regarding the V&T/South Side railroad's connection

[NW Mailing List]

Did any of this materially change in 1860 when the Orange & Alexandria arrived from the north?

I have read there was once a car hoist, etc. for interchange since the V&T/SS were 5' gauge and the O&A was always 4' 8.5". The gauge of the then successor to the AM&O N&W wasn't changed until May31/June 1, 1885 when the entire south or nearly the entire south narrowed its gauge by 3.5".

Bob Cohen


Regarding the meeting point of the V&T and the South Side, Thanks Gordon, Bruce, and Aubrey,(for the map cuts and photos) for correcting me. The bridge location was something I THOUGHT I had read or
been told years ago. I missed it by only 537'!  It's good to be close but better to be accurate!
Charlie Long
Lynchburg

On Wed, Feb 22, 2023 at 11:21 AM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
wrote:

> Gordon, Bruce, and Aubrey,
>
> I really enjoyed your replies.

> The information you've shared seems to confirm that the Southside RR, in order to make their west-end connection at the V&T RR depot (at 9th St.)  on the south bank of the James River in Lynchburg, crossed the James  River three times, the last crossing being at the west end of Percival's  Island. Author Richard Prince indicates there was no RR connection as of November 1854. But by June 1855, James Cowardin's Board of Trade party was able to ride a westbound SS RR train across the James River on a bridge from the island to the V&T depot.
>
> I've attached an edited c.1864 CSA map showing all the features to which each of you made reference. I also attached a photo (c.1854 approx) showing the V&T RR's 9th St. depot, and visible beyond it are the piers for either the wagon bridge or the SS RR bridge between Percival's Island and the south bank. Maybe someone can confirm which bridge this is.
>
> Annual reports from these two roads may shed some more light on the subject, but it's nice to determine that V&T RR MP.0 was at the depot. I wonder how the transfer of freight traffic was handled between these railroads with such limited acreage on the V&T side?
>
> John Garner
> Newport, VA
>
>
> Regarding your question about the initial connection between the SS and V&T RR's, Page 8 of Prince's book on the N&W states that the first SS RR service terminated at a temporary depot on Percival's Island on November 2, 1854.  "Soon a railroad bridge was constructed over the south bank so that the tracks of the SOUTH SIDE RR joined those of the Virginia & Tennessee RR at the joint Lynchburg passenger station."
>
> Gordon Hamilton
>
> On 2/20/2023 3:17 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
> > Thanks for the reply Charlie. Do we know which road owned/constructed the west end bridge (i.e. where exactly did the two properties meet)?
> >
> > Also, seems like I remember that both roads operated into Lynchburg for some time without an actual connection (i.e. bridge) between the two roads.
> >
> > I find the history of the James River waterfront in Lynchburg fascinating. The amount of travel and commerce that has occurred within such a confined area is amazing. Hard to believe it all
> > happened as you stand there today.
> >
> > John Garner