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PCS 89.2
Birds-eye view looking northeast toward the Norfolk & Western General Offices and Hotel Roanoke.
PCS 85.0
For many years, Salem had also benefited from passenger service provided by the Virginian Railroad. Virginian passenger service in Salem ended in 1954, five years prior to its merger with the N&W.
PCS 40.0
Baldwin Locomotive Engine No. 548.
MIC17 N&W Passenger Station
The Norfolk & Western Passenger Station is located at 101 Shenandoah Avenue NE. The building now houses the Visit Blue Ridge Visitor's Center, O. Winston Link Museum, and History Museum of Western Virginia.
MIC4 N&W Offices
The former general office building of Norfolk and Western, located at 108 N. Jefferson Street, now houses the Roanoke Higher Education Center.
UCT32
After the first N&W office building burned in 1896, this building took its place. A "twin" building was constructed in 1907.
RVNH40433 N&W Band
Norfolk & Western Band in new uniforms. Kneeling at left is the director, L. Christensen.
RVNH40423 Blue Cross
Norfolk & Western Freight Car Department employees line up to submit their membership applications to Edith Davis of Blue Cross. Note that health insurance premiums were five cents per day.
RVNH40422 Wheel Rollers
Norfolk & Western Shops wheel rollers put on an exhibition at the Virginia Press Association convention for cameras from MGM, Paramount, Fox Movietone News, and the Roanoke Times. Participants were John Canty, Pleas Casey, Charles Wiley, and Thomas…
RVNH40420 N&W Radio Production
Radio production for Norfolk & Western broadcast heard on WSLS and other radio stations served by N&W. Left to right: J.L. Ramsey, material inspector; Ed Skotch, WSLS production manager; Tom Slater, WSLS announcer; Phillip Briggs, WSLS engineer.
RVNH40414 War Bond Rally
The Norfolk & Western Machine Shop balcony served as a platform for speakers and musicians during a war savings bond rally that observed an 88% participation rate by N&W employees.
RVNH40411 N&W Veterans
Norfolk & Western Railway Veterans Association 10th Annual Meeting at the Roanoke Auditorium opens with "Stand By America", led vocally by Mrs. Ruth Thomas.
RVNH40407 N&W Shops
An aerial view looking east on the Norfolk & Western Shops.
RVNH40406 116th Infantry
Norfolk & Western members of the 23rd Battalion, US Marine Corps Reserve, 116th Infantry.
RVNH40402 N&W Band
Norfolk & Western Railway Band.
RNRV42 N&W Baseball Team
Norfolk & Western baseball team.
RNRV41 N&W Employees
Norfolk & Western employees in front of Norfolk & Western offices.
FE236 N&W Shops
Aerial view of Norfolk & Western east end shops.
FE162 N&W General Offices
Completed in 1883 by the Shenandoah Valley Railroad, the general office building housed the offices for Norfolk & Western after they were moved from Lynchburg. The building was located on the northwest corner of Jefferson Street and Shenandoah…
FE120 N&W General Offices
Norfolk & Western General Offices, located at 8 N. Jefferson Street, replaced the old General Offices after they were destroyed by fire in 1896. This building would be used in this capacity until 1932 when the new office building was completed.
RRHA479
Commonwealth
RRHA478
Commonwealth
RRHA477
Commonwealth
RRHA339
N&W Offices
HNWR202
Two N&W locomotives prepare to pass one another heading to and from the West Virginia coal fields.
HNWR199
Loaded coal cars awaiting shipment from an N&W coal tipple. Note the different grades of coal being loaded. During World War II, the United States Navy almost exclusively used N&W coal for its Atlantic fleet.
HNWR198
Diesel Engine No. 322 pulls a consist of coal through Virginia. The switch to diesel was difficult for N&W given its commercial investment in coal.
HNWR197
This is the view across the flat yard at Norfolk, Virginia. Hoppers would wait in the yard to be emptied.
HNWR196
Engine No. 2146 pulls a load of coal. In the 1940s, N&W served the following seven coal districts: Kenova, Thacker, Tug River, Pocahontas, Clinch Valley 1 & 2, and Radford.
HNWR195
This consist of coal includes some hoppers from the Virginia Railway, which had been acquired by N&W in 1959.
HNWR194
Norfolk & Western's passenger service ceased in 1971. Here is the Pocahontas on her last run, traveling eastbound at Blue Ridge, Virginia. An estimated 100,000 spectators lined the route to catch a glimpse of a passing era.
HNWR193
An industrial hoist rests in the yard at Roanoke. Notice the huge pulleys hanging from the arm. Engine No. 131 is in the background.
HNWR192
The Birmingham Special moves northbound, having detoured through Waynesboro, Virginia, on account of a washout on the Southern Railway's main line between Monroe, West Virginia and Charlottesville, Virginia. The Special was among a number of other…
HNWR191
Engine No. 550 is a later example of the steam locomotive used by N&W. The crew poses for a picture in Roanoke.
HNWR190
Employees of the Roanoke freight office.
HNWR189
This photograph of a bygone era shows a racehorse car with an auction occurring on the platform car. Taken by George Davis of Roanoke, it hints at the possible location of the auction. There were several racehorse tracks in the Roanoke Valley at…
HNWR187
An interior view of a Pullman car after being made into a sleeper.
HNWR186
Norfolk & Western always kept a spare for every part necessary to cargo operations.
HNWR185
Loaded coal cars await their turn at the car-dumping machine. Upwards of 400 cars of coal are required to fill the large colliers.
HNWR184
This photograph shows one of the largest loads of coal cargo on a single ship at Lambert's Point. A total of 493 carloads were required.
HNWR183
The Class J 600 is pulling a Southern Railway streamlined passenger train. The Class Js were built between 1941 and 1950.
HNWR182
This passenger train stops in Ivanhoe, Virginia. Passenger service would serve as a popular form of distance travel until the emergence of the automobile.
HNWR181
Passenger coach No. 1700.
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Passenger coaches changed significantly over time. Once elaborate and finely appointed coaches evolved into more basic design, as seen in passenger coach No. 1650.
