100 years ago...

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Roanoke Times - February 19, 1907

TIDEWATER GROWING

Work Progressing Rapidly -- Steam Shovel at Work

   The grading for the Tidewater Railroad from Franklin road around 
the river to Virginia avenue connecting with the grading begun and 
extending to Norwich is about completed. The large steam shovel is 
working under Virginia avenue and the cars are passing over on a 
bridge. This completes one of the most difficult pieces of grading 
the Tidewater has had in this section. It was necessary to cut a 
roadbed out of the side of the hill and in many places there was 
solid rock that had to be blasted out. The steam shovel did the 
greater part of the work but at several points it was necessary to 
abandon this wonderful machine and resort to blasting and pick and shovel.
   The roadbed the Tidewater has made around the river is a splendid 
one and it will only be a few days until the tracks will be laid from 
Jefferson street to Norwich. The cut through the hill at Virginia 
avenue is about fifty feet deep and it has taken almost a month to 
work through this big hill.
   A large number of camp cars have been received here which will be 
used by the workmen as soon as some track has been completed. Only 
one engine has been received here thus far but several more are expected.
   The passenger cars for the Tidewater, which have been sent to 
Brookneal, are painted yellow, almost the same color as those of the 
Chesapeake and Ohio, and the stations and all other buildings owned 
by the company will be painted the same color.