their all, pulling a 400,000-pound engine down the tracks. In years past, the train has been the 611, but this year it was the 1716, another famous engine. "The whole idea is the strength of community," said Big Lick Entertainment owner JD Sutphin. "To see 10 people, to see five people pull a 400,000-pound train, it's impressive and heartwarming, as well."

The location of the new bus station is the controversial part of the plan. Chapman told 10 News in January he was blindsided by the city's announcement to move the bus station right next to his West Station development, saying he only learned of it through media reports. Chapman called the current bus station "the epicenter of crime in Roanoke." Roanoke City Council did not directly respond to Chapman's comments and have said in the past that the crime rate was mischaracterized by opponents. But that can only happen if the bus station relocates somewhere else.

ROANOKE, Va. - Roanoke's famed 611 steam locomotive is headed for a little road trip next week. "The experience alone, just to be near an engine like this is wonderful, add to it the firing up of the engine," museum education director Courtney Plaster said. 611 is making the trip because Strasburg is one of the few places with private tracks for the locomotive to run on. The Strasburg Railroad is calling it a once-in-a-lifetime steam extravaganza because the 611 will reunite with Strasburg's engine, the Norfolk and Western 475. Although 475 was not made in Roanoke like 611 was, the two locomotives were stablemates at points throughout their careers, according to Barrall.

ROANOKE, Va. - Friday night was a great night for cruising down Roanoke's Williamson Road and kicking off the 18th annual Star City Motor Madness weekend. It's hard to think of summer in Roanoke without thinking Star City Motor Madness. But it came back as a way to fund a new idea at the Virginia Museum of Transportation, an auto gallery to showcase museum worthy cars. "Keep the muscle car going, and people just getting out and socializing that's the biggest thing we have to keep going," Walker said. Star City Motor Madness continues with a car show in downtown Roanoke Saturday on Jefferson Street and then an after party at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

Here are some of the events happening Round Town this weekend. Star City Motor MadnessRoanokeFriday-SaturdayWilliamson Road is Cruise Central Friday night at cars travel up and down the strand from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.On Saturday, there's a car show in downtown Roanoke where more than 300 cars are expected. Then, head to the Virginia Museum of Transportation for an outdoor party. See the museum's antique locomotives, while enjoying food, a beer garden and live music. House and Garden TourFloydSaturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Five homes will be open, showing the diversity and style of Floyd County.