# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Speaking Engagement: The Past, Present, and Future of Rail in Montgomery County
- **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 16 Apr, 2026 at 05:30 pm (-04:00)
- **Event Description**: Join us on April 16 for a presentation by Bruce Harper and Ray Smoot on railroad history in Blacksburg and the surrounding county. Bruce Harper will discuss how the rail served troops during the Civil War, helped with coal transport, connected remote communities to Virginia Tech, and how it was converted from rail to trail. In addition to our rich train history, we will get an update from Ray Smoot on the thirteen-year initiative to bring passenger rail service back to our community.

Bruce Harper retired from Virginia Tech after serving for 37 years in several departments. He was the Virginia Tech webmaster until he retired. He is a local historian and author, with articles published in Virginia Tech Magazine and The Arrow, the publication of the Norfolk & Western Historical Society.

Ray Smoot retired as CEO of the Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc. He is vice chair of the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/blacksburg/speaking-engagement-the-past-present-and-future-of-rail-in-montgomery-county/200029937109802
- **Event Categories**: art, literary-art, trips-adventures
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 16

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Blacksburg
- **state**: VA
- **country**: United States
- **location**: 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, United States, Virginia 24060
- **lat**: 37.22767
- **long**: -80.41405
- **full address**: 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, United States, Virginia 24060

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: Speaking Engagement: The Past, Present, and Future of Rail in Montgomery County
  - **Image URL**: https://dyn-image.allevents.in/generate-image?v=4&title=Speaking+Engagement%3A+The+Past%2C+Present%2C+and+Future+of+Rail+in+Montgomery+County&date=Thu%2C+16+Apr%2C+2026+at+05%3A30+pm&bg=3

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is Speaking Engagement: The Past, Present, and Future of Rail in Montgomery County being held?
  - **A:** Speaking Engagement: The Past, Present, and Future of Rail in Montgomery County takes place on Thu, 16 Apr, 2026 at 05:30 pm to Thu, 16 Apr, 2026 at 05:30 pm at 204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, United States, Virginia 24060.
- **Q**: Who is organizing Speaking Engagement: The Past, Present, and Future of Rail in Montgomery County?
  - **A:** Speaking Engagement: The Past, Present, and Future of Rail in Montgomery County is organized by Blacksburg Museum & Cultural Foundation.
- **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me?
  - **A:** Speaking Engagement: The Past, Present, and Future of Rail in Montgomery County is ideal for art lovers, collectors, creatives, and anyone inspired by visual arts, installations, and exhibitions. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Blacksburg, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Speaking Engagement: The Past, Present, and Future of Rail in Montgomery County sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast.

## Structured Data (JSON-LD)

```json
[
    {
        "@context": "https://schema.org",
        "@type": "Event",
        "name": "Speaking Engagement: The Past, Present, and Future of Rail in Montgomery County",
        "image": "https://dyn-image.allevents.in/generate-image?v=4&title=Speaking+Engagement%3A+The+Past%2C+Present%2C+and+Future+of+Rail+in+Montgomery+County&date=Thu%2C+16+Apr%2C+2026+at+05%3A30+pm&bg=3",
        "startDate": "2026-04-16T17:30:00-04:00",
        "url": "https://allevents.in/blacksburg/speaking-engagement-the-past-present-and-future-of-rail-in-montgomery-county/200029937109802",
        "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled",
        "location": {
            "@type": "Place",
            "name": "204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA, United States, Virginia 24060",
            "address": {
                "@type": "PostalAddress",
                "streetAddress": "204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA 24060-4748, United States",
                "addressLocality": "Blacksburg",
                "addressRegion": "VA",
                "addressCountry": "US"
            },
            "geo": {
                "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
                "latitude": "37.22767",
                "longitude": "-80.41405"
            }
        },
        "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode",
        "description": "Join us on April 16 for a presentation by Bruce Harper and Ray Smoot on railroad history in Blacksburg and the surrounding county. Bruce Harper will discuss how the rail served troops during the Civil War, helped with coal transport, connected remote communities to Virginia Tech, and how it was conv",
        "organizer": [
            {
                "@type": "Organization",
                "name": "Blacksburg Museum & Cultural Foundation",
                "url": "https://allevents.in/org/blacksburg-museum-and-cultural-foundation/20232502"
            }
        ]
    }
]
```