Virginian in 1908--Black Lick

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
November 25, 1908

CROSSING OF BLACK LICK VIADUCT A FEATURE
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Matoaka Correspondent Describes Run of First Passenger Train into Princeton

    Mataoka, W. Va., Nov. 24. (Special)--The Virginian Railroad [sic] extended its schedule to include Princeton Sunday, and the first passenger train made its first trip, carrying a large crowd which filled the coaches to overflowing.  The train presented a gala appearance carrying the stars and stripes in a conspicuous place.  The run was made over new track freshly ballasted in about thirty eight minutes, a distance of fifteen miles from Matoaka.  Stops were made at Rock, King and Gardner's Junction after leaving the old terminal at Matoaka, and before reaching Princeton.  A feature of the trip was the crossing of Black Lick Viaduct, which is 910 feet long and 200 feet high.
    In Princeton a crowd was gathered which when augmented by the number on the train reached the 2,000 mark.  Mrs. J. J. Fagg drove to the station in a carriage which was prettily decorated in the Virginian colors, yellow and white.  The white harness of the horse was also a part of the color scheme.  Just as the train was ready to start on the return trip, Mrs. Fagg stepped forth and was assisted to the pilot of the engine where she broke a bottle of champagne, christening the iron stead "Virginia" with the words, "Virginia, we welcome thee; may thy runs ever be made in safety."  The return trip was sans incident and sans accident.
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[Sounds as though Princeton really appreciated having the Virginian passenger service.]

Gordon Hamilton
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