1958 - Diesels Replace N&W Locomotives On Through Runs

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Roanoke Times - January 2, 1958

Diesels Replace N&W Locomotives On Through Runs

  Another chapter in the dieselization of the Norfolk & Western 
Railway began yesterday.
   With the arrival of the new year, three through trains operated in 
conjunction with the Southern were pulled by Southern diesels from 
the start of their runs to their destinations in Washington.
   Heretofore, Norfolk & Western steam locomotives have pulled the 
trains from Bristol to Monroe, just north of Lynchburg on the Southern.
   NOW THE diesels with N&W crews take the three through trains along 
the N&W tracks. In addition N&W diesels take the line's "locals" from 
Bristol to Roanoke.
   The end of the use of steam passenger trains brought New York 
photographer Winston Link to Western Virginia to photograph the last 
runs from Radford to Bristol.
   The N&W has for some time been operating its passenger trains on 
the Valley and Winston-Salem routes with diesel engines. Having no 
passenger diesels, the N&W has been using specially equipped diesels 
of a type that normally handles freights.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link