1908 - On Tour of Inspection

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Roanoke Times - February 5, 1908

On Tour of Inspection

   A party of officials of the Norfolk and Western railroad 
consisting of General Superintendent A. C. Needles, Assistant General 
Manager Merrill, Superintendent Riton, of the Norfolk division, and 
others, made a tour on Saturday of the belt line that runs from 
Forest Depot to Concord. They did not go over the entire belt line, 
as a small part of it has not yet been completed. The party used 
private car, No. 6.
   The cut-off from Forest to Concord is one of the most important, 
if not the most important improvements that the Norfolk and Western 
has ever made. It will enable the company to take its trains by 
Lynchburg on an easy grade, and thus do away with the double pusher 
that has to be used for all freight trains up the six miles of heavy 
grade extending from James river to Concord. There is also a heavy 
grade almost the entire distance coming west from Lynchburg to 
Forest. The saving to the railroad by this improvement will be 
something enormous, as it will expediate shipment of goods, save wear 
and tear on machinery, and greatly reduce danger of accidents.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link