N&W in 1907 -- Honaker Branch

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NORFOLK AND WESTERN TO BUILD NEW FEEDER
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Road Will be Extended to Blackford Where Depot and Cattle Pens Will be Built
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SHIPPING POINT FOR STUART STOCK FARMS
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    The Norfolk and Western railway, having come into possession on January 1st. of the short line of railroad purchased from the Clinch Valley Barytes Co., some time ago, it is now announced that the railroad company will soon commence the construction of another mile of the road to Blacksford [sic].
    Blacksford is on the Clinch river about three miles from Honaker over the country road, and is a point where all the travel from Elk Garden, Belfast Mills, and all that section of Russell county crosses the river in coming to the station at Honaker.
    It is stated that a depot will be built at Blacksford, as well as cattle pens, where thousands of fine export cattle of the Stuart Land and Cattle Co. will be located.  Besides the cattle shipments a large number of sheep and hogs are shipped from that section, which is the richest part of Russell county in agriculture and stock raising.
    The necessary land for all purposes of the company has been acquired, and everything is in readiness for the completion of the road, which will be near five miles in length.  Whether or not it is the intention of the road to operate passenger service over the line we are unable to learn, but the presumption is that they will, as it would accommodate a great deal of travel.

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
January 12, 1907

[This was the Honaker branch off the Clinch Valley line.  This branch had a switchback, which could explain the discrepancy between the three miles of the country road and the five miles of the branch line.  Judging by the name of the previous owners of the branch there must have been deposits of the mineral barytes, which is used in the manufacture of paper and paint, among other things.  A 1915 Official Guide shows passenger trains 207 and 208 operating on the branch on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.  The light rail and/or bridges is the reason that two Class G locos, N&W 6 and 7, survived to be exhibited at Roanoke's VMT and a Bluefield park, respectively.  Louie Newton states that these two light engines serviced this branch until 1955 and that they operated out of Richlands at one time, but out of Bluefield in later years.]

Gordon Hamilton
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