By Kathryn Lemmon
O. Winston Link was a fortunate man in that he found a means to combine his two interests in life — photography and steam trains. Most people can't pin down their passions so easily.
The "O" stands for Ogle. Evidently he didn't care much for his first name, but he contributed a great deal to the world of trains, which I discovered on a recent trip to Roanoke, Virginia. The railroad was important to the history of the region, thus the connection to Link.
Roanoke is perhaps best known for a different transportation-related attraction, the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is a scenic road running more than 450 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains with some sections traveling through Virginia and North Carolina. Numerous pull-offs, low speed limits and viewpoints compel travelers to take the journey at a leisurely pace.
I came away from Roanoke impressed by the O. Winston Link Museum and the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The two make a wonderful duo, especially for train lovers.
In an age of "bigger is better," the Link museum is intimate and nostalgic. His mission was to document the final days of steam along the Norfolk and Western Railway, and the images offer a glimpse inside his soul.
He practiced his craft when photography was far more challenging that it is today, and another of his character traits was that he was resourceful. When he couldn't find sufficient lighting to meet his needs for shooting at night, he made his own elaborate flash devices. He favored producing his images in black and white, which even now photographers say shooting after nightfall can be problematic. He had the patience to create his art when it took ingenuity.
At first glance the photos seemed stark, reminding me of "The Twilight Zone" TV show; yet with time they grew on me. Audio and video were also part of his documentation.
Link was actively involved with planning the museum until his death in 2001. His photos made big engine No. 1218 famous, so after an hour there our group could hardly wait to see it. No. 1218, the last of a kind now on permanent display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation, just a few blocks away.
We made a beeline through the building to see the engine so loved by rail fans everywhere. If a train engine can be described as grand, this one is certainly grand, in a metal-monster kind of fashion. Its working life consisted of pulling coal cars between Norfolk and Roanoke, but unlike others of the same design, it survived to establish a new career. Today the engine is a showpiece and teaching tool as well as an important artifact of the museum.
Class A type No. 1218 was constructed in Roanoke in only two weeks, breaking shop records. It began service in 1943 and was retired in 1959, one of the most — if not the most — powerful operational steam locomotives in the world. As we heard about the 1218 from the enthusiastic docent, I started to understand why Link was fascinated by this engine. It has been featured in artwork and several publications geared toward rail fans.
We were disappointed to learn another famous engine, locomotive No. 611, was temporarily away from the museum. It, too, was built in Roanoke and is currently off-site for a major restoration in North Carolina. The project is expected to take about nine months. Anticipation is building for its return, slated for this summer.
Donations for the "Fire Up 611" restoration project came in from 18 countries, with volunteers handling most of the work. The No. 611 has been called the "Cadillac" of engines. Her rounded bullet nose is very different in appearance from the 1218. The 611 had a career on the rails from 1950 to 1959 pulling passengers cars.
No visit here is complete without a stroll along the David R. and Susan S. Goode Railwalk. The half-mile walk is essentially an outdoor museum that features displays and interactive signage. The walk connects the Market District to the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
WHEN YOU GO
For more information, visit www.visitvablueridge.com.
Kathryn Lemmon is a freelance travel writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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