three questions

[NW Mailing List]

Mr. Abbott,

I can add a little bit to what Gary has told you about the location of "photographers' bridge."  He is right that there is no way to enjoy the view that was had in the days of steam.  But you can still get to the site with a little effort.  The road that crossed the bridge was Blue Ridge Springs Road.  It still exists on both sides of U.S. 460; I believe it's state route number 805.  You can also get to it by approaching from east or west on Colonial Road which parallels 460 to the south between Webster Road and an outlet near Healing Springs Road, which goes under the railroad just west of where the old Blue Ridge station was.

Blue Ridge Springs Road now deadends near what was the north end of the bridge in some earth banks that are covered in various stickers and thorns.  The area is patrolled by some Carolina yeller type dogs that are more bark than bite, but the human natives seem friendly enough.  (It's been a couple of years since I've been out there.)  With a little effort you can make your way to the top of the bank overlooking the tracks.  But you will be disappointed in the view because the broad, open pastureland that appears so prominently in the photos from the steam era and the curving mainline that winds around the hills to the west are invisible because of the substantial second-growth forest that has grown up over the past fifty years.  And don't even try to approach the south side.  That area is so overgrown that you'd need a machete and couple of native bearers to hack your way through from Healing Springs Road.  Happy hunting.

Hey, you old guys, did you ever think we'd be explaining to some young whippersnapper what a telltale was?

Sam Putney



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NW Mailing List 
  To: 'NW Mailing List' 
  Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 12:26 PM
  Subject: RE: three questions


  Mr. Abbott:  A track chart is a schematic or a simple line drawing.  What you want is a Right of Way drawing that shows your desired milepost in relation to a road location that you can find while driving along that road.  The track charts can be ordered from the archives (archives at nwhs.org) .  But, I think you will find that you still need to put your puzzle together so that you can navigate yourself or someone will have to do the navigation for you.  The RoW drawings for this line are not available in the Archives to my knowledge.  I'll have to see if I can figure out where 476 is and relate it to a highway location for you. 

   

  The old photographer's bridge at Blue Ridge is long gone.  It isn't to far from Webster and the brick yard east of Roanoke.  But, the tree growth along this area blocks any photograph similar to those taken in the 'golden twilight' of steam operation.  The brick works are the easiest thing to find today to get you somewhat close to the summit.  

   

  The ropes hanging down over the tracks are 'tell tales' or 'tell tails' that were hung to the tops of the cars so that a man riding on the top of a car would be struck by them.  He would then know --- "DUCK"-that a low hanging structure was just ahead.  Low bridges or tunnel portals were so marked.  

   

  Gary Rolih

  Cincinnati 

   

   


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  From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
  Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 2:47 PM
  To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
  Subject: three questions

   

  Several weeks ago, I asked about the location of a Link photograph taken on the way to Kermit,WV, and I got some information back which was helpful.
   
  Subsequent to that, I have figured out that the pgotograph was taken at milepost 476.  So my question is:
   
  1.  What is the easiest way to figure out where that milepost is ( short of walking the ROW and eyeballing ).  Someone had suggested a track chart, and there is one in the Archives, but I am confused about the availability of those documents.  Can I order one?
   
  2.  Also, I was watching an old VHS tape last night that contained a number of shots of the old "photographers briudge" somewhere on the Blue Ridge grade.  Is the site of the bridge still accessible, and if so, where it it.
   
  3.  Lastly, I have also noted pictures of a device that is supported over the rail bed, and has wires hanging down - like a horizontal comb.  What is that device supposed to do?
   
  Thanks in advance for any and all help on any part of the above.  
  -------------------------------------------
  John C. Abbott
  Wheaton, MD

  Note:
  No Trees were harmed in sending this message.
  However, some electrons along the way were inconvenienced.



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