Tales from the front [office]

We get a lot of different people here at the museum, and they get here a lot of different ways, coming for a lot of different reasons. We'd like to share a few of our favorite stories with you.

We'll begin with a man from Switzerland. He had never been to the United States before, so he decided he wanted to see as much of it as he could while he was here. He bought a car in Vermont, plans to drive all over the country before ending up in California where he'll sell the car before flying home. He stopped here along the way today.

Next up is an Australian gentleman. He befriended a Canadian couple some years ago when they were on holiday in Australia. Since then, they have taken an annual holiday together, choosing different countries each year. This year, they chose the United States, specifically Virginia for the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. They saw Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, Richmond, Appomattox, and Roanoke before heading up to D.C. to make their separate ways home. Their previous holidays took them to Bali, England, Eastern Europe, Chile and Argentina, and China.

One of this blogger's personal favorites is a couple from Hawaii. They got married in Hawaii, but chose to come to Roanoke, Virginia on their honeymoon. Why? Each was a die-hard train buff, and they wanted to see our own #611. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, they were only in Roanoke for one day on their way to Bermuda (still, why go to Bermuda if you live in Hawaii? What do they have that you don't?), but they stopped here just to see us.

The following story is one we hear almost weekly. Let's paint a picture. An older couple, retired, show up in an RV. The husband collects model trains, may have worked for the railroad, or just likes trains. The wife could probably care less, but through an osmotic process, she's as knowledgeable as he is. Usually, he'll spend a few hours in the rail yard whilst she wanders the museum, lingering in the gift shop for a while. This happens at least once a week, nearly every week of the year.

Then there are the hikers and drivers. South of Roanoke is the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most scenic and beautiful drives anywhere in the country. Roanoke is a natural stop, being located centrally along the Parkway. North of Roanoke runs a portion of the Appalachian Trail. People stop in town for much the same reason. During the summer, hikers abound. In the spring and fall, the Parkway may as well be I-81 with all the traffic on it to see spring blooming and fall foliage.

Let's not forgot the Hobo King, who graced the museum with his Presence not so long ago. He traveled in here in an old Jeep (which may or may not have belonged to him; just kidding... we hope) out of which he seemed to live as there were many clothes and odd items in the vehicle.

The most touching story this blogger has encountered involves an older gentleman. He met his late wife riding on the Cavalier behind our #611. They were married for many years and enjoyed a large family. After his wife passed away, he brought his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to the museum to see #611, without which none of them might exist. The man was originally from West Virginia, though he and his wife met somewhere over the rails on a 60 miles-per-hour train ride to the rest of their lives.

In our lobby, on one of the walls is an old saying. It reads:

No matter how you got here, transportation brought you.

Indeed.

VMT's special guests

Today, your Virginia Museum of Transportation received two special guests.

The first is Mr. Karl E. "Redbird Express" Teller, the National Hobo King. "Redbird" was elected (by applause) King at the 2002 National Hobo Convention at the Hobo Museum in Britt, Iowa.

King Teller said, "I've been trying to get down here to this museum for a long time, and it was worth the wait."

"Redbird Express" continues to serve as Hobo Ambassador-at-Large, and serves as a Special Ambassador to the Casey Jones Railroad Museum in Water Valley, Mississippi.

The National Hobo Convention meets annually during the second weekend in August (he provided us with a brochure for the event). During the weekend, they host such attractions as:

• A "Hobo Jungle" (Who knows what this could be?!)
• Carnival
• Parade (It must be a stirring sight to see these shoe-less vagabonds with all their possessions in a bag, walking along not completely sure of where they are.)
  
• 5K and 10K Walk/Run (Hobo traditions when other forms of transportation are not available.)
  
• Classic Car Show (How would Hobos get cars?)
• Hobo Auction (Whether Hobos' belongings or Hobos themselves are being auctioned is not clear.)
• The Coronation of the Hobo King and Queen (These elections are determined by applause as decided by a panel of Hobo Judges.)
  
• Mulligan Stew (This is interesting; the city of Britt, Iowa cooks up 550 gallons of Mulligan Stew and allows all comers to fill their own containers. Some fill thermoses, others have been known to bring large ice chests to fill.)

Britt, Iowa is roughly 130 miles from anything. 120 miles to the south is Des Moines, and Minneapolis is situated 140 miles northward. The Hobo Museum is located on Britt's Main Street in an old movie theater. "Redbird" told us that they were attempting to have a new facility built, but even the lowest bidder was talking about more than $100,000 for a new building and "that's not Hobo money."*

As for our other special guest, the Virginia Museum of Transportation was pleased to welcome David Goode, retired Chief of Norfolk Southern. David and his wife Susan were in Roanoke today for the dedication of the David and Susan Goode Railwalk, commemorating and chronicling Roanoke's rail heritage via a walking trail from VMT to Market Street downtown. After touring the Railwalk, David and his wife returned to VMT for a tour of the building, led by Executive Director Bev Fitzpatrick and President Tom Cox.

The amount of internet real estate in this post devoted to our two guests may be inversely proportional to their relative importance to this museum's well-being. Nonetheless, VMT was glad to welcome both of our special guests, and we invite them to come back any time.

*Blogger's note: I don't know what that means.