More Lynchburg questions

[NW Mailing List]

Seeing this exchange of information sparks me to ask about the
Southern Railway's original mainline thru Lynchburg vis the Orange
Bridge. I know the new alignment was in service by and before Kemper
first opened in November 1912 and the old line across the James was
also in service at that time. The old line (Orange Bridge) was gone by
or before September 1934.

I know this isn't strictly N&W but any assistance will be appreciated
as the old Southern line also connected with the N&W in places. I also
am well aware that the part from the Kemper station area still exists
down to the CSX connection but no longer crosses the river and that's
the crux of the question. Any narrowing of dates will be greatly
appreciated.

Please feel free to contact me off-list if you desire at ORLCo96782 at yahoo.com

Thank you.

Bob Cohen


> Good morning friends,

>

>     I'll start answering this question briefly since I'm working. Ha! Yes, the tracks came through Concord, Va. Forest, Va. is the West end of the connection of the old N&W mainline {some of it is still currently being used to serve local industry off of Rt. 221} and the beltline. Phoebe Pond is the East end of the connection where the old mainline and the beltline came back together. The N&W went East out of Lynchburg, Va.'s N&W Island Yard and headed East towards 6 Mile Bridge at Mt. Athos. From Mt. Athos it went through a rock quarry then crossed over Rt. 460 East just West of Concord. It crossed Rt. 460 and went into Concord. You can still see the old mainline going under a filled in section of Rt. 24 near to Carson's Hardware store. The Concord Station was moved up into a person's yard and is still standing. The original mainline tracks that went by the Concord Station were used as a siding for a pulp wood company for years. Those tracks joined the N&W beltline {circa 1

>  913?], currently NS mainline, at Phoebe Pond just off of Phoebe Pond Road off Rt. 460 West towards Appomattox, Va. I have been told that Phoebe Pond is where the steam locos took on water. Lee Hawkins, Blue Ridge Chapter member recalls watching the last N&W passenger train arriving at Lynchburg's 9th Street Union Station on it's last westbound run in December 1964. It would have gone by the Concord Station westbound towards Roanoke, Va. from points East that included Appomattox, Farmville and it's High Bridge, Crewe, Petersburg and Norfolk. I don't know the dates that the tracks were pulled up on Island Yard or over Rt. 460 but I'm sure Blue Ridge Chapter member and local railroad historian Aubrey Wiley would know. Please feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions and I'll and get you in touch with the local old timers!

>

> Liability Disclosure: I can't be held responsible for memory lapses by me or my fellow Blue Ridge Chapter members! Ha!

>

> Have to go back to work!

>

> Take care,

>

> Norris Deyerle

> National Director

>Blue Ridge Chapter, NRHS

>Lynchburg, Va.

>

> BRC, NRHS Website: www.blueridgenrhs.org

>

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

> Subject: RE: Concord to Lynchburg, VA

> Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:24:46 -0400

> From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org

>

> Are you talking about the old passenger line that left the mainline around Concord and rejoined it at Forest after passing through downtown Lynchburg where the passenger station was at that time?

>

> Gentleman: Can anyone help me respond to this query?

>

> ?I was told by someone that years ago a train track came through Concord, Virginia to Lynchburg, Virginia.

> They said the tracks were taken up in the late fifties and maybe early nineteen sixties.

> Since the person saying this tends to stretch the truth sometimes.

> I thought I would look it up on the Internet but cannot find anything about it.

> Is that true what was said?  They said it was taken out when the four lane was put in.

> Thank you for any information and forwarding this to the correct person.?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Kyle Davis