N&W Files to Abandon Blacksburg Branch

The Norfolk & Western Railway on filed December 16, 1963, filed an application to abandon a portion of tis Blacksburg Branch. The line, originally the Virginia Anthracite Coal & Railway Company, extended from the N&W main line in Christiansburg to a station and siding in Blacksburg. The N&W wished to abandon a 5.17-mile portion of the line ratiroad between Milepost cC-3.73 near Chrtstiansburg and the end of the braneh at Milepost C-8.90 in Blacksburg. Per the application, the request came as the result of "a resolution adopted by the Blacksburg Town Council requesting applicant to abandon all of its line, including its station, in the town limits and relocate the railhead at a point south of the town in order to facilitate a street relocation project in Blacksburg; make available to the Town the present station building and right-of-way within the town limits; and make possible an expansion of the Blacksburg airport. The images below were filed as part of the application.

The Approval to Abandon the line was issued on October 6, 1964, by the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Looking east across Main Street from the station.

Looking west from Main Street at the station and team track.

Looking west from the station at the intersection of Clay St. and Water St. (now Draper Rd.) at the coal trestle.

Looking east across the coal trestle toward the station and Main Street.

The coal unloading area underneath the trestle.

The Water Street underpass looking south from Clay Street.

The Water Street underpass looking north from the south side of the trestle.

A view of the coal unloading area.

Looking west at the Water Street underpass from the south side of the trestle.

Looking south from VA 114 near the railroad road crossing at the area proposed for the new team track and coal unloading facility.

Looking east on VA 114 toward the road crossing; the proposed unloading area is to the right.

Diagram of the Trestle in Blacksburg (click on the image to load a larger image)

Blueprint of the proposed team track at VA 114 (click on the image to load a larger image)

Diagram layout of the proposed team track at VA 114 (click on the image to load a larger image)