VGN New River Div. Traffic Levels Today?

[NW Mailing List]

Jimmy I agree. Continuing AMTRAK service to Christiansburg (and eventually beyond) using the former N&W main is a ‘no-brainer’ in my opinion. I have yet to hear who/what is driving this idea of buying/using the ex-Virginian main between Roanoke/Salem & Christiansburg. Why would the State want to “buy” an isolated segment of track that would involve additional ROW & new interchange/connection trackage?  🤷‍♂️
Common sense & politics rarely ride together. 
Herb Edwards 
Lynchburg, Va. 
 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 5, 2021, at 6:49 AM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> In my opinion, using the former Virginian line is a cock-a-mammie project! They should use some common sense, go N&W, and make Radford the termini. A much better and less expensive place to end a trip all the way around!
> 
> Jimmy Lisle
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> 
> 
> -------- Original message --------
> From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> Date: 11/5/21 6:29 AM (GMT-05:00)
> To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> Subject: Re: VGN New River Div. Traffic Levels Today?
> 
>> On Mon, Nov 1, 2021 at 7:48 PM Ray wrote:
>> Jimmy,
>> 
>> My understanding is that the New River Valley station site is likely to be on what remains of the former N&W Christiansburg to Blacksburg line (Huckleberry) adjacent to the Uptown Christiansburg mall. This will require a connection from the NS/Virginian line but less than 1/2 mile of new track. When and if service is extended to Bristol this track connects with the NS main. Because the connection is eastbound, some work would be required at the connection for westbound (toward Bristol) movement.
> 
> The Virginia Anthracite Coal & Railway line crossing the Virginian on a trestle is construction completed for the Virginian*. The original line dropped down a drainage and back up a drainage on the other side to continue on to the Merrimac Mine and Blacksburg (that part of the line became the connection between the VGN and the Blacksburg Branch after the N&W bought the VAC&Ry). The roadbed of the original line still exists, so building a westbound connection between the VGN and the Huckleberry/Blacksburg Branch really isn't insurmountable. That would provide access to the team track and former coal tipple just east/south of VA 114, across from the mall, the most likely location for a station. The issue will be engine placement; there will need to be accomodation for the unit to run around the train to switch from westbound to eastbound.
> 
> Once on the Blacksburg Branch, the train could continue to the N&W in Christiansburg. Again, the issue is engine placement, since the connection from the branch to the main is heading east. The train could back to Christiansburg yard and the engine could be switched using the crossovers at Christiansburg and Pelton so the train could continue west to Radford, Pulaski, and eventually Bristol.
> 
> There are a lot of unanswered questions about all this, though.
> 
> *I'm halfway through an article for The Arrow about this whole project.
> 
> Bruce in Blacksburg
> 
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