1907 - A Proposed Railroad

[NW Mailing List]

How very interesting!!!  This article appears to claims that the road from Marion to Troutdale was under N&W ownership?  "where it will connect most conveniently with the
Norfolk & Western road, extended from Troutdale, Grayson county, to which place
the N. & W. road has already built from Marion, Va."
   
  You could take it either way, but yet there's no mention of the railroad by its proper name in the article.  However, just for the record, this road was NOT owned by the N&W, but rather was the Marion & Rye Valley Railway/ Virginia Southern Railroad.  NWHS member Gary Price has written a book about this subject.  The N&W did lease the rails and some equipment to the M&RV, but they never owned the road, and nor did Gary or myself ever find documentation that the N&W ever wanted to own it.  
   
  The M&RV would have been anything but a straight shot from Marion, VA to Sparta, NC, as there were six switchbacks between Marion and Troutdale over some rather dramatic topography.  However, this would have been a most interesting stretch of railroad, had it been built.  Bypassing the switchbacks would have required two very lengthy tunnels.
   
  However, in my opinion, I would think it would have been more economical to have considered a line connecting with the North Carolina Branch route than the Marion & Rye Valley Ry.
   
  ...just my opinion.
   
  Ben Blevins
  

NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
  Roanoke Times - May 7, 1907

RAILROAD NOTES

A Proposed Railroad

Charlotte, N. C., May 6 -- During the last session of the North Carolina
legislature Mr. R. A Doughton, of Alleghany county, secured a charter for a
railroad from Elkin, Surry county, via Sparta, Alleghany county to the Virginia
line, near Mouth-of-Wilson, where it will connect most conveniently with the
Norfolk & Western road, extended from Troutdale, Grayson county, to which place
the N. & W. road has already built from Marion, Va. From Troutdale to Elkin is
50 miles, and the survey passes through Grayson, Virginia, and Alleghany and
Surry, North Carolina.
About $100,000 will have been subscribed for the line from Elkin to the
Virginia border within the next 60 days. On the 15th of June 100 convicts from
the State prison are to be put to grading in Surry and Alleghany counties, and
the actual work of building the proposed road will commence. All arrangements
have been made and the construction will be pushed.
The people of Iredell and Davie counties have voted subsidies approximating
$300,000 for a road to Surry county. This sum will more than grade the 40 miles
from Statesville to Elkin. The citizens of these North Carolina counties are in
earnest. The road from Elkin to Statesville would give those towns a connection
with the Norfolk & Western by the new line to Troutdale.
A road from Statesville to Marion, Va., by Elkin, Sparta and Troutdale would
bring coal from Bluefield, West Virginia. It is not a short distance 
from Marion
to Bluefield.
Manufactures and others of Charlotte will be interested in this railroad
project. From Statesville to Charlotte it is but 44 miles and the 
former town is
on the bee line from Elkin to Charlotte. Hauling coal is quite an item nowadays
and the manufacture of the piedmont region will welcome any 
connection that will
bring fuel direct from the mines. From Marion to Morristown, Tenn., or to
Roanoke, Va., is the way that Bluefield coal reaches Charlotte now. With the
proposed line in operation it would come straight from Marion. The distance,
either from Marion to Morristown or Roanoke, is greater than that 
from Marion to
Elkin. Therefore, the haul to Charlotte would be very materially shortened.
There would be no trouble to get a big line to operate the new road. The
Southern, the Pennsylvania and the Norfolk & Western are ready to bid for the
contract.


-----------------------------------
- Roger Link




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