New River Extension

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Bud,

Thanks for the information about the reverse operation before the curved
bridge was completed in 1888.  This is information that I have never seen
elsewhere.  I had assumed that the curved bridge was part of the original
construction of the line to the coalfields.

I don't know the precise location of the junction at Back Creek, but if you
follow the generous, even radii of the present-day county road on a topo
map, you can almost pick out where the junction would have been.

Gordon Hamilton

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: "N&amp;W Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 12:09 AM
Subject: Re: New River Extension


> 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
> > >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________________
> > NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
> > http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
> >
> >
>
> ________________________________________
> NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list