HNWR179
An interior view of a N&W passenger coach. Notice the oil lamps. Although beautiful design features, these lamps would often shatter during an accident, spilling their fuel into the car. Resultant fires sometimes killed more passengers than the…
HNWR178
An interior view of an express car used by N&W. Express cars held all kinds of freight, from passenger baggage to commercial merchandise.
HNWR177
A stock train rolls through the Virginia countryside. As a way to encourage agribusiness, N&W operated a working farm at Ivor, Virginia for some years around 1910-1915.
HNWR176
Freight Locomotive No. 1203 rests on the turntable at Shaffer's Crossing in Roanoke.
HNWR175
The old Class M engine was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1883. N&W owned two of these engines, Nos. 94 and 95, as shown here.
HNWR174
Engine No. 93 was a small shifting engine used at Roanoke Machine Works. It was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1883.
HNWR173
Engine No. 72 is another example of a Class U locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1892. This passenger locomotive weighed in excess of 132,000 pounds and was later converted to simple cylinders.
HNWR172
Passenger Engine No. 90 was an example of many engines purchased by N&W in its early years from Baldwin Locomotive Works. Engine No. 90 was a Class A engine.
HNWR170
Welch, West Virginia. The old N&W station is in the foreground; the courthouse is atop the hill and businesses are at left.
HNWR168
The "Jawn Henry" was the nickname for this combination steam-electric locomotive. It was N&W's last-ditch effort to give steam one last try. The engine had 12 traction motors, weighed in at 1.1 million pounds, and was 161 feet long. Delivered in…
HNWR167
Engine No. 102 rolls out of assembly at the Roanoke Shops and employees pose for the customary photograph of the engine.
HNWR166
This engine was a Class W-1, 2-8-0 type and was originally built by the Roanoke Shops in October 1900.
HNWR165
The Portsmouth Freight Office included (from left): L.M. Dory, Gus Kehrer, Fred Dressler, S.R. Crawford, T.M. O'Connor, and Theodore Doty.
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The Bluefield Yard in 1888. In that year, the N&W organized
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A hopper car loaded with coal coasts down the "hump" incline toward classification tracks at the Portsmouth, Ohio freight yard. This car is half-way through the master retarder. The scale house and assistant yard master's office are located in the…
HNWR162
Freight cars line up outside a coal-cleaning and prep plant near Gary, West Virginia. The N&W relied heavily on many of the larger coal mines and facilities throughout West Virginia.
HNWR161
To keep passenger coaches looking good, the railroad regularly sent them through a mechanical washing facility.
HNWR160
Here is but one example of how mechanization assisted significantly in the maintenance of tracks. A machine removes cross ties for the crew.
HNWR159
Interior view of a typical N&W dining car.
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Interior view of a typical N&W lounge car.
HNWR155
A postcard image of the N&W depot at Salem, Virginia. The depot still remains, although the shed at the tracks was dismantled many years ago. During the 1930s, depots like this dotted the lines of the N&W. Few remain today, either abandoned or in…
HNWR154
Wreck at Powhatan, West Virginia. Notice the double-tracking in the image. Unfortunately, the development of adequate rail safety technology was years from completion, making railroading a dangerous profession.
HNWR153
An aerial view of Bellevue Yard in Ohio, looking east. The classification yard is at left center and immediately to the right is the car repair facility. In the distance are the receiving and departure yards.
HNWR152
Engine No. 54 with her crew (from left): Engineer E.H. Jones, Fireman Guy Emery, and Conductor Lloyd Pugh. The train was running between Sardinia and Hillsboro branch, and the main line of the Cincinnati, Portsmouth, and Virginia Railroad.
HNWR151
Shop employees and crew of Engine No. 205 in Roanoke, shortly after the locomotives construction.
HNWR150
Class Q Engine No. 516 pulls into a depot at Nolan, West Virginia. The engine was originally put into service in April 1882. Crew members are servicing both passenger and express cars.
HNWR149
An early example of freight locomotives used by N&W was Engine No. 264.
HNWR148
The crew of Engine No. 19. This engine, like most of the engines used by N&W in its infancy, was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works.
HNWR147
One of N&W's largest freight stations was in Roanoke. Depicted are unidentified freight station employees. The average annual wage for railroad workers in America at the turn of the century was $740, much higher than the average American wage.
HNWR146
Car yardmen at Kimball, West Virginia. As the coal mines opened, the number of men employeed by N&W soared, bringing economic opportunity to many West Virginia families.
HNWR145
The old car record office at Portsmouth, Virginia. Shown from left are: Floyd Chabot (seated), Paul Jones, S.A. Highfield, H.H. Hester, and John Farley.
HNWR144
The Norfolk and Western Male Chorus consisted of African American employees who toured and performed hundreds of concerts. Here, the chorus performs at Roanoke's Academy of Music. The chorus was of such a high caliber that one needed an audition to…
HNWR143
The "Wheel Rollers" of the Roanoke Shops include (front left): Earl Dunning, John Cantry, Charles Wiley, Monk Wiggins, and Thomas Campbell. The Wheel Rollers competed in wheel rolling competitions around the nation and always placed high.
HNWR142
The depot at Grundy, Virginia was reminiscent of many rural depots that lined the tracks of the N&W.
HNWR141
When passenger services encompassed long distances, dining service was offered. While cooks had to operate in a relatively confined space, they prepared full-course meals as good as any fine restaurants.
HNWR140
A small coal yard in West Virginia. N&W pioneered and developed the state's coal industry.
HNWR139
Engine No. 382 runs the steepest grade of all - a sustained three percent grade to the summit at White Top Station. This run, affectionately known as the "Virginia Creeper", ran between Abingdon, Virginia and West Jefferson, North Carolina. Here,…
HNWR138
Coal was not the only export transported by N&W. This image shows freight docks and a grain elevator at Sewall's Point at Norfolk. Pier A is in center foreground.
HNWR137
Aerial photograph of N&W freight docks at Lambert's Point near Norfolk.
HNWR136
The Powhatan Arrow on one of its runs. The Arrow traveled along a diverse scenic route through Virginia's Dismal Swamp, the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Alleghanies, and into the West Virginia coal fields.
