N&W in 1903 -- To Washington

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NORFOLK AND WESTERN RAILWAY MAY RUN TRAINS INTO WASHINGTON
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    Washington, Nov. 11. -- A quiet rumor is current in railroad circles that there is a deal on foot whereby the Norfolk and Western will send a train into Washington by way of Riverton Junction and the Manassas branch of the Southern.  Color is lent to the rumor by the fact that a representative of the Norfolk and Western went over that part of the Southern between Manassas and Riverton Junction last week and made a careful inspection of the roadbed, taking exhaustive notes on the condition of the road and bed.
    At present the Norfolk and Western sends one of its trains into Washington over the Southern from Lynchburg.  The remainder of its traffic has to go to Shenandoah Junction and then into Washington over the Baltimore and Ohio.  Entrance to Washington by the way of Riverton Junction and the Manassas branch of the Southern would, it is said, put the Norfolk and Western on a much better footing than it is at present, as far as Washington traffic is concerned.  At the same time the Southern could handle it much better over that route than over the main line.
    The double tack to Manassas is about ready for traffic, and the branch road from that point is not heavily loaded with business like the main line.  At the same time the work of double tracking the Southern between Manassas and Orange makes new demands on the main line of the Southern, which is already carrying more business than it can conveniently handle.
    It is said that under the administration of President Johnson the Norfolk and Western, while still looking after its coal carrying trade, a trade which has made the road one of the most valuable railroad properties in the south, will at the same time look more carefully to the passenger traffic.  The rumored change would be in direct line with such a policy.  The great tendency of passenger travel these days from the east to the west, and vice versa, as well as between the north and the south, is by way of Washington.  Viewed from any light, it is said, the rumored change would be good policy on the part of the Norfolk and Western.

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
November 12, 1903

[But, stay tuned.  A few months later there will be a different rumor involving the N&W and Washington.]

Gordon Hamiltron
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