100 years ago...

[NW Mailing List]

Roanoke Times, Thursday, January 24, 1907

RAILROAD NOTES.

Rushing Work at Shops.
   The Norfolk and Western railroad is rushing the work on their shop 
improvements, and with the same progress in the future as in the past 
the new soft iron foundry and the new planing mill will be ready for 
occupancy by the first of May. When these improvements are completed 
the shops in Roanoke will be complete in every detail, and will equal 
those of any railroad in the country. The amount of new work, such as 
cars, engines, etc., that has been required by the road, has 
necessitated the enlargement of the shops in order to meet the demands.
   The new foundry will be the most complete in the country. It will 
be 742 feet long by 140 feet wide. Over one thousand tons of 
structural steel will be used in the frame, and it will require 
twenty-eight cars of slate to cover the roof. The original plans of 
the company did not contemplate so large a structure, and these plans 
are now undergoing a change, and the foundry will be much larger than 
at first planned. When completed the foundry will have cost in the 
neighborhood of $300,000.
   The planing mill, which was burned some time ago, is being rebuilt 
and enlarged. The new building will be 252 by 99 feet. This is the 
same length as the old one, but is 25 feet wider. This work has just 
commenced, and is being done by Pettyjohn, the contractor of Lynchburg.
   In the new foundry there will be every convenience for the men, 
and everything possible will be added that will facilitate the work.
   The company has recently installed a magnetic hoisting derrick for 
handling heavy irons, car wheel, etc. It has a capacity of twenty 
tons and hoists by means of magnetism.
   About 125 men are constantly employed in the construction of the 
improvements and additions to the shops, and the work is being pushed 
with all possible speed to an early completion.