location - Miles Landing (was Christiansburg Middle Track)

[NW Mailing List]

Ken,

Thank you for the additional history, which is significant.   The bridge may yet have a use........... provided funding is obtained for the proposed pedestrian/bike trail.

      Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2023 8:24 PM
To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: Re: location - Miles Landing (was Christiansburg Middle Track)

No offense Ray, but I think the bridge being referred to is a bridge to nowhere now. The tie plant was located where the Dedmon Center and other Radford College facilities are now. At that end was some company housing.

That bridge never carried rail traffic. Yes, it was constructed by N&W, but it never carried traffic. It was built to what was going to be a new American Viscoes plant after closing of Roanoke in the late 1940s. I believe the road Herons Landing Drive was renamed from Viscose Road sometime in the last 5-6 years.

The plant in Roanoke was to be closed as the land was being annexed by Roanoke City, and the Viscose did not want to come under Roanoke City taxes, so plans were laid to build a new plant at Radford.

Once the war was over, the demand for rayon dropped, and the plans were stopped. The plant ultimately closed in the late 1950s, bringing another blow to Roanoke’s economy after a number of Roanoke Shops folks were furloughed due to ending steam.

The bridge is fenced at both ends to the best of my knowledge.

Best
Ken Miller

> On Jul 10, 2023, at 5:01 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> Craig,
> 
>  
> 
> The bridge you reference goes across the New River to what, I believe, was a tie plant. The Miles line departed the main line in West Radford about two miles west of the abandoned bridge and stayed on the south east side of the New River. The abandoned bridge is now being considered for a bike and hiking trail to connect the Herons Landing community and Virginia Tech River Course with Radford and Radford University.
> 
>  
> 
>      Ray Smoot
> 
>  
> 
> From: NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of 
> NW Mailing List
> Sent: Monday, July 10, 2023 4:18 PM
> To: 'NW Mailing List' <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> Subject: RE: location - Miles Landing (was Christiansburg Middle 
> Track)
> 
>  
> 
> Is that the abandoned railroad bridge in east Radford at the sharp bend of the new around the golf course?
> 
>  
> 
> Craig Close   BORHS/C&A Live Steam/FoGFLP/HFRHS
> 
> Balimer Merlan
> 
> OK: Far West Catonsville
> 
> Or: Greater Oella
> 
>  
> 
> From: NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of 
> NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List
> Sent: Monday, July 10, 2023 3:08 PM
> To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> Cc: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> Subject: Re: location - Christiansburg Middle Track
> 
>  
> 
> Ray
> 
> That was the old Radford and Southern that extended about 5.7 miles 
> from Radford to Miles or Miles Landing
> 
>  
> 
> Jim Blackstock
> 
> 0
> 
> Miles Branch Connects at 1635 Radford Branch Jct. (Old Radford 
> Southern Company 1903)
> 
> 5.77
> 
> Miles (Miles Landing)
> 
> VA
> 
>  
> 
> On 7/10/2023 2:17 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
> 
> Abram,
> 
>  
> 
> Thank you for some excellent operating related history.  And I fully agree with you: those who never knew the grand institution of railroading, which was largely gone by  the 1960s, have missed the local impact and presence  of railroading.
> 
>  
> 
> I have a question which I suspect you can answer.  While looking at some N&W maps from the 1940s and 1950s, I noticed a branch line somewhere between Radford and Walton going to a place called Miles on the map.  Having lived in Montgomery County almost 60 years, I have never heard on any place referred to as Miles. Any light you can shed on this, such as where was Miles and why did N&W have branch line to it, would be most insightful.
> 
>  
> 
>       Ray Smoot
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
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