N&W in 1909--Norfolk Union Station

[NW Mailing List]

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
October 16, 1909

WILL HASTEN ERECTION OF UNION STATION
------
Army of Men at Work on Temporary Station.  Loss Will Not Exceed $100,000

    Norfolk, Va., Oct. 15--Scarcely had the ember of the fire which destroyed the passenger station of the Norfolk and Western Railway Company in this city early Thursday morning cooled, when an army of men went to work to clear away the debris, preparatory to the erection of a temporary station which will be used pending other arrangements.
    It was admitted yesterday by those in position to know that this temporary station would be the only building of its kind to be erected here by the Norfolk and Western and that the destruction of the old depot would hasten the plans that are already under way for the erection of a splendid union passenger station for the use of the Virginia [sic] Railway, the Norfolk and Western, and in all likelihood, the Norfolk and Southern Railway.
    H. P. Reigert, assistant general manager of the Virginian, which is the moving spirit in the union depot project, said that preliminary plans for this building have already been drawn.  As soon as the organization of a union depot company is perfected, the plan will be put into operation.  Mr. Reigert expressed the opinion that the fire would hasten the completion of the union station, and said it is very probable the Norfolk and Southern will definitely decide to participate in this project.
    E. H. Graham, superintendent of terminals of the Norfolk and Western, also expressed the opinion that the fire would have the effect of causing more activity in the union station project.  "The Norfolk and Western has been ready to go into a union station proposition for two years," said Mr. Graham.  "That the plan has not been consummated is not the fault of this company."  Mr. Graham said further, that in all likelihood, the Norfolk and Southern, which will probably be reorganized shortly after the first of next year, will go into the union station company.
    Regarding the fire which destroyed operation to all of the buildings comprising the Norfolk and Western's passenger terminal at the foot of East Main street, as previously reported, Mr. Graham said that reports as to the extent of the damage have been exaggerated.  The loss on the building and contents, excepting a great quantity of old records, which cannot be replaced, will not exceed $100,000, Mr. Graham said.  This, of course, is covered by insurance, the policies being all in Roanoke, although copies of them were among the papers destroyed here.
    Mr. Graham stated that the construction of the temporary station will be done by employees of the company.  All the available carpenters and laborers along the line of this division will be brought here for this purpose and in a comparatively short time ample space for the use of the express companies, clerical offices and baggage rooms will be provided.  There will be no interruption of the company's passenger or freight trains on account of the fire.
------
Gordon Hamilton
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20090613/2453b3cc/attachment.htm>