HNWR135
Here, a former N&W mail car is a museum display. Notice the period mail bag hanging from its post. As the train would pass, the mail clerk would position the hook, grab the bag, and then begin the sorting process inside the car.
HNWR134
The Dynamometer was pulled by locomotives to determine their actual horsepower and potential speeds. Such calculations were extremely important for effeciently moving freight over different grades and distances. The ability of the locomotive to do…
HNWR133
Two employees examine car wheels at the Roanoke Shops. C.G. Wiley is at right; the man at left is unidentified. Unfortunately, African American employees of the N&W could not be promoted beyond entry-level positions until the passage of the Civil…
HNWR132
The depot in Ivor, Virginia.
HNWR131
The N&W station at Portsmouth, Ohio.
HNWR129
The N&W station at Bluefield, West Virginia.
HNWR128
The N&W passenger station at Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
HNWR127
Shown here is the back, lower level of the Roanoke passenger station three years before the Raymond Loewy renovation.
HNWR126
Taken from the Roanoke passenger station, this photograph shows the Birmingham Special in the background and the Pocahontas in the foreground..
HNWR125
An interior view of the erecting shop at Roanoke showing an engine's assembly in progress.
HNWR124
Employees repair an N&W locomotive at the Roanoke Shops.
HNWR123
The N&W, like all major railroads, served its country well during World War II for the movement of troops and military freight. In fact, passenger service reached its zenith during wartime. While the exact location of this scene is unknown, it…
HNWR122
The station at Christiansburg, Virginia awaits freight and passengers. Note the mail and express carts to the right.
HNWR121
One of the largest freight depots along the N&W line was in Roanoke. Today, the freight depot is home to the Virginia Museum of Transporation, wherein are housed many N&W artifacts and archival material, as well as some steam engines in the outdoor…
HNWR120
Engine No. 17 is surrounded by rail employees in this photograph taken near Elkton, West Virginia. On the ground at the extreme left is G.W. Pile; standing fourth from the left is H.S. Walker; standing second from the right is C.C. Edmondson; and…
HNWR119
Passengers enjoy a ride on a N&W coach.
HNWR116
This photograph includes three types of modern, coal-burning steam locomotives designed and built by N&W. These represent the best elements of steam engine design: low initial investment, high utilization, low-cost operation and maintenence, and…
HNWR115
Unidentified men work in a standard rail mail car. The United States Postal Service discontinued use of the railroad post office in 1967.
HNWR114
This image symbolizes the commercial ventures of N&W - a coal train enters the picture as a passenger train, the Powhatan Arrow, leaves. Engine No. 1213 is westbound out of Williamson, West Virginia, to deliver coal to the Great Lakes region. The…
HNWR113
An interior view of a sleeper car.
HNWR112
This is an unidentified station office. Pictured left to right are: C.E. Moore, C.C. McPherson, W.L. Bingham, Harvey Call, and W.G. Light.
HNWR111
Diesel Engine No. 1590 passes through Buena Vista, Virginia. Notice the train order raised to be grabbed by the engineer as the train passes.
HNWR110
Employees of Roanoke Machine Works build a caboose. They are, left to right: W.E. Meadows, Ted Swain, William Patterson, R.L. Daddow, R.L. Funk, and T.S. Jones.
HNWR109
Freight Engine No. 173 of the Radford Yard is depicted at a Radford pipe shop.
HNWR108
The blacksmith gang at the Bluefield Shops. Blacksmithing was rugged and often dangerous work, but a necessary trade to make the railroad operate. Individuals unidentified.
HNWR107
Engine No. 53 and her crew excavate for new track near Bluefield, West Virginia. N&W pioneered and financed early coal production in the mountains of West Virginia and carved the rail beds that allowed the "black gold" to move east.
HNWR105
"Roanoke Wheel Shop 1927" is stamped on the axel of the car wheel displayed by the men of the wheel shop. Individuals unidentified.
HNWR104
This view shows the early Roanoke passenger station (center),the N&W office building (center right), and the Hotel Roanoke (right).
HNWR102
One of the largest freight depots along the N&W line was in Roanoke. Today, the freight depot is home to the Virginia Museum of Transporation, wherein are housed many N&W artifacts and archival material, as well as some steam engines in the outdoor…
HNWR101
Engines No. 14 and No. 37 collided at Rural Retreat. Note the collapsed front half of the first baggage coach. While engines could often withstand collisions, the wood-constructed baggage and passenger coaches were extremely vulnerable.
HNWR100
A closer view of the Thaxton wreck shows the debris pile. Engineer Pat Donovan's body was so badly mangled he was only identified by his clothing. The entire woodwork of the train was burned due to exploding gas lights in the coaches. Seven cars…
HNWR099
This head-on collision occurred at Rippon, Virginia. Engine No. 481 is at left.
HNWR098
The Pocahontas traveling along the New River. This route was the most spectacular and difficult. After leaving the New River Valley, The Arrow climbed abruptly to Bluefield and then downhill along the Tug River at Williamson.
HNWR097
Engine No. 475 steams out of Roanoke. In 1946, the year considered to be the beginning of N&W's modern passenger service, an average ridership per train was 118. By 1971, when N&W discontinued passenger trains, the number had dropped to less than…
HNWR096
Called a "vestibule car", this interior shot shows passenger seating in an 1892 coach. Notice the window shutters, ornate interior design, and fold-down seats. Despite its comfortable feel, early trains of this era were unsafe and not that pleasant…
HNWR095
The Powhatan Arrow boasted the finest passenger service amenities when introduced, including a tavern-lounge car. Here the Arrow moves from Roanoke to Bluefield and was photographed at Singer, Virginia. The round-end tavern car, No. 581, allowed…
HNWR094
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad named rather than numbered their locomotives. This locomotive was Roanoke. Chartered in 1849 and completed in 1856, the V&T ran from Lynchburg to Bristol and later merged with the AM&O.
HNWR093
A school group lines up to board the Powhatan Arrow. The name of the train was the result of a contest conducted by N&W, wherein 140,000 entries were submitted. The winner of the $500 first place prize was an N&W retiree, Leonard A. Scott.
