N&W New River Cripple Creek Branch or Extension

[NW Mailing List]

(This is off the top of my head and I’ll validate it tonight when I’m home with my library – I’ll  submit any needed corrections or additions)

It was a branch line off the N&W’s North Carolina Extension (Pulaski to Galax) leaving the more mainline NC Extension at Ivanhoe, VA going to Speedwell, VA in Wythe County, VA.   The line followed Cripple Creek from where it flowed into the New River at Ivanhoe through the Community of Cripple Creek to the town of Speedwell.  Several years ago prior to my Dad passing away we did some railroad explorations in SW VA together at his request.  This line was one he really wanted to checkout.    You can tell where the right of way was at places as you follow it on the “back roads” and Cripple Creek from Ivanhoe to Speedwell.  We did our trip in the summer but if you did this in winter with the foliage gone I suspect you could see a lot more of it. The N&W station in Speedwell was still standing and had been converted into a home.  We did our trip around 2000.

On a family note.  My GGGG Grandfather Matthias Painter moved his family from Shenandoah County, VA to the Cripple Creek area of Wythe County in the late 1790’s.  He was very successful in farming and business in the Cripple Creek area.  His son Abraham Painter, my GGG Grandfather, along with his son William Matthias Painter (a Capt. in the Confederate Army who properly fought to protect Virginia from invasion) were both successful businessmen in Ivanhoe.  They both along with their wives (my GGG and GG grandmothers) are buried in the cemetery at the Church in Ivanhoe.  I visited their graves my way to the Convention in Front Royal last summer.

Ed Painter – Narrows, VA…….Currently living in Russellville, AR



From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 12:03 PM
To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Subject: N&W New River Cripple Creek Branch or Extension


Where did the N&W New River Cripple Creek branch (or "extension" of another branch if that is the proper name) with 1880s iron furnaces originate and where did it end?



When was it built?



Are there remains of any of these furnace sites still in existance?



Thanks,



Al Kresse
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