Virginian in 1909--Princeton passenger trains

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
February 4, 1909

PRINCETON HAS TRAINS GOING AND COMING
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Regular Freight Schedule Inaugurated, First Train to the East Being Run Yesterday

    Princeton now has trains going and coming.  Yesterday a regular freight schedule was inaugurated and a freight in charge of Conductor John Kelly and Engineer Jacobs was the first regular train to the east from the county seat.  Aboard the train in the caboose attached to the rear were a number of passengers, Superintendent Johnson and Mr. Taylor.  The train was pulled out of the town about 8 o'clock by engine No. 303 [Microfilm blurred.  Best interpretation shown.] and was made up on coal cars and construction cars.  The train was expected to return to Princeton last night at 9 o'clock.
    Mr. Poston, of the Princeton Grocery company, said yesterday over the long distance 'phone that he understands that the train yesterday is the first to make a regular trip to Roanoke and he is informed that now a regular freight schedule will be maintained daily.  Passenger service will be inaugurated on the 15th, but it is understood that previous to that time tickets for eastern points may be purchased from the ticket agent, O. L. Waldron, subject to the delays which are expected on a mixed freight and passenger train.
    Sunday [Feb. 7, 1909] Princeton will receive the first mail that has ever gone to the town by train from any part of the world.  Commencing on that day  the passenger train from the west will carry a mail car and everybody will have an excuse to go to the post office, if only to look for souvenir postal cards from their friends.  This convenience will be greatly appreciated by the business men of the county seat who have always been at a disadvantage when it came to mail service.  In speaking of this matter yesterday Mr. Poston said the postoffice department will probably institute a railway mail service from the east shortly after the inauguration of the passenger service from Roanoke and the east.
    Princeton is to be congratulated on having at last received the same advantages that her sister cities have had for a long time and the town well knows now that everything comes to him who waits.
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Gordon Hamilton
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