Radford Timber Preserving Plant
In 1920, the Norfolk & Western Railway started construction of a timber preserving plant in its yard in East Radford, Virginia. The plant operated until 1953, when a portion of the plant was destroyed in an explosion.
ADDITIONS AND BETTERMENTS TO WAY AND STRUCTURES.
There is under construction at East Radford, Virginia, a tie treating plant with a capacity of one million ties per year. This plant is for the purpose of treating ties--other than white oak-- to take the place of hard or white oak ties, of which we are unable to obtain full requirements.
Annual Report, December 31st, 1920
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ADDITIONS AND BETTERMENTS TO WAY AND STRUCTURES.
A timber preserving plant, with a capacity of 1,000,000 ties annually, for treatment of cross ties, lumber, etc., was completed and placed in service at East Radford, Virginia. This plant consists of a steel retort house 64 feet x 182 feet with all necessary treating machinery, working and pressure tanks, etc., a steel adzing house 37 feet x 67 feet, steel storage tanks, office building, Superintendent's house and several dwellings for employees. There is also a modem power plant 55 feet x 91 feet with a generating capacity of 1500 K. W. and 900 H. P. boilers, and a concrete chimney 8 feet 6 inches by 220 feet high.
Annual Report, December 31st, 1921
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TIMBER PRESERVING PLANT.
The timber preserving plant completed last year at East Radford, Va., is in successful operation and the results obtained are very satisfactory. The method used is what is known as the Rueping process and the cross-ties, which are the principal item of treatment, receive a good average penetration of about two inches. An average of about two-thirds of your Company's annual requirement for ties is being treated.
The following timber was treated during the year:--
745,931 cross-ties,
1,545 bridge ties,
1,700,000 tie plugs,
26,388-feet switch timber,
5,170 lineal feet piling.
Annual Report, December 31st, 1922
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TIMBER PRESERVING PLANT.
The increase of material treated at this plant during the second year of operation and its successful operation are very gratifying. , The timber treated during the year was as follows:
758,524 cross-ties,
2,375,387 feet B.M. switch and bridge ties,
3,312,913 " " pine lumber,
18,395 lineal feet pine piling,
5,897,500 tie plugs,
455 lineal feet poles,
953 cross-arms.
Annual Report, December 31st, 1923
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TIMBER PRESERVING PLANT.
During the year your Company's timber preserving plant at East Radford, Va., treated the following timber:
1,302,398 cross ties (101,511 for Virginian Railway Co.).
8,532,577 feet B. M. switch and bridge ties.
3,412,859 feet'B. M. lumber.
83,605 lineal feet piling.
2,825,000 tie plugs.
19,035 floor blocks.
6,519 cubic feet headwall and fender logs.
4,171,791 gallons of creosoting oil were used.
Annual Report, December 31st, 1925
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ADDITIONS AND BETTERMENTS.
WAY AND STRUCTURES:
At East Radford, Va,, a building, including necessary machinery, was installed for pre-framing bridge ties.
Annual Report, December 31st, 1937
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Property Improvements
Way and Structures:
At Radford, Va., facilities for quick vapor drying of green cross ties and other timber, eliminating longer open-air seasoning.
Annual Report, December 31st, 1950
1953 Fire
In November, 1953, a series of explosions ripped through the plant with a fire ensuing. The Nov. 21, 1953, issue of the Roanoke Times has details of the incident.
Photos
Here is an aerial view of the Radford Yard and Timber Preserving Plant from November 7, 1937.
(Click on the image to see a larger 1.7 Mb image)