Radford bridge

[NW Mailing List]

Charlie,

You are right, the flower shop is right on the old ROW where it meets 
today's US Route 11. Always great to hear from you; let's get together.

Bud  J.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 12:41 PM
Subject: Re: Radford bridge



> Thanks, Bud, for the additional info. I knew you would have it! Was I 

> right, or close, concerning the flower shop?

> Charlie Long

>

> -----Original Message-----

>>From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

>>Sent: Jun 2, 2008 11:55 PM

>>To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

>>Subject: Re: Radford bridge

>>

>>This reply probably addresses a couple of mailing list items.

>>

>>In the early 1880s, a line began at the west side of the New River that 

>>would extend to open up the Pocahontas coalfields. The first load of coal 

>>was dispatched in March 1883 eastward to Norfolk. Trains leaving Radford 

>>for coalfields proceeded westward across the New River bridge on the 

>>Bristol line [at the present site], then would reverse direction to 

>>proceed to Bluefield. The shelf visible today near the west side of the 

>>bridge is where this line began. The eastbound trains from Bluefield had 

>>to reverse direction to continue east toward Radford and beyond. Obviously 

>>this was a very awkward and expensive way to send and receive trains over 

>>the New River line.

>>

>>In 1888, a new curved bridge was completed, next to the Bristol line 

>>bridge. The curved bridge created a wye. Trains leaving Radford for the 

>>Pocahontas region could now proceed across the new bridge without having 

>>to reverse direction that was previously required. The line followed the 

>>current road now known as Hazel Hollow Road to the highway bridge then 

>>curved to the left following a side of the draw to a point that today is 

>>Route 600 or Belspring Road. As a boy I remember the old highway followed 

>>the old RR road bed until the new four-lane road was completed in 1949 

>>when a new highway bridge was built connecting Radford and Fairlawn. The 

>>original road bed continued upgrade to about where the golf driving range 

>>is today and this "hill" was known as Schooler Hill. The line then 

>>descended down to Belspring in the vicinity of Back Creek where it 

>>progressed westward along the New River like today.

>>

>>The hill was a real operational challenge since it rose 78 feet per mile 

>>eastbound and 86 feet per mile westbound and was about 11 miles in length. 

>>To reduce grade and reduce operating expenses, the new N&W Ry began 

>>building a new low-grade line from what is now known as Walton to 

>>Belspring. The new line reduced grades to 11 feet per mile eastbound and 

>>curves from 14 to six degrees, and was shorter by 4.3 miles. It went into 

>>service on October 11, 1900 and the Va. General Assembly authorized the 

>>N&W to abandoned the old line on February 15, 1901.

>>

>>In the archives there is a folder of correspondence about the disposition 

>>of the old New River curved bridge. I do not have copies of this file but 

>>most of it was dated about 1904-5 and I believe in 1905 there is a 

>>document about a portion of the old bridge being used on the Galax line 

>>which Robb Fisher referenced below. I do not have any information about 

>>when the line was stopped being used but railroads, the N&W not being 

>>excepted, tend to get rid of something when approved for abandonment, 

>>especially something as costly as using the Schooler Hill line.

>>

>>The N&W said that savings for using the new line was greater than the 

>>interest to pay for the new construction which included the 3500+ foot 

>>Pepper Tunnel and a bridge across the New River at the tunnel. The line 

>>was certainly out by 1907 and the Jamestown Exposition.

>>

>>Bud Jeffries

>>

>>----- Original Message ----- 

>>From: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

>>To: <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

>>Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 3:15 AM

>>Subject: RE: Radford bridge

>>

>>

>>>

>>>> [Does anyone know when this wye track and the second bridge were fully

>>>> abandoned?

>>>> Was everything taken out of service with the completion of the 

>>>> Walton/Cowan

>>>> line? Or

>>>> was this piece kept in service for a while, which could explain how the

>>>> Exposition

>>>> specials served Radford -- run forward from Walton to Radford, cross 

>>>> the

>>>> river and

>>>> turn on the New River wye, then run forward back through Radford and on 

>>>> out

>>>> of town.]

>>>> Bruce in Blacksburg

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> Bridge 802 (IIRC) was completely abandoned before 1908... it was reused 

>>> on the North Carolina branch (where it crossed over US 52).

>>>

>>> Robb Fisher

>>> RFDI

>>>

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>

>

>

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