HNWR091
Given the hazards of early railroading, even Mother Nature did not cooperate at times. This image shows a collapsed car shop in Roanoke, a result of a heavy snow storm in 1890.
HNWR090
Engine No. 1100, a Class M-2, was one of a number of engines purchased by N&W in 1910. The Class M, as rebuilt, had a 4-8-0 wheel alignment, allowing it to meet the freight demands of the railroad.
HNWR089
Passenger locomotive No. 29 pulls into the Winston-Salem yard in 1890. This train may have been operating on the former Roanoke and Southern track that was absorbed into the operations of N&W in 1892.
HNWR088
After the first N&W office building burned in 1896, this building took its place. Constructed on the same location as the old, one section was completed in 1896 and the other in 1907. The building is now used for upscale apartments.
HNWR087
The diesel engine was developed in 1890 by Rudolph Diesel. The Central Railroad of New Jersey was the first to use a diesel locomotive in 1925. It was not until 1955 that N&W began to order diesel locomotives, primarily from American Locomotive…
HNWR086
Diesel engines could operate more efficiently than the steam engine and American railroads were quick to make the switch. Between 1941 and 1955, the number of diesel locomotives in use went from 1,200 to 20,000. Pictured is Engine No. 8511.
HNWR085
Diesel Engine No. 1633, photographed shortly after being built. Notice the railroad's last corporate logo, the more streamlined "NW". The white-on-black design was introduced by John Fishwick when he was the railroad's president in 1971.
HNWR084
Electric engines were developed in 1914 so crews could safely navigate the tunnel at Coldale, West Virginia. Slow-moving steam engines choked the badly ventilated tunnel to the detriment of the crew's health. The electrified line ran between…
HNWR083
The Pocahontas moves east through Blue Ridge, Virginia pulled by Diesel No. 1014. The engine, though bearing the N&W name, was a diesel originally belonging to the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac. By the late 1950s, as the N&W was…
HNWR082
General William Mahone served as the president of the AM&O Railroad for its 10-year existence. Gen. Mahone first gained attention during the Civil War as a field commander, notorious for his unorthodox battle antics. Following the war, Mahone…
HNWR081
Henry Fink, president of N&W from 1895 until 1902, was the chief operating officer for Mahone's AM&O Railroad. A life-long bachelor, Fink had immigrated to the United States with his brother in 1851 and became a railroad engineer four years later. …
HNWR080
Passenger coaches went through numerous stages of development. From wood to steel construction, and from basic amenities to luxurious accomodations, the coach was designed for both comfort and safety. This is an early passenger coach used by N&W.
HNWR079
This N&W ambulance from the 1920s signifies the hazards of being a rail worker. In fact, N&W financed the hospital in Roanoke for its first two years of operation so rail families could get necessary medical services.
HNWR078
Some "cars" were used for necessary tests to properly maintain a railroad track. One example is the Scaletest Car in this photograph. The car was used to test the scales on the N&W system that weighed the rolling stock. Instructions on the car…
HNWR077
The shop gang of the Portsmouth (Ohio) Shop pose in front of Engine No. 600. In 1901, N&W purchased the Cincinnati, Portsmouth, and Virginia Railroad for $2.5 million. Portsmouth would become a major location in the future operations of N&W.
HNWR076
Safety became a paramount concern of the railroad. Pictured is the Eckman Shop Safety Committee on Engine No. 1343. In 1893, Congress passed the Railroad Safety Appliance Act and in 1916, rail employees won Congressional approval for an 8-hour work…
HNWR075
Union Local 440 entered this "Safety First" float in a Roanoke parade. It testifies to the cooperation by rail unions and officials to improve worker safety.
HNWR074
The Shenandoah Valley Railroad operated a 239-mile line from Hagerstown, Maryland to Roanoke, Virginia, which was completed in 1883. Norfolk & Western purchased the railroad in 1890. The Shenandoah Valley's president, Fredercik Kimball, would…
HNWr073
To join the celebration of the nation's bicentennial, N&W painted this diesel locomotive red, white, and blue. The engine's number was appropriately 1776.
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Engine No. 1438 was one of many Class Z-1A engines used by N&W. This particular engine was built in January 1916 in Schenectady, New York. These engines, numbered 1315 through 1438, were built between 1912 and 1917. A number of them were purchased…
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Between 1948 and 1952, 30 Class Y-6B engines were produced by N&W. Engine No. 2200, the last of the Y-6Bs, is shown here at Roanoke.
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Engine No. 2156
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In an effort to heavier freight, N&W developed the Y-6 locomotive. While retaining many of the design elements of the previous Y models, the Y-6 had a new steel frame, roller bearings, and mechanical lubrication at 213 points. A peak horsepower of…
HNWR068
The Class Y-4 engines were developed by N&W in 1927. Only 10 were produced, with Engine No. 2087 among them.
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The Class Y-3A engines included No. 2058. These engines, numbering 2050 through 2079, were built in 1923. This photograph was taken in Cincinnati.
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Engine No. 2023 was a Class Y-3 locomotive. This was one of 50 built between 1919 and 1923.
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Engine No. 800 was an N&W Class W-6. These engines, numbered 800 through 814, were made between 1898 and 1899.
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Engine No. 76 was a Class U engine. On the N&W line, these engines were numbered 71 through 85.
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Engine No. 37 was a Class N, as were all engines numbered 28 through 37. These engines, purchased by N&W, were made between 1887 and 1888. This photograph was taken at Wakefield, Ohio.
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The Class M Engine No. 1112 was built in 1910. Their purchase was almost solely in response to the increased demands for hauling coal.
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Engine No. 209.
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Steam Engine No. 130, a Class K-2A locomotive.
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The sleek, Class K-2, Engine No. 118 was acquired by N&W in 1919. These engines, numbering 116 through 125, were rebuilt later and streamlined by N&W.
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Engine No. 114 was a member of the K-1 Class of N&W locomotives. This class of engine, numbering 100 to 115, was built between 1916 and 1917. The Class K engines were built to pull more weight since new steel passenger cars were replacing those…
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Front view of Engine No. 1200, a Class A built in 1936.
