N&W Class J's and Lynchburg, VA

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I would like to make a few comments on this subject, to the best of my knowledge and recollection, subject to correction if anyone else has more definite information.

In the late 1940s and early '50s, the J's running on the joint N&W-Southern passenger trains received routine servicing and maintenance at Bristol Shop.  Three J's were regularly assigned to trains Nos. 18 and 45, 46 and 17, and 42 and 41 between Bristol and Monroe.  Trains Nos. 9 and 10 were powered by J's after the last three were built in 1950, resulting in a slight change in the assignments.

Eastbound, the J's took water during the station stop at Roanoke.  Occasionally, in cold weather and with a heavy train, No. 42 took water also at Max Meadows or some other intermediate point.  They continued east to Monroe, where, to the best of my knowledge, they were coaled and watered at the Southern's engine terminal, but otherwise received only minimal attention.  (The Southern's coal chute at Monroe was demolished in May 1953, and after that I'm not sure what was done as far as coal was concerned.)  Westbound, they took coal and water at Vicker.

When a Bristol Line J was due for monthly inspection or sometimes for other reasons, it was removed at Roanoke and replaced by another engine.

Occasionally Class A locomotives operated to Monroe handling special trains.

On the main line, J's operating west out of Roanoke took water at Bluefield and coal and water at Prichard.  At Cincinnati they were coaled, watered and serviced at the Cincinnati Union Terminal roundhouse.  Eastbound, they took coal and water at Prichard and water at Bluefield.  

By about 1957 or '58, the only N&W passenger trains operating in and out of Cincinnati were Nos 3 and 4 and 25 and 26.  Toward the end of steam passenger operations, engines were changed at Portsmouth in both directions to avoid having to take coal at CUT.

On the east end, the J's took water at Crewe in both directions.

On the main line, especially on No. 25, with a light train, J's were sometimes run through Roanoke.  In such cases, they probably took coal at Vicker.

I will welcome any comments others may have.

Louis Newton 
     

   
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