Noke Novelties are interesting aspects, picturesque moments, and other quaint nuances of or about the Roanoke area.

On the way to work, or in routine travels around the entire Roanoke area, it’s nearly impossible to avoid crossing a set of railroad tracks at one time or another.

The railroad system in Roanoke as seen from a bridge on 10 Street SW

Even more likely, and at the very least, the rumbling of a passing train, or its accompanying whistle can be heard in the background from just about any spot in Roanoke.

This is certainly true for me, as I frequently hear an evening train off in the distance from my home in the southwest part of the City.

Some kind of interaction with the train system is inevitable.

A passing train crosses a railroad bridge near the intersection of Wiley Drive and Crystal Spring Avenue in Roanoke

And over the years each of my encounters with the railroad, whether by sight or sound or both, has become less and less viewed as a hindrance. And more and more viewed as something that I’ve come to pleasantly expect as an important part of Roanoke.

The railroad is very much like the mountains to me, I think I’d be lost without them.

(Roanoke’s Railroad History as well as general railroad operation is quite extensive and wonderfully showcased downtown at the Railwalk.)