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Engine No. 1200. As part of the Class A engines, No. 1200 was the first to be built by N&W between 1936 and 1950. Maximum horsepower was 6,300 at 45 miles per hour.
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N&W hoppers at a West Virginia coal tipple are loaded for their eastbound trip to Lamberts Point near Norfolk. In 1883, N&W moved nearly 106,000 tons of coal. A century later, N&W moved 75 million tons annually.
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Coal quickly became N&W's leading freight commodity. Here an employee loads an N&W hopper with coal.
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At Coal Pier 4 at Norfolk, hoppers are dumped into pier cars which carry coal to the loading shutes. In the background is a portion of N&W's 12,000 car classification and storage yards.
HNWR052
This aerial view shows the N&W coal piers at Lamberts Point. Coal Pier 4 (center) was built in 1914. At the time of its initial construction, the pier was 1,200 feet long, 70 feet wide, and 90 feet above the water. It could empty 600 cars per day.…
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Coal Pier 4 at Lamberts Point. The pier served N&W for nearly half a century.
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The station at Schooler, Virginia was operated by W.H. Cord (left). The small station operated from March 1883, when coal first began to move from Pocahontas to Norfolk, until 1900 when the station was bypassed by new track. The young man in the…
HNWR048
Public relations was not always left to copy editors and high-ranking N&W officials. This photograph shows a "train" built by the men at the Roanoke Shops for advertising purposes.
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In addition to Engine No. 1776, N&W also had painted certain cars within their rolling stock to highlight the Bicentennial. Here a caboose wears the nation's colors.
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Like many railroads, the lines of the Wabash Railway Company predated the company's formation in 1877. The history of the Wabash is long and complicated, involving certain dubious personalities, mergers, receiverships, and a wavering bottom line. …
HNWR044
This history of the Nickel Plate Railroad is an amassment of histories from other lines, such as Lake Erie and Western, Clover Leaf, and the Wheeling and Lake Erie. The Nickel Plate was officially the New York, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad…
HNWR043
Drawing room employees in the N&W office building. Pictured from left are: John Worthington, Charles Jacobsen, James Woods, Fred Scuiffer, two unidentified, George Worthington, Otis Bellingrodh, Servelius Bisphan.
HNWR042
Carpenter Force No. 1, Pocahontas Division at Richlands, Virginia. From left are R.L. Sorah, J.A. Dye, Dayton Henderson, O.J. Lawson, R.L. Maxwell, J.D. Farmer, T.R. Stinson, S.T. Sparks, G.W. Petts, E.W. Clay, A.G. Quillen, R.H. Honaker. Notice…
HNWR041
Roanoke Boiler Shop employees at the corner of Salem Avenue and Commerce Street. Pictured from left to right (front row): Frank Bianchi, T.D Equi, John Griffin, P.E. Lawhorn, F.H. Wigmore, George Leisinger, T.J. Murray, James Conway, Edward Irvin,…
HNWR040
N&W employed a wide variety of skilled laborers. In this photograph, upholsterers in the Roanoke Shops prepare seats for passenger coaches. In addition to outfitting trains, the upholstery shop also fitted office furniture and some items for the…
HNWR039
Unidentified employees at the Roanoke roundhouse pose with locomotive wheels. Notice the various tools each is holding, which suggest the different types of work done at the roundhouse.
HNWR038
This photograph shows track crews at work along the N&W line. Track laying and maintenance was an awesome undertaking, given the thousands of miles of track owned and operated by N&W. Only in the middle part of the 20th Century did track work…
HNWR037
The railroad employed a number of young boys to serve as apprentices during the advent of child labor laws. This photograph shows the Roanoke Shops machinist apprentices. A young apprentice would work a 10 hour day and often overtime on weekends. …
HNWR036
During the first part of the 20th Century, N&W tried to cultivate agricultural products and freight as possible revenue. Rail agents often advertised farmland near N&W depots to encourage such activity. Here a "farm train" stops as men gather…
HNWR035
Engine No. 345 was the first compound engine owned by N&W. This photograph was taken at Crewe, Virginia. Crew members include A.D. Lane, engineer, and Julian Hark, fireman.
HNWR034
Engine No. 1 was the switching locomotive used at the Roanoke Machine Works (later Roanoke Shops) in 1886. Standing in the cab of the engine is H.S. German. Others, from left, are Brakemen W.H. Hall and W.W. Rule, Engineer Paul DeArmond, and…
HNWR033
This electric locomotive, Engine No. 126, was from the Virginian Railway. The Virginian was formed by Henry Rogers for $30 million in 1907. Having made his fortune in oil, Rogers died a month after the Virginian was officially formed and his…
HNWR032
Electric engines acquired by the N&W were from Baldwin-Westinghouse. There were 16 locomotives in all. The system, including overhead catenary wires and a generating plant, was completed in 1916. Engine No. 2506 makes the Bluefield run. In 1950,…
HNWR031
Engine No. 1442 is placed on the new 115-foot turntable and in the new roundhouse of the Shenandoah Division. For this moment, the men of the roundhouse take a break to pose in recognition of achievement.
HNWR030
Locomotive No. 1212 pulls a load in a scene of the past: a steam engine at work. The N&W was the last major American railroad to abandon the steam engine in favor of the diesel engine. The designers and engineers of the N&W developed the steam…
HNWR029
A freight train pulled by Engine No. 1228 moves eastbound near Bonsack.
HNWR028
Engine No. 2165 is northbound near Waynesboro, Virginia, hauling a small but varied freight load.
HNWR026
A hopper with coal is ready to go. 1970 was the peak for N&W coal traffic, when the railway carried 90.6 million tons of coal. While coal was profitable, it was not always a source of revenue. Floods, miner strikes, and other labor disputes cut…
HNWR025
Commonly called the "boxcar", this particular model was used by N&W in 1960. The small numbers along the side under the logo indicated its hauling capacity, weight and load limits, measurements, when it was built, and when it was most recently…
HNWR024
This photograph shows the interior of a 52-foot long baggage and express car built in 1892. Notice the hanging oil lamp and stove at the mid-point.
