Shortline Railroads
Pennsylvania Narrow Gauge
13/05/10 05:58
My interest in the history of the soapstone business in Virginia has me out in the woods of Albemarle, Nelson, and Amherst Counties late every winter. After hunting season but before the last freeze I go out in search of signs of activity from long ago. Hopes are high to find clues as to what was once there. Maybe a stone foundation, a rotted crosstie, a short piece of wire rope. Any artifact at all is cause for much happiness and photo shooting. Finding something helps create a picture of the past.
I had heard and read about a narrow gauge railroad that ran in south central Pennsylvania, and decided to go see what was left of it. As I drove through Robertsdale, I saw a most amazing sight.
The rails were still in place. It was easy to trace the line through town and see a turning wye.
I hiked several miles of the grade, astounded that the line was still pretty much intact. As I followed the old right of way north, I eventually reached Orbisonia.
Orbisonia is a waking dream for someone interested in industrial history like myself. Facilities that only exist in faded photographs anywhere else are still standing at the East Broad Top shops.
At Mount Union, strings of narrow gauge hopper cars sit in the woods at the edge of town. I just could not get over how so much of the East Broad Top Railroad is still there.
I had heard and read about a narrow gauge railroad that ran in south central Pennsylvania, and decided to go see what was left of it. As I drove through Robertsdale, I saw a most amazing sight.
The rails were still in place. It was easy to trace the line through town and see a turning wye.
I hiked several miles of the grade, astounded that the line was still pretty much intact. As I followed the old right of way north, I eventually reached Orbisonia.
Orbisonia is a waking dream for someone interested in industrial history like myself. Facilities that only exist in faded photographs anywhere else are still standing at the East Broad Top shops.
At Mount Union, strings of narrow gauge hopper cars sit in the woods at the edge of town. I just could not get over how so much of the East Broad Top Railroad is still there.
Shenandoah Shortline
23/03/10 15:25
Elkton, Virginia is a small town in the Shenandoah Valley.
It is at the junction of the Norfolk & Western, and Chesapeake Western railroads. An old freight house stood near the interchange track.
The south end of the railroad was in Staunton, Virginia, where there was an interchange with the C&O Railroad. Near the junction was an old interlocking tower, dating back to the days when the B&O crossed the C&O here and continued south to Lexington.
In the summer of 1985, Chesapeake Western Alco T6 locomotives were being serviced in the ramshackle engine house at Elkton, Virginia.
This locomotive is now in Roanoke on display at the Virginia Transportation Museum.
It is at the junction of the Norfolk & Western, and Chesapeake Western railroads. An old freight house stood near the interchange track.
The south end of the railroad was in Staunton, Virginia, where there was an interchange with the C&O Railroad. Near the junction was an old interlocking tower, dating back to the days when the B&O crossed the C&O here and continued south to Lexington.
In the summer of 1985, Chesapeake Western Alco T6 locomotives were being serviced in the ramshackle engine house at Elkton, Virginia.
This locomotive is now in Roanoke on display at the Virginia Transportation Museum.
Rails to Schuyler - Locomotive Shop
03/01/09 21:22
On the southern end of the Virginia Alberene soapstone mill complex stood the repair and maintenance shop for the Nelson & Albemarle Railroad.
The mill locomotives shared the same facility. There is no turntable here, so all locomotives always faced Warren Junction, which meant they were always backed into the shop with their smokeboxes pointing out the big doors.
The shop had two wings. The east wing was apparently storage space. The much longer west wing was equipped for doing repairs and parts fabrication.
The west wing extended to a concrete loading platform. At the far end of the platform was a small warehouse building. The warehouse, as well as the locomotive shop itself, was built from soapstone slabs laid up like masonry. Heavy stone lintels arch over the high wooden double doors.
The interior of the shop was black and sooty. The floors were at different levels in different parts of the building. Some were wooden, while others were concrete.
The concrete floor had rails embedded in it for rolling platforms.. Large shop machines were driven by an overhead shaft and belt system.
There was a blacksmith's forge with racks of tongs, pliers, and other tools.
The mill locomotives shared the same facility. There is no turntable here, so all locomotives always faced Warren Junction, which meant they were always backed into the shop with their smokeboxes pointing out the big doors.
The shop had two wings. The east wing was apparently storage space. The much longer west wing was equipped for doing repairs and parts fabrication.
The west wing extended to a concrete loading platform. At the far end of the platform was a small warehouse building. The warehouse, as well as the locomotive shop itself, was built from soapstone slabs laid up like masonry. Heavy stone lintels arch over the high wooden double doors.
The interior of the shop was black and sooty. The floors were at different levels in different parts of the building. Some were wooden, while others were concrete.
The concrete floor had rails embedded in it for rolling platforms.. Large shop machines were driven by an overhead shaft and belt system.
There was a blacksmith's forge with racks of tongs, pliers, and other tools.