The original main line of the Norfolk & Western through Lynchburg followed the roads of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad westward from Union Depot near the James River, and the Southside Railroad eastward from Percival’s Island. Both railroads were constructed in the early 1850’s, and were connected with each other at Lynchburg in 1856. In the early 1900’s, the Lynchburg Beltline was constructed between a point at Forest and running to “Phoebe” (just east of Concord). For over fifty years, the belt line served as a freight route bypassing the Lynchburg river basin and its steep grades. During this time, a new freight yard was created along this line (Kinney Yard), and alternate connections to the Durham line and to the Southern main line were established from this yard. In 1964, the N&W built a new passenger station along this line (at the end of Woodall Rd.), and on December 30 of that year, passenger operations were shifted from Union Depot to this new station.
With the belt line now (by 1965) its main line through Lynchburg, the N&W proceeded with the abandonment of two segments of the original main line, these being the trackage between Langhorne Rd. and the Durham junction (just west of the rock tunnel), and another segment at the west end of the old main line, one which included a low-clearance bridge across U.S. Rt. 460 near Concord (this bridge was removed soon afterward).
The next twenty years would see a piecemeal abandonment of the remaining segments of the original main line between the rock tunnel and the quarry east of Six Mile Bridge, including the trackage which ran the length of Percival’s Island. The only surviving and still-active section of the original main line is today known as the “Halsey Spur,” and it runs from Forest to Lynchburg Ready-Mix on Halsey Rd.. A short section of continuing track across the Langhorne Rd. bridge was abandoned and removed in the late 1990’s. Today, the old main line between Langhorne Rd. and a point a few miles into Amherst County is a popular and scenic paved bicycling/jogging path.
This web site presents the original N&W main line through Lynchburg during the time of its operation, beginning at the Langhorne Rd. bridge and moving east, ending at the now-removed bridge across U.S. Rt. 460 near Concord.
Langhorne Rd. Bridge
(G. Howard Gregory photograph)
The Powhatan Arrow streaks westward across the Langhorne Rd. bridge in Lynchburg Virginia on May 29, 1963. This bridge today is just beyond the end of the still-active portion of the original N&W main line through Lynchburg, now known as the “Halsey Spur.” The line from this point to Union Station was abandoned in 1965, and today, a bicycle and jogging trail runs along the old railroad right-of-way.
Langhorne Rd. Bridge (1988)
(Kipp Teague photo)
A local train crosses the Langhorne Rd. bridge while working the Lynchburg Ready Mix Concrete Co. at the end of the Halsey Spur. The section of track crossing the bridge has since been removed.
Langhorne Rd. Bridge Local (April 1989)
(Kipp Teague video)
A local train crosses the Langhorne Rd. bridge several times while working the Lynchburg Ready Mix Concrete Co. at the end of the Halsey Spur (part of the original N&W main line through Lynchburg)
Train #4 on Old N&W Main Line
(Aubrey Wiley photograph)
Eastbound Norfolk & Western train #4 is viewed here in a curve two miles west of Union Station on October 30, 1961. The eleven-car train pulled by locomotives 507 and 510 has just passed a signal at milepost 206.3. This location is near what is today a bike trail parking lot at the end of Randolph St..
Train #4 Crosses Blackwater Creek
(Aubrey Wiley photograph)
Eastbound Norfolk & Western train #4 crosses Blackwater Creek just west of the Lynchburg Tunnel on its way to Lynchburg’s Union Station on January 27, 1961. The twelve-car train pulled by locomotives 511 and 502 is also passing under the Southern Railway main line on the high trestle seen left.
Lynchburg Tunnel / Durham Jct.
(G. Howard Gregory photograph)
Norfolk & Western Railway eastbound passenger train no. 4, The Pocahontas, approaching the Lynchburg Tunnel, pulled by GP9 diesels nos. 508 and 507 with twelve cars. July 9, 1959. The Southern Railway’s Blackwater Creek trestle is in the background.
(also see thepage)
Train #25 West of Lynchburg Tunnel
(Aubrey Wiley photograph)
Westbound Norfolk & Western train #25 is seen here after exiting the west portal of Lynchburg Tunnel. The 4-car train was pulled that day by locomotive #’s 512 and 520.
Eastbound N&W Train #4 Exits Lynchburg Tunnel
(Aubrey Wiley photograph)
Eastbound Norfolk & Western Train #4 with locomotives #’s 513 and 520 and sixteen cars exist the east portal of Lynchburg Tunnel on December 2, 1961.
Train #25 Approaching Lynchburg Tunnel
(Aubrey Wiley photograph)
Westbound Norfolk & Western train #25 is seen here about one mile west of Union Station, climbing the grade approaching Lynchburg Tunnel on July 9, 1960.
Blackwater Creek / Gas Works Spur
(from A. H. Plecker photo post card – courtesy Jones Memorial Library)
This view includes a double-tracked section of the original Norfolk & Western main between the tunnel and Union Station, as well as a spur to the Gas Works that crossed Blackwater Creek on a wooden trestle
Powhatan Arrow on Blackwater Creek Line – 1964
(Henry Nicholas photograph)
Locomotive 507 pulls a three car train westward on the old N&W main line above Blackwater Creek on December 28, 1964, two days before the last passenger train would run on this line.
