Big Stoney RR (Potts Valley Branch)

[NW Mailing List]

Abram,

Are you familiar with the article on the Potts Valley line in Vol. 18, No. 4 of The Arrow for July/August 2002? This is a well-researched, detailed article which includes info on the bridges around Waiteville and the Tri States narrow-gauge incline over Potts Mt.  The N&W line in the vicinity of Waiteville is shown on a topo map.

For instance the article states that the largest of the four bridge near Waiteville was No. 2426 (no mention of Big Shepard Trestle) over Ray Fork at 109 feet high and 800 feet long.  The Tri-State narrow-gauge incline fed logs to the N&W at Ray Siding, Elevation 2450 ft., from the summit on Potts Mt. at an elevation of more than 2900.  A narrow gauge Shay brought log cars to the base of the incline in Johns Creek Valley on the Virginia side of Potts Mt. where the loaded cars were uncoupled and the cable from the steam winch at the top of the mountain attached.  The lumber cars were then winched up the mountain on a grade reaching 50% in places.  After reaching the top, the cars were lowered down the West Virginia mountainside to Ray where the lumber was transloaded to N&W standard gauge cars.

Gordon Hamilton
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: NW Mailing List 
  To: N&W Mailing List 
  Sent: Friday, July 13, 2012 7:55 PM
  Subject: Big Stoney RR (Potts Valley Branch)


  Has anyone done a decent map (hopefully in Google Earth) of the Big Stoney RR, the Interior & West Virginia RR and the Virginia & Potts Creek RR, all of which were collectively known as the N&W's Potts Valley Branch ?



  Anyone know how the branch was worked?  Probably with an engine and crew out of Narrows?  What classes of engines were used and where were they sent for boiler wash and maintenance (Radford?)?  One source says coal was available at Waiteville, but where were the water tanks?



  The fascinating part of the Big Stoney equation has to be the Tri-State [Lumber Co ?] operation around Waiteville.  Sources indicate the Tri-State line crossed Potts Mountain using geared engines plus an incline havine a whopping 50% grade!



  Can anyone send GPS coordinates for this incline?   I can't find it on the satellite imagery. And how about coordinates for the whopping Big Shepard Trestle on the Potts Valley Branch, 600' long and 100' high and made from 400,000 board feet of timber?  


  -- abram burnett



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