New River Extension

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Gordon,

New River, the community, is in fact across the river from Radford. In 1883, 
the original line began at New River Depot and proceeded along the river and 
up over Schooler Hill down to Back creek and Belspring. Thus all trains 
leaving Radford had to cross the New River and then reverse direction to 
proceed toward Bluefield. The curved bridge was completed in 1888 and that 
allowed trains to use the New River line to and from Radford without 
reversing direction.

I would have to find a RR map showing the actual location of the old line 
connection with the current line in the vicinity of Back Creek and 
Belspring.

Bud Jeffries

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2004 9:58 PM
Subject: Fwd: New River Extension


>C * O * R * R *E * C * T * I * O * N
>
> It has been called to my attention that the former name of Radford was
> Central Depot instead of New River Depot as I stated in my original 
> message
> (actually, I knew this, but just slipped up).  Also, a later message by 
> Bud
> Jeffries indicates that Back Creek is near Belspring instead of  being the
> former name as I speculated (early documents indicate that the name
> Belspring antedates the New River Connecting Branch).
>
> This begs the question, where were New River Depot and Back Creek located.
> Perusal of mileage given in old timetables, station lists, etc., indicates
> that New River Depot appears to have been on the opposite (west) side of 
> the
> river from Radford.  This is reinforced by a 1950 USGS topographic map 
> which
> identifies a community at the west end of the N&W bridge as, "New River."
> Was the New River Depot indeed across the river from Radford?
>
> The same map shows a Back Creek crossing under the N&W one-half mile west 
> of
> Belspring.  Based on that, it appears that the short-lived junction 
> between
> the new line and the west end of  the old line may have been located 
> there.
>
> Comments anyone?
>
> Gordon Hamilton
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gordon Hamilton" <gordonshamilton at cox.net>
> To: "N&amp;W Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 6:56 AM
> Subject: Re: New River Extension
>
>
> > Ron,
> >
> > The 1901 annual report states, "New River Connecting Branch: This line 
> > was
> > opened for traffic Oct. 11, 1900.  The Company has accepted an Act of 
> > the
> > General Assembly of Virginia, approved February 15, 1901, authorizing 
> > the
> > abandonment of the old high-grade line between New River Depot and Back
> > Creek, in Pulaski County."
> >
> > I imagine that the line was abandoned soon after permission was given. 
> > It
> > is interesting that the General Assembly, rather that some agency, 
> > handled
> > such matters in 1901.
> >
> > Of course, New River Depot was the old name for present-day Radford, and
> > apparently Back Creek was the old name for present-day Belspring.
> >
> > Gordon Hamilton
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> > To: <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 10:35 PM
> > Subject: New River Extension
> >
> >
> > > Does anyone know when the old New River Extension between New River, 
> > > VA
> > > (Radford) and Belspring, VA was taken out of service? This would be
> after
> > > the construction of the low grade route through Pepper Tunnel in 1900.
> > > Today Belspring Road (SR 600) follows this former N&W grade between
> > > Fairlawn and Belspring.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Ron Davis
> > >
> > >
> > > ________________________________________
> > > NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
> > > http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
> >
>
>
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