HNWR023
A foreman gauges track to make certain the distance between the rails is exactly 4 feet, 8 inches. In 1883, the N&W operated primarily on a 5-foot gauge; however, on June 1, 1886, the N&W and other southern railroads adopted the now-standard gauge…
HNWR022
The caboose functioned in may was as the train's office. Often train orders and other paperwork were handled aboard the caboose, which come on the scene in the late 1800s to serve as living quarters as well as an office for the crew. With the…
HNWR021
In the late 1920s, the N&W developed a new strategy in rail safety education - the motion picture car. Carrying the "Safety First" logo, the car traveled various rail lines of the N&W as a mobile classroom for the purpose of providing safety…
HNWR020
Rail workers watch a safety film inside the N&W's motion picture car.
HNWR019
This photograph was taken at east Radford coal wharf. It depicts Engine No. 138 and crew. Mr. Akers, engineer; Charlie Roby, fireman; Mr. Allen and Mr. Adkins.
HNWR016
This photograph captures a proud moment in the development of the N&W. Rolled out from the shop is the first locomotive built by Roanoke Machine Works. Roanoke Machine Works would later become the N&W Roanoke Shops. The engine is a Class I.
HNWR014
The crew of Engine No. 102, shortly after the engine was taken over by the N&W, included Conductor Lawrence Boyles, Engineer George Agee, Fireman Harley Pugh, and Brakeman Jesse Honaker and R.C. Warden.
HNWR013
Passengers board an N&W coach. Passenger service when into a steep decline after the mid-1940s. In 1946, for example, the N&W carried 3.4 million passengers. By 1950, that figure was about 900,000. The automobile was taking its toll on the…
HNWR012
Engine No. 500 pulls out of Norfolk with the Pocahontas. The Pocahontas' maiden run occurred on November 21, 1926, when she ran between Norfolk and Columbus, Ohio. That run replaced the former "Norfolk-Chicago Express".
HNWR011
This photograph of the crew of Engine No. 82 was taken when Goodwin, West Virginia was a western terminus. The engine was standing on the Wye track. Crew members are S.D. Clowers, engineer; R.S. Brown, engineer; James Emmons, fireman; George…
HNWR010
An N&W passenger train speeds between Roanoke and Christiansburg, Virginia. The N&W provided extensive passenger service through southwestern and southeastern Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, West Virginia, and into parts of North Carolina. With…
HNWR009
On July 2, 1889, a night storm swelled Wolf Creek near Thaxton, Virginia, which rose out of its banks just as passenger train No. 2 was crossing. The situation became N&W's first major disaster. There was only one survivor, trainmaster James…
HNWR008
An early N&W mail car. The N&W purchased the car, which was built in 1892. Railroads were a popular and effective way to distribute mail around the country. Clerks aboard the cars would actually cancel the letters en route with the initials RPO,…
HNWR007
Working for the railroad was not always about work. Here is the 1895 N&W General Office Building Baseball Team. Team members are from left to right: (front row) ? Coleman, Winfree Reed, Max Howe, and G.F. Butler; (middle row) Harry Moore, Garnet…
HNWR006
Employees at the N&W roundhouse in Lynchburg. While Lynchburg served as the divisional point for the N&W during its first few years, increased coal and ore traffic caused the N&W to move its divisional points farther west in 1888.
HNWR005
Here is the Old Yard Office located upstairs from the N&W Passenger Station at Radford. Pictured from right to left are Zince, Stump, E.E. Allen, Lawrence Allen, Louis Lucas, Horace Price, Tom Heslep, H.A. Hall, J.C. Turner, O.C. Charlton, J.H.…
HNWR004
This photograph captures the station and crew at Welch, West Virginia. It is believed that the building in the background is the courthouse. Notice the freight car to the left.
HNWR003
The carpenter crew has almost completed work on the station at Vicker, Virginia in this photo. Carpenters built everything from depots to boxcars and cabooses, to the finished interiors of passenger coaches.
HNWR002
Amongst the clerks, boilermakers, carpenters, mechanics, and engineers were a slew of instrumentalists, singers, song writers, and composers. Together, they formed the Roanoke Shop Band. Here the band stands on the grounds of the Hotel Roanoke. …
HNWR001
Locomotive No. 1219 arrives in Roanoke. The Class A was considered to be one of the "Magnificent Three" designs developed by a Norfolk & Western team headed by J.A. Pitcher, G.P. McGavok, and C.H. Faris. The Class A would break all previous…
SHH003 N&W Display
Window display at Heironimus chronicling the history of Norfolk & Western Railway during Roanoke's Golden Jubilee 50th Anniversary.
SR180 Memphis Special
“Memphis Special” made its debut through the Roanoke Valley on June 20th, 1909, running between Memphis, Tennessee, and New York City. The Memphis Special remained for years a popular passenger train, being the fastest and most direct route to New…
SR113 N&W Passenger Station
For many years, Salem had also benefited from passenger service provided by the Virginian Railroad. Virginian passenger service in Salem ended in 1954, five years prior to its merger with the N&W.
SR112 N&W Passenger Station
Passenger service at the Salem depot ended on April 30, 1965. On that day, YWCA kindergartners boarded the Powhatan Arrow for a trip to Christiansburg. That same year, the N&W donated the station to the town of Salem.
SR111 N&W Passenger Station
The N&W Railway donated and created a park near the passenger station in 1933 at College Avenue and 8th Street. The park was one of several that were developed in Salem during that time period.
SR110 N&W Passenger Station
The passenger station hosted a prominent visitor on October 19, 1934, when President Franklin Roosevelt came to dedicate the new Veterans’ Hospital. After the ceremony, the President came to Salem where he was escorted by Salem’s mayor and a cadre…
SR046 High Cliffs
The official arrival of the Norfolk and Western Railroad (later Railway) into the Roanoke Valley occurred on June 18, 1882, when an N&W locomotive steamed into the newly-named Town of Roanoke. With the coming of the railroad, the population and…
SR010 YMCA
The top image is of the Central YMCA and the bottom image is of the Railroad Department YMCA. The Railroad YMCA opened on November 10, 1903. The Young Men’s Christian Association began in Roanoke in 1883.
