Monroe, Virginia, Information Request

[NW Mailing List]

Hi Vicki:
I'll start something for you. Monroe VA is on the former Southern Railway main line between Washington DC and Atlanta, GA (and other points south). It was a division point for the rairoad being approx halfway between Washington and Spencer NC, the next point south. It is located about 12-14 miles north of Lynchburg, VA. The town now uses the Madison Heights USPS facilty (zip 24572).
It had a very nice engine service facility, a wye for turning equipment, water/coaling , a deisel fueling rack, a large yard and of course a station. It had a YMCA for crew layover.
Power for joint SR and N&W operated passenger trains was swapped out here in the later part of the N&W steam days. The trains would get their N&W power at Monroe, go to Lynchburg, get on the N&W and go to Bristol, VA where the power was swapped again to SR power.
Now Monroe is a little quiet community (went through there Tuesday morning) with a single track and a little wood yard type siding. No signs of the moderate facilities and once busy atmosphere. When SR was still running passenger trains, and the N&W discontinued their part, SR would add freight cars to trains 7 & 8, which originated at Montview Yard in Lynchburg, to help pay operating costs to/from Washington. Since the Monroe Yard closing, crews change at Montview here in Lynchburg.
I have fond memories of such things as the nice SR passenger deisels, excursions like 611, 1218, the Flying Scotsman, the Royal Hudson, 610. And a cheap, short ride on SR trains 5 & 6 or 7 & 8, Lynchburg to Monroe or vice-versa.
Charlie Long
Lynchburg



-----Original Message----- for turning equipment,

>From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

>Sent: Nov 1, 2007 12:53 PM

>To: Vicki Nash <sealbait at hotmail.com>

>Cc: N&W Historical Society <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>, Bob Cohen <orl96782 at yahoo.com>

>Subject: Monroe, Virginia, Information Request

>

>From: "Vicki Nash " <sealbait at hotmail.com>

>To: f_scheer at yahoo.com 

>Subject: Information Request 

>Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 11:31:53 -0400

>

>Hello there, 

>

>My name is Vicki Nash, and I have been trying to find

>some old information for a town in VA that has really

>been removed.  It was Monroe, VA.  From what I know it

>was a very small railroad town that was booming in the

>30’s

.well if you want to call it booming.  I

>understand that there was post office there.  

>

>I’m looking for any information you may have or any

>one you know I can contact to get it.  We would really

>love any general facts and photographs. 

>

>Anychance you would have some information?

>

>Thanks so much in advance!!! 

>

>Vicki 

>

>Vicki Nash 

>

>

>

>November 1, 2007

>

>Hello, Vicki:

>

>By coincidence, there has been much recent discussion

>about Monroe within a Norfolk & Western Historical

>Society group discussion.  Perhaps some of the people

>who posted comments can send information to you

>directly at <sealbait at hotmail.com>

>

>Bob Cohen has a friend, Edgar Ren Conner, III M.A.,

>who has much information and many recollections about

>Monroe.  Unfortunately, Ed isn't on-line but if there

>is other information you would like after reading

>whatever people send you, perhaps you can send a

>message to Bob which he can relay to Ed.

>

>Thanks for the inquiry,

>

>Frank Scheer

>f_scheer at yahoo.com

>

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