N&W in 1911--Adding track

[NW Mailing List]

ADDING NEW MILEAGE
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Norfolk and Western Has Many New Pieces of Track

    The Norfolk and Western Railway in its annual report, just issued*, asserts that the double-track work in progress between Vivian and Huger, 5.03 miles, including four tunnels, will be completed about November.  At the Ohio River bridge, Kenova, the east approach is being reduced in grade from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent and the viaduct and bridge will be double-tracked, removing 0.7 mile of gauntlet.  This will be completed into next year.
    With these sections finished the company will have in operation between Lambert's Point and Columbus, including as second track the lines around Petersburg and Lynchburg**, and the Big Sandy line, 512 miles of single track [sic.  Should be "double track" per the annual report], including two gauntlets, neither half a mile long.  The single track is between Gilmerton and Phoebe, Va., 172 miles; between Radford and Coaldale in sections, sixteen and one half miles; and between the Pocahontas coal field and Columbus about three and a quarter miles.
    The Petersburg belt line, from Poe to Addison,*** Va., about nine miles of main line, about one and three quarter miles of connecting tracks with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the Seaboard Air Line Railway, and four miles of sidings, was put into operation June 9, 1911.  It cost about $756,00.
    The Dry Fork branch has been extended to operation No. 4 of the New River & Pocahontas Consolidated coal Co.  Its total length in operation is thirty miles, and one mile is under construction from above Canebrake to the initial point of the Beech Creek branch, which is building from the connection with the Dry Fork branch to its junction with Indian Creek branch at the Virginia state line, 1 and one-half miles.  The Indian Creek branch, from the state line to Cedar Bluff, 12 and one-quarter miles, and a "Y" connection at Cedar Bluff are under construction.  These lines will be completed next yar, and will make a connection between the main line at Iaeger and the Clinch Valley district at Cedar Bluff, giving a direct outlet to the east for the coals already developed on the Dry Fork branch and for those awaiting development on the new branches, as well as a short line to the west from the Clinch Valley district.  It will also be of great importance as a relief line for the dense traffic of the main line in the Pocahontas coal fields in case of congestion, high water or accident.
    The Northfork branch of Tug Fork branch from Jeanette, 4 and one-quarter miles, is under construction and will be completed about November.  The Sycamore branch, about 3 and three-quarters miles, has been completed and put into operation from a point about 3 miles east of Williamson, up Sycamore Creek to the coal operation of the Sycamore Coal Company.
    Further progress is reported toward obtraining right of way for the Guyandot and Tug River Railroad and connections.
[*Beginning in 1897 and continuing into 1916, N&W Ry. Annual Reports were for fiscal years ending June 30.
 **The Farmville belt line was not completed until 1916.
 ***The junction at the west end of the Petersburg belt line is designated "Jack."  MapQuest shows Addison on Virginia 226 about one-quarter mile east of Jack.]
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Gordon Hamilton
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