BM 343 Starkey Station
Starkey Combination Station.
Davis 61.01 N&W Passenger Station
The Norfolk & Western Passenger Station was built in 1907. It is now home to the O. Winston Link Museum and History Museum of Western Virginia.
Davis 43.214 N&W General Offices
The former general office building of Norfolk and Western, located at 108 N. Jefferson Street, now houses the Roanoke Higher Education Center.
Creasy5 N&W Yards
The Norfolk & Western yards.
PC 122.151 Locomotive No. 1218
"Norfolk & Western's Locomotive 1218. Norfolk & Western's Class 'A' (2-6-6-4), Number 1218 rolls past her birthplace, Norfolk & Western's East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia, where she was built in June of 1943. After serving the Norfolk & Western,…
PC 122.15 Locomotive No. 1218
"Norfolk & Western's Locomotive Number 1218. Norfolk & Western Railway's Class 'A' (2-6-6-4), Number 1218, was built by the Roanoke Shops in June of 1943. After many years of Main Line service with the N&W, Number 1218 served as a stationary boiler…
PC 112.13 N&W 611
"Norfolk & Western 611. In the classic rods down pose, Northern 611 and its excursion train wait in front of the Roanoke, Virginia station, October 1982. The Norfolk & Western and sponsor, Roanoke Chapter, NRHS, ran several excursions throughout…
PC 122.12 N&W Engines
"No. 600, No. 1203 and No. 2123, respresenting the main types of modern Norfolk & Western steam power."
PC 122.11 Engine No. 603 Class J
"Norfolk & Western No. 603 Class J passenger engine at Roanoke Shops."
PC 122.10 Engine No. 2171
"Engine No. 2171 just built by the Norfolk & Western Roanoke Shops poses for the camera."
PC 122.8 N&W Buildings
"Moonlight scene showing new viaduct, Roanoke Hotel and N&W office building, Roanoke, Virginia."
PC 122.7 N&W Terminal
"Sunset view of Roanoke, Virginia with Norfolk & Western terminal in center."
PC 122.51 N&W Passenger Station
"Norfolk & Western Train Station, Roanoke, Virginia."
PC 122.5 N&W Passenger Station
"Roanoke, Virginia - The Star City of the South. This city is headquarters of America's most prosperous railroad, the Norfolk & Western, and located here are its shops and offices. Today, Roanoke is a beautiful city - replete with fine schools and…
PC 122.4 N&W Depot
"Norfolk & Western Station from Auditorium, Roanoke, Virginia."
PC 122.3 Norfolk & Western Station
"Norfolk & Western Station, Roanoke, Virginia."
PC 122.22 Norfolk & Western Depot
"Norfolk & Western Railroad Depot, Roanoke, Virginia."
PC 122.2 Norfolk & Western Depot
"Norfolk & Western Depot, Roanoke, Virginia."
PC 112.1 N&W Depot
"Depot, Norfolk & Western Offices and Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia."
PC 112.04 General Offices
"General Offices, Norfolk & Western Railway Co., Roanoke, VA."
PC 112.03 General Offices
"N&W General Offices, Roanoke, Virginia."
PC 122.02 General Offices
"The general office buildings of the Norfolk & Western Railway in Roanoke, Virginia, headquarters of the company which employs over 6,000 persons in the city alone. Executive and supervisory departmental offices are located in these buildings, from…
PC 122.01 General Offices
"Norfolk & Western Railway Office Building, Roanoke, Virginia."
PC 122.0 General Offices
"General Offices, Headquarters of Norfolk & Western Railway, Roanoke, Virginia."
PC 95.4 N&W Bridge
"View from N&W Bridge, Roanoke, Virginia."
Scyphers28 Pocahontas
Passengers aboard the Norfolk & Western Pocahontas, possibly on its last excursion. The passenger train ran from November 1926 through May 1971.
Scyphers26 Pocahontas
Norfolk & Western employees stand in the doorway of the Pochontas, possibly on its last excursion. The passenger train ran from November 1926 through May 1971.
Scyphers23 N&W GP9
Norfolk & Western GP9 #516 locomotive pulling the Pocahontas near the N&W shops.
Scyphers21 Pocahontas
Passengers aboard the Norfolk & Western Pocahontas, possibly on its last excursion. The passenger train ran from November 1926 through May 1971.
Scyphers20 Pocahontas
The Norfolk & Western Pocahontas passenger train, possibly on its last excursion. The passenger train ran from November 1926 through May 1971.
Davis2 19.11 YMCA
The Railroad Department YMCA, formerly located at 1201 Shenandoah Avenue NW.
MP 27.3 Engine 609
Engine 609 of the Norfolk & Western Railway.
MP 27.2 Engine 604
Engine 604 of the Norfolk & Western Railway.
MP 27.1 Engine 601
Engine 601 of the Norfolk & Western Railway.
MP 27.0 Engine 2151
Engine 2151 of Norfolk & Western Railway.
MP 26.0 Equipment Painters
Group photo of the Roanoke Chapter of the Union of Railroad Equipment Painters.
Underwood 6 N&W Shops
Aerial view of the Norfolk & Western Railway shops
Underwood 3 Downtown Looking Southwest
Aerial view of downtown Roanoke looking southwest
Underwood 26 N&W Shops
Aerial view of the Norfolk & Western Railway shops
Underwood 2 Roanoke Looking West
Aerial view of Roanoke looking west
Underwood 19 N&W Yards
Aerial view of the Norfolk & Western Railway yards.
Underwood 14 N&W Offices
Aerial view of Norfolk & Western General Offices.
Davis GL 57 Mayors Momument
Mayor's Monument in its original location in Woodland Park at Church Avenue and Sixth Street SE, overlooking the Norfolk and Western Shops. The Mayor
Davis GL 242 Shaffers Crossing
North entrance to Shaffer's Crossing.
Davis GL 237 Walnut Avenue Bridge
Side view of the Walnut Avenue and Jefferson Street bridges.
