Tie Plant Explosion, Radford '55

[NW Mailing List]

The explosion and fire occurred on November 20, 1955. I have an Associated Press photo of the burning retort building. When I scanned the photo, I neglected to add the caption data from the AP tag attached to the photo. So I don't have further data without digging out the photo itself, which may take a bit of time.

The plant never reopened, to my knowledge, as the Koppers tie treating plant at Glenvar was either already open, or due to open very shortly.

Ken Miller

On Feb 3, 2011, at 11:05 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:


> I'll bet Bud Jeffreys can provide some answers.  The tie plant was in operation between 1920 and at least 1950 as indicated by the following excerpts from N&W Annual Reports:

>  

> 1920 Annual Report  There is under construction at East Radford, Virginia, a tie treating plant with a capacity of one million ties per year. This plant is for the purpose of treating ties other than white oak to take the place of hard or white oak ties, of which we are unable to obtain full requirements.

> 

> 1950 Annual Report  At Radford, Va., facilities for quick vapor drying of green cross ties and other timber, eliminating longer open-air seasoning.

> 

> Gordon Hamilton

> 

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> To: "Mailing List N&WHS" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 8:41 PM

> Subject: Tie Plant Explosion, Radford '55

> 

> > Does anyone know the date of the N&W's tie plant explosion in Radford? Fatalities, damages, notes, etc., would be helpful too.

> > Charlie Long

> > 

> > 

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