|
|
|
|
Virginian Railway (formerly Tidewater RR)
(For more Norfolk geography tidbits, click here.)
Richard E. Prince, in his history of the N&W (Norfolk and Western Railway: Pocahontas Coal Carrier, Millard, Nebr., 1980, p.263) tells of the celebration in Norfolk in early April 1909 when the entire line was about to be opened:
“Early in April 1909 the businessmen of Norfolk held a banquet at the new Monticello Hotel to celebrate the opening of the Virginian Railway then being placed in operation from the New River coal fields of West Virginia down to the tidewater. The honored guest to whom tribute was paid, was Henry H. Rogers, builder of the railroad and who was to be available  for such an event only a few weeks longer [when he died]. Prior the banquet the Sewalls Point coal pier of the railway was placed in service to dump bunker coal for steamship fuel, and also load cargo coal into colliers and barges for transport. The fascinating operation was observed as part of the related activities of the railway celebration by the guests, many of whom had come to Norfolk aboard a special Virginian Railway passenger train from Roanoke. A harbor tour aboard the Old Dominion steamer ‘Brandon’ was also scheduled, with a stop at Hampton for dinner at the seafood festival then in progress there. The first regular passenger service between Deepwater and Norfolk [presumably connecting in Roanoke, the western terminal of the Norfolk Division] was reported inaugurated on July 12 of that year, 1909. Connection was made at Deepwater with C&O Ry passenger trains to and from Charleston and the west until 1931.”
|
|
|
| |
