1907 - Railroad Notes

[NW Mailing List]

Roanoke Times - May 7, 1907

Railroad Notes

   The Holston River railway, the new line being constructed to the 
coal fields,
will be completed and in operation within a year. Work on the road has been
going forward rapidly and it is expected that it will be about finished within
the next few months.
   This road extends from the Southern line, at Persia, Hawkins county,
Tennessee, and connects with the Virginia and Southwestern railway at Moccasin
Gap, Virginia.
   The road is being built by the Southern railway, and work on it was begun
over a year ago. The Southern has since purchased the Virginia and 
Southwestern.
The object of the new road is to afford a new line into the coal fields, and
avoid the circuitous route via Bristol and Bluff City for the heavy tonnage.
   When the road is completed a large part of the coal that now reaches the
Southern via Bristol, will go over the Holston river. The line will be a
valuable feeder for the Southern shipments.
   Thousands of men are now at work on the road and every mile of it has been
let to contract. The road will be stocked with a large amount of high grade
rolling stock and a modern passenger service will be afforded, making through
connection between the mail line of the Southern at Bull's Gap, or Rogersville
Junction, and Gate City.


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- Roger Link