Blackwater Creek – View Northeast from Rivermont Bridge
(from A. H. Plecker photo post card – courtesy Jones Memorial Library)
West of Union Station / Rivermont Ave. Bridge
(from A. H. Plecker photo post card – courtesy Jones Memorial Library)
Blackwater Creek / Train on old N&W Main Line
(from A. H. Plecker photo post card – courtesy Jones Memorial Library)
Tower West of Union Station – 1917
(photo courtesy N&W Historical Photograph Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech)
This photo was taken by the Norfolk & Western Railway during the ICC Valuation Survey (negative #2140).
Union Station Area – View East from 6th Street Bridge
(from A. H. Plecker photo post card – courtesy Jones Memorial Library)
Union Station
(post card view courtesy Joy Graybill)
(also see the LynchburgUnion Stationindex)
Storage House & Tool House at Ninth St. – 1917
(photo courtesyN&W Historical SocietyArchives)
This photo was taken by the Norfolk & Western Railway during the ICC Valuation Survey (negative #2134).
ND Cabin / N&W Crossing
(Roy Evans photograph)
A Norfolk Southern on the old N&W main line local crosses the C&O mainline at ND Cabin in May 1986, and will shortly cross a bridge onto Percival’s Island. The train is most likely on its way to pick up empty coal cars at the Lynchburg Training School & Hospital. At the time of this photograph, the days were numbered for operations along this remaining portion of the original N&W main line.
Eastbound N&W Passenger Train Crosses West Island Bridge – 1954
(John S. Governor photograph)
This 1954 photograph depicts an eastbound passenger train on the old Norfolk & Western main line through Lynchburg as it crosses the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad main line at ND Cabin and proceeds across a bridge onto Percival’s Island.
Percival’s Island West Bridge – 2000
(Kipp Teague photograph)
This curved bridge connected Percival’s Island to the Lynchburg side of the James River. A wooden deck has replaced the rail line, as the bridge is today a part of the James River Heritage Trail bicycling and nature walkway. Seethis video frameof the bridge shot during a walking tour conducted by the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society in 1989, when the rails were still in place.
Eastbound N&W Passenger Special at Percival’s Island – 1959
(G. Howard Gregory photograph)
In this August 30, 1959 photograph, an Appalachian Electric Power Company passenger special pulled by now-famous locomotive #611 enters the west end of Percival’s Island on its way eastward on the N&W out of Lynchburg. This in fact was the last eastbound run of the 611 in its original days of service.
Percival’s Island Scale House
(Rick Johnson photograph)
Percival’s Island on the James River at Lynchburg was once home to a bustling Norfolk and Western railroad yard. This photograph of the yard’s scale house was taken on December 31, 1979, long after the yard had been abandoned and most facilities had been razed. Today, this same area is amidst trees and dense foliage just off of a new bicycle path which follows the old N&W main line’s rail bed. See thePercival’s Islandindex for an extensive gallery of photographs associated with this historic Lynchburg railroad landmark.
Percival’s Island East Bridge – 2008
(Kipp Teague photograph)
The original N&W main line crossed this bridge from Percival’s Island into Amherst County. The bridge today is part of the James River Heritage Trail bicycling and nature walkway.
Bridge Over Williams Run in Amherst County – 2010
(Kipp Teague photograph)
this bridge over Williams Run (creek) is hidden in the woods just a few hundred feet east of the end of the James River Heritage Trail (aka Blackwater Creek Bikeway and Riverwalk), in Amherst County.
Six Mile Bridge – circa 1900
(Adam H. Plecker photograph – courtesy Richard S. Miller & Andrea M. Webb)
Crossing the snaking James River east of Lynchburg is Six Mile Bridge, which was travelled by N&W passenger trains passing through Lynchburg until the mid-1960’s. The bridge remained in service until the late 1970’s for local trains serving the nearby rock quarry.
Six Mile Bridge
Six Mile Bridge – 1964
(Henry Nicholas photograph)
This photograph of eastbound passenger train #4 approaching Six Mile Bridge was taken on December 28, 1964, with only a few days remaining for through trains on the original N&W main line.
Six Mile Bridge Today (2010)
(Kipp Teague photograph)
Stone Bridge at Quarry
(Rick Johnson photograph)
This stone bridge at a rock quarry several miles east of Lynchburg was part of the original N&W main line through Lynchburg. The bridge itself survived into the mid-1980’s, when much to the dismay of local historians and railfans, it was demolished by the quarry. Photograph April 29, 1985.
460 East Overpass
(G. Howard Gregory photograph)
An excursion train led by the historic Civil War engine “The General” crosses U.S. 460 east of Lynchburg on an overpass which was removed in 1965 following the abandonment of the original N&W main line through Lynchburg. May 28, 1963.
