The Huckleberry

[NW Mailing List]

Frank,

The Huckleberry (Christiansburg to Blacksburg branch) operated from the early 1900s until 1966. Passenger service was provided until 1958 (mixed train daily except Sunday in its later years).  The mixed train actually operated from Radford to Christiansburg to Blacksburg and return but, for reasons perhaps lost to history, was only listed in the timetables as Christiansburg to Blacksburg and return.

Apart from the regular passenger service, the Huckleberry also hosted the annual movement of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets from Blacksburg to Roanoke by special trains for the Thanksgiving Day football game with VMI.  I believe 1964 was the last year of this service.  There were also occasional special trains related to other Virginia Tech football games.

The branch exists today as far as the Corning plant next to New River Valley mall, about 2 miles.  The rest is a popular rails to trails bikeway that extends to the site of the former Blacksburg station  (now the municipal building site).


   Ray



From: NW-Mailing-List [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 7:00 AM
To: NW Mailing List
Subject: The Huckleberry

This old N&W ticket from Blacksburg to Roanoke was just donated to the Rural Retreat Depot Museum. The letter that came with it says that The Huckleberry only carried passengers from Blacksburg to Roanoke for the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between Va Tech and VMI.

Frank Akers
www.theruralretreatdepot.com<http://www.theruralretreatdepot.com>

Moderator:
 http://nwhs.org/mailinglist/2016/20160502.NW_Ticket_Huckleberry.jpg

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