Blue Ridge Station

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

At 11:57 PM -0500 3/25/05, Jeff wrote:
>Blue Ridge is located at the 246 milepost east of Roanoke.  The actual station site is accessible just off of Rt. 460 via Rt. 608, not sure of the exact road name.  Just before the road goes underneath the tracks, there is a gravel road that climbs upward to the left.   At the top of the hill is where the Blue Ridge depot was located.

This came up last fall on the RoanokeRailfan list and I snagged these directions:

I stopped in there [Blue Ridge Station] on Sunday evening on my way back from dropping off #1 son at Lynchburg College.  There is a sign by the road for Adams Asphalt and the road is named Healing Springs Road (and look for the Va. 805 signs that indicate the location of the intersection).  With leaves on the trees, you don't see the railroad overpass, but there are clearance signs that let you know you are getting close.  The "road" to the station site starts in a wide spot on the left, climbs steeply at the top, then crosses a spur track into the quarry.  The tracks seen in the _Trains_ photo still exist and it is apparent where the actual station building stood.  It took a short stroll along the siding to find the westbound signal; it is around a curve to the left and can't be seen when there are leaves on the trees.  There is a companion eastbound signal adjacent to the westbound one; both are still N&W color-position signals.

-- 
Bruce in Blacksburg         === In the heart of N&W territory. ===

Bruce B. Harper                              (540)231-4360
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