Crewe, Va - It's Origin as a Terminal ?

[NW Mailing List]

Ken,
Thanks for all this history. It's really neat to see the progress and growth back then. 
Phil Miller

-----Original Message-----
From: NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 8:25 AM
To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: Re: Crewe, Va - It's Origin as a Terminal ?

A little further digging, brought out that Crewe became a terminal as of Sunday, July 1, 1888, over 325 workers moved from other terminals to Crewe.

Best
Ken Miller

> On Jun 10, 2025, at 12:48 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> Abe
> 
> I think this from the annual report of 1888 explains:
> 
> From 1888 Annual Report
> 
> The Board of Directors herewith submits its Report of the operations of the Company for the year ending December 31st, 1888 :
> PROPERTY.
> The high standard to which your property had been brought was maintained throughout the year, and the im­provements made were more extensive and important than in any previous year, and were necessitated by the continuous and rapid growth of your Company's traffic and by the increased length of its road. Your railroad originally consisted of about 408 miles of main track and 20 miles of branches, and was conveniently operated in 2 divisions (the Eastern and Western) of 214 miles each, with Lynchburg as the dividing point. All of the extensions to your line have penetrated the mineral territory lying north and south of your Western Division, and were, therefore, incorporated in that division. Until 1888 the operation by divisions east and west of Lynchburg was continued, and as one branch after another was constructed into the coal and ore fields, and the volume of traffic increased, the Western Division became too large for economical or efficient operation. To meet the immediate needs of your business, and to provide for its future growth, the operated portion of your line was in 1888 rearranged into four operating divisions of nearly equal mileage, with Crewe, Roanoke, Radford, and Bluefield as divisional points. The improvements made during 1888, therefore, include yards, engine-houses, repair-shops, and storehouses at Crewe and Bluefield, and enlargements of the yard at Roanoke and at Radford. The yard track thus added, together with the addi­tional sidings provided at many points, aggregate 43.20 miles of track. An engine-house was also built at Bristol, and there were erected 8 new station buildings, 3 division offices, 5 coaling stations, 27 water-tanks, 24 houses for employees, and numerous minor structures, together with 22 large and im­portant iron bridges, and many other permanent improvements. The cost of this work was $943,784.51.
> 
> According to an advertisment in the Norfolk, Virginian Pilot, Dated June 22, 1888:
> “On or about July 1st, 1888, the Norfolk and Western Railroad will transfer to CREWE. 325 shop, train and other railroad employees for whom provisions must be made.Dwellings, stores, boarding houses, etc. are necessary for the accommodation of a population that will number 1500 before the close of the year."
> 
> The earliest employee timetable I can find is System Combined Timetable No. 2, effective 12, 1888 lists Crewe as a terminal.  
> 
> Best
> Ken Miller

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