
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 25, 1994                   TAG: 9403250109
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

STEAM TRAIN TO BE FEATURED AT CENTER DEDICATION

A steam train excursion from Roanoke to Glade Spring will be part of the June 11 activities dedicating Pulaski's renovated train station, which will become a visitor and community center.

Work on the former station, donated to Pulaski by Norfolk Southern Corp., has taken years and thousands of volunteer work hours.

Tickets for the train ride will be about $75 round trip from Roanoke to Glade Spring, with a brief stop in Pulaski. They will be about $45 for those getting off at Pulaski at 11 a.m. for the day of activities, and catching the train between 5 and 7 p.m. on its way back to Roanoke.

Either way, passengers will be able to attend the 1 p.m. dedication, at which scheduled speakers include Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va., and Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon.

Also speaking are Pulaski Mayor Gary Hancock and Virginia Kelly McNeill, who have been leaders in the work to revitalize the building, and Pulaski Chamber of Commerce President Wade Lephew.

The chamber offices will move from the Pulaski Municipal Building to the train station.

Railroad officials and many people who have given time, money and work to the project will be recognized.

The dedication will be just one of the activities planned for visitors and residents in Pulaski that day.

A sidewalk sale by stores along Main Street will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There will be music by the Buckingham Line Singers from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and by bluegrass and blues bands during the afternoon; an antique auction at the Old Courthouse from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. orchestrated by Ken Farmer; a chili cookoff from 2 to 3 p.m., duck races from Jefferson to Washington Avenue from 3:30 to 4 p.m. with proceeds going to Pulaski's Main Street program; cloggers; and a children's art show.

Square dancing is planned along Main Street from 6 p.m. into the evening.

Tours of historic buildings in downtown Pulaski, tours of the Old Courthouse and fishing trips to Gatewood Reservoir are also on the drawing board. The Round Dozen Club will provide guides for tours of homes at a cost of $5 per person.

Railroad memorabilia will be on display at the station all day. Vendors and crafts people will have booths set up in Jackson Park.

by CNB