Roanoke construction

[NW Mailing List]

If memory serves me correctly, passengers arriving Roanoke could descend the stairway from the platform in order to reach the city, or the north side of the rails. They were "one way" exits. You could only pass through the gate to exit the platform. You could not enter railroad property from the underpass.
 
Jeff Sanders

From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: Roanoke construction

That stairway was closed off many years ago, probably at the end of passenger service in 1971 if not earlier. That underpass became rather unsafe for walking, probably in the mid to late 1960s as downtown deteriorated, becoming home to various muggers and pickpockets as well as a few drunks.

I remember walking through the underpass not long before they closed it off and noticing a sign on the west wall opposite where the stairway came out on the east wall, that was a directional sign for downtown one way and Hotel Roanoke the other. That sign obviously had no purpose short of directing you coming off the stairway, as it was flat against the wall, I'm surprised I had never even noticed it before then.

Ken Miller

On Sep 11, 2012, at 9:48 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:


> Looking down at the construction today I noticed an existing stairway leading underground from the old passenger station "platform" between the tracks.  You can see it dead center in the Roanoke Web Cam with safety tape strung around it to prevent workers from falling in, I suppose.

> 

> Now, I recall the old underpass beneath the tracks along Jefferson Street from the Old GOB to downtown, but I don't remember an underground walkway from the platform.  What is this and how was it used in the passenger era?  My memory of catching trains as a boy was always of the old concourse and stairs from above the tracks.

> 

> Also, work is beginning on the roadbed near Randolph St. Tower. Can't help but think I should get some photos of the signals before they're gone.

> 

> We also had a view of yesterday's derailment over by the VMT, although binoculars were needed.  The three engines that were laying on their sides are gone now, and it looks like they've repaired and cleaned up the track.

> 

> 

> Eric Shelton

> Atop the Wells Fargo Tower

> Roanoke


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