Blue Ridge Live Steamers

Virginia riding railroad

The Blue Ridge Live Steamers are an active 7.5 inch gauge live steam railroad club located on five acres of land in rural Franklin County, Virginia, near Roanoke. Operating a half mile of track, the layout features two mainline routes, a curved tunnel, and a truss bridge. The service area includes a working turntable and ample steaming bays. First formed in 1977, the group was originally located within the old Transportation Museum at Wasena Park in Roanoke. When the park flooded in 1985, the group was displaced and relocated to the present site.

Rolling stock photographed below represents members' equipment in use on the day of my visit.

Motive Power

Norfolk & Western #573

4-6-2 Pacific / Franklin County, Va / May 2006 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Bald Eagle Valley #1073

4-4-2 Atlantic / Franklin County, Va / May 2006 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Norfolk & Western #920

EMD switcher / Franklin County, Va / May 2006 / RWH

Western Maryland #7503

General Electric Dash 9 / Franklin County, Va / May 2006 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

unpainted EMD GP30 / Franklin County, Va / May 2006 / RWH

Rolling Stock

Blue Ridge Railway #103

bobber caboose / Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Bald Eagle Valley #47700

caboose / Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Blue Ridge Railway #10002

MoW covered hopper / Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Chesapeake & Ohio #81000

wooden stake flat / Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Chesapeake & Ohio #31466

open gondola / Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

home-built weed sprayer / Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Locations

Tunnel

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Blue Ridge depot

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Steel truss bridge

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Lagniappe

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Franklin County, Va / May 06 / RWH

Links / Sources

Blue Ridge Live Steamers Yahoo group page
Mountain Rail Car Company - manufacturer of Dash 9 and GP30 locos shown above