Riverton, aka Confluence, Va.

[NW Mailing List]

Angelo:

Interesting modern images you have. They nicely show the feet for the old
water tank, and yes, they are right in the middle of the local roadway, or
at least were the last time a wandered thru there. The older image which
shows a water tank in the distance is also neat. Had never seen that one
before.

Don't remember where I saw the photos of the station, which probably was
demolished sometime in the 1960's or early 1970's. Maybe the Southern
Railway Hist. Assn. might have something. Their archives is located at
Kennesaw, Ga. in the same facility as The General, as in The Disney flick
"The Great Locomotive Chase."

Photographs from the 1850's? That would be a big surprise. Never seen
anything from the old Manassas Gap line much before 1900, anywhere on the
entire line. One last thing, the village also went by the early name
"Confluence" for where the two branches of the Shenandoah River joined
together right there. There was a nasty bridge collapse which killed 3 or 4
people shortly after the line opened thru there in 1854. It's mentioned in
detail in annual reports and newspapers of the region.

Bob Cohen


Hello Bob,

I really appreciated your in detail response with some helpful information.
You are correct, Riverton is the location I am interested in and attempting
to research. You said that photos do exist of this location, where would I
be able to view or purchase them from? I am very interested and would like
all the information you could provide me with. I understand that the first
RR here was Manassas Gap, any photos of that time available.

I was able to purchase a Keystone stereoview card of Riverton though it
only shows the back of the town. I included the photo and as can be seen
is a water tower and what is possibly the roof of the depot.

THANKS!
Angelo

Moderator:
 http://nwhs.org/mailinglist/2014/20140318.Riverton.00.jpg
http://nwhs.org/mailinglist/2014/20140318.Riverton.01.jpg
http://nwhs.org/mailinglist/2014/20140318.Riverton.02.jpg
http://nwhs.org/mailinglist/2014/20140318.Riverton.03.jpg


Riverton Junction was the location where the N&W crossed the Southern,
about a mile or two just west of the Southern Railway's Front Royal station.

This was a fairly busy place at one time for both RR's and the N&W had a
rather commodius station at the Junction. There are photos of it available
from the N&W HS from the 1917 Valuation survey. They include an image of
the crossing tower which was erected by the N&W predecessor line, the
Shenandoah Valley RR to control safe crossings.

In addition Southern maintained some sort of freight agency there at the
tower in the lower level, until it was closed in 1933 under order and
permission of the Va. State Corporation Commission.

In 1954, the N&W obtained the proper regulatory permission to close both
the Riverton station and the old Front Royal station and open a totally new
Front Royal depot at a different location. That building is still used
today by Norfolk Southern as a crew base. The Southern's Front Royal depot
was a totally different station and one of their old depots remains as a
community sales shop of some sort, still in its original location.

As for Riverton itself, that was west of Riverton Junction, across the main
branch of the Shenandoah River and on the SOUTHERN, not N&W and was opened
and maintained into the 1960's or thereabouts and today is long-gone.
Photos exist of it. The biggest old remainder at the out of the way place
of Riverton are the concrete footpads for the old water tank, once used for
the steam engines, but the old tank is also a long-gone piece of history.

I think this Riverton is what you are looking for and hope I have provided
a little start for you.

That's the bare bones basics. Hope this helps you some.

Bob Cohen

 Hello,

I am very interested in getting some information regarding the Riverton Va
(River Town) location. This would be a siding, a platform and some water
tower foundations that are still present. This location is just west of the
Riverton Junction Va. I would like to know what railroad ran through here
and what structures were here at one point in history. I seem to find all
kinds of information on the Riverton Jct. but nothing on Riverton. Any
information, photos and maps would be greatly appreciated. I did find an
archive on your site slightly referencing Riverton Depot, by Bob Cohen.

Thank You,

 Angelo
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