Electrification question from a newbie....

NW Mailing List nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Tue Feb 17 21:12:20 EST 2009


Brian,

I know that there were screens on the Wasena, Franklin Rd. and Jefferson St.
bridges in Roanoke. Frankly, I just haven't thought about looking for them
for a long time, so I'm not positive they are still there. There are still
some transmission towers in the area. Two can be seen in the Dixie Caverns
area (Rt. 460/11, in the western part of Roanoke County). One sets high atop
the hill right above the cavern. It is actually "in use" as it holds a
number of cell phone antennas. There is another visible to the southeast of
Dixie Caverns on the side of a hill across the valley from the caverns.

The concrete foundations of a substation still are visible at Wabun, though
they are on private property. Also, a couple of catenary polls are still in
place west of Jefferson St. bridge in Roanoke, where they held tell-tales
warning trainmen riding the tops of cars of low clearances in the area.
Another is next to the former Virginian passenger station east of the
bridge. It's mate was removed to the "Rail Walk" in downtown Roanoke on
Norfolk Ave. next to the NS main line.

Jeff Sanders

----- Original Message -----
From: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 5:54 PM
Subject: Re: Electrification question from a newbie....



> There may be some horizontal screens on highway bridges that were there to

> prevent idiots from dangling something on a cord over the side of the

> bridge and down to the 11,000 volt catenary. I recall seeing one of these

> screens over the former location of the Virginian in Narrows, Va. (where

> the track has been removed for widening of US 460), in recent years, and

> there may be some on Roanoke bridges. One building, the storehouse of the

> Virginian generating plant I believe, still stands in Narrows and appears

> to be used by some business. There used to be some Virginian transmission

> line poles standing where the line went overland instead of following the

> railroad, but I cannot locate them for you. Finally, at Matoaka, WV,

> there was the remains of the structure for the equipment at one end of the

> 88,000 volt tie line to the N&W's Bluestone, WV, power plant, but I do not

> know its present status.

>

> I am not familiar with any remaining relics of the N&W electrification.

>

> I'm sure that others can supply more details.

>

> Gordon Hamilton

>

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

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

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

> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 1:49 PM

> Subject: Electrification question from a newbie....

>

>

>>I am new to this list, so I have a simple question about the N&W / VGN.

>>

>> Are there any remaining visible artifacts from the VGN or N&W

>> electrifications? Does anyone have any photos?

>>

>> I'm a fan of electrified railroading, especially freight, so I'd be

>> very interested in learning about anything extant from the heady

>> times of mainline electrification on the VGN or N&W.

>>

>> Thanks in advance!

>>

>> Brian Gilleran

>> Herndon, VA

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