Davis2 43.214 N&W Offices
Railroad employees stand in front of the Norfolk & Western Office building formerly located on 5th Street.
Davis 66.811 Franklin Road RW Bridge
Norfolk & Western railway bridge over Franklin Road.
Davis 66.81 Franklin Road RW Bridge
Railway bridge over Franklin Road under construction.
Davis 65.941 Norfolk and Western Office Fire
A fire broke out at the Norfolk & Western General Offices on 4 January 1896. N&W employees salvaged some furnishings and supplies as fire swept through the building. Unfortunately, the building was a total loss.
Davis 65.94 Norfolk and Western Office Fire
A fire broke out at the Norfolk & Western General Offices on 4 January 1896. N&W employees salvaged some furnishings and supplies as fire swept through the building. Unfortunately, the building was a total loss.
Davis 65.86 Steamer #2
Steamer #2 was purchased by Norfolk & Western and placed into service in September 1907. It is shown here stored at Station #9.
Davis 61d N&W General Offices
Original Norfolk & Western General Offices, formerly located at the corner of Jefferson Street and Shenandoah Avenue. The building was destroyed by fire on 4 January 1896.
Davis 61b N&W Rails
Member of the Travelers Protective Association prepare to leave for Denver.
Davis 61a N&W Rails
View of Norfolk & Western rails. Southwest Virginia Memorial Bridge crossing the New River in background is under construction.
Davis 61.71 Thaxton Train Wreck
Train wreck on the Norfolk and Western railroad. Twenty one wounded and the number of killed unknown, as the records were destroyed. Man in foreground unidentified
Davis 61.31 N&W Bridge Construction
American Bridge and Iron Company constructs a Norfolk & Western bridge over the south branch of the Elizabeth River near Gilmerton.
Davis 61.24 Powhatan Arrow #4
Norfolk & Western Powhatan Arrow Locomotive #4 east of Vinton.
Davis 61.23 N&W Class N Locomotive
Norfolk and Western Class N passenger locomotive near Radford.
Davis 61.22 N&W Class S1A #244
N&W Class S1a #244 locomotive at Roanoke Shops. This was the last locomotive built in Roanoke and the last standard gauge locomotive built in the United States.
Davis 61.2 NW Class Y6b #2189
Norfolk & Western Class Y6b #2189 locomotive shown shortly before scrapping at United Scrap Iron and Metal Company.
Davis 61.11 N&W Railroad
N&W Railroad - View looking east down tracks - N&W General Offices, Hotel Roanoke, and depot at Jefferson Street crossing all visible.
Davis 55.62f Norfolk & Western Play
Employee-actors of Norfolk and Western
Davis 55.62e Norfolk & Western Play
Stage play performed by Norfolk and Western employees.
Davis 55.62d Norfolk & Western Play
Employee-actors of Norfolk and Western
Davis 55.62c Norfolk & Western Play
Stage play performed by Norfolk and Western employees.
Davis 55.62b Norfolk & Western Employees
Unidentified Norfolk and Western employees during office Christmas party.
Davis 55.62a Norfolk & Western Employees
Unidentified Norfolk and Western employees during office Christmas party.
Davis 55.62 Norfolk & Western Employees
Unidentified office employees of Norfolk & Western
Davis 55.33 N&W Freight Station Employees
Norfolk & Western Freight Station Employees. 1st row, L to R: Charles Cecil, Luke Garrett, D.L. Armistead, H.D. Guy, B.D. Mayo, Harry Groves, Ray Jones and Stephen Chafin. 2nd row L to R: P. Stuart, O.W. Stover, Benjamin G. Jones, J.P. Flippo, G.J.…
Davis 45 Roanoke Machine Works
Roanoke Machine Works was founded in 1881. By 1883, the Shenandoah Valley Railroad acquired the facility. Norfolk & Western acquired the facility in 1897. From then on, it became known as the N&W Roanoke Shops. It is still an active maintenance…
Davis 43.213 N&W General Offices
The Norfolk and Western General Offices once stood at the corner of Jefferson Street and 1st Street. The building was destroyed by fire 4 January 1896.
Davis 43.212 N&W General Offices Fire
N&W General Offices fire. Formerly located at the corner of Jefferson and 1st Street, the building was a total loss.
Davis 43.211 Norfolk & Western Office Fires
N&W General Offices fire. Formerly located at the corner of Jefferson and 1st Street, the building was a total loss.
Davis 43.21 Norfolk & Western Office Fire
N&W General Offices fire. Formerly located at the corner of Jefferson and 1st Street, the building was a total loss.
Davis2 43.2-1 N&W Regional Office
Norfolk & Western Regional Offices, once located at the corner of Jefferson Street and 1st Street.
Davis2 30.1u Shaffers Crossing Roundhouse
This 115 foot roundhouse was constructed in sections by J.P. Pettyjohn and Company with the first 21 stalls on July 1, 1918. The first stalls and turntable were put into service on September 15, 1919. The turntable was erected by Norfolk and Western…
Davis 2.112 N&W Office
Norfolk & Western Office on the 500 block of S. Jefferson Street.
Davis 19b RRYMCA
A rear view of the Railroad YMCA, formerly located at 12th Street and Shenandoah Avenue. The building was razed in 1947.
Davis 19a RRYMCA
Railroad YMCA, formerly located at 12th Street and Shenandoah Avenue. The building was razed in 1947.
Davis 1.822 N&W freight station
Norfolk & Western freight station. Looking southwest toward downtown. View of buildings on Norfolk Avenue. St. James Hotel in background.
RNC 8 Wilson & Company
Wilson & Company, seen in the foreground, was a wholesale meat company. It was located at 312 Campebell Avenue SE. Hotel Roanoke and N&W General Offices can be seen in background.
RNC 3 N&W Salvage
Norfolk & Western Salvage Warehouse, formerly located at 201 Campbell Avenue SE.
RNC 39 N&W Freight Station
Lots for sale in front of the Norfolk & Western freight station on Norfolk Avenue.
RNC 73 N&W Underpass
One-lane road under a Norfolk & Western underpass through which traffic accessing 460 East would pass.