Lynchburg, Va., marks the crossing for Norfolk Southern’s Southern Railway main line from Washington to Atlanta with the former Norfolk & Western main from Roanoke to Norfolk, and CSX’s former Chesapeake & Ohio James River line from Clifton Forge to Richmond and Newport News. The former Southern main sees 15-20 trains per day, including passenger, mixed freight, and intermodal. The former N&W and CSX lines each see 10-15 trains per day, with volumes varying by level of coal and grain shipments, which dominate traffic on both lines. Coal volumes are high, due to Chinese demand and flood damage to competing mines in Australia. Both of these lines tend to be directional in nature, as eastbound coal traffic on the former N&W line takes the former Virginian line along the Staunton River to the south between Roanoke and Burke-ville, while westbound coal empties on CSX tend to take the former C&O Mountain Division by way of Charlottesville to the north, which the Buckingham Branch Railroad leases. NS also operates a secondary line to the south that serves local industries and two power plants near the Virginia/ North Carolina border.
TRAIN WATCHING
CSX’s James River line offers trains in magnificent mountain scenery along a canal tow path. Photo locations include the James River Outpost, a park where the Blue Ridge Parkway crosses the railroad and river (and restored locks from the canal can be seen) and, four miles up Route 501, the location where the main line crosses the James. Ruesens Dam, located in the western part of Lynchburg, is another noteworthy location. One of the best photo locations on NS is the former Southern main line, which crosses the James River on a dramatic trestle. This bridge can be photographed from the north, where State Route 685 crosses the tracks (smaller Harris Creek Trestle is visible a few hundred feet to the north), or it can be photographed from the south at Riverside Park. The park offers excellent mountain views behind the trestle as well as Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 Kanawha-type No. 2760 on display. Also noteworthy is Amtrak service on the former Southern main. In addition to the daily Crescent, Lynchburg also hosts a Northeast Regional round trip to Boston. Good photo locations along the former N&W include Possum Creek Trestle, Eastbrook Curve, and Beaver Creek Trestle, all a few miles east of town. NS operates Kinney Yard on the former N&W and Montview Yard on the former Southern. Southern’s Monroe Yard to the north and N&W’s Island Yard on its original downtown main are gone.
Lynchburg has unique remnants of rail history. Although its Union Station on the riverfront no longer stands, Kemper Street station has been restored and hosts a bus terminal and nature museum, in addition to Amtrak. The original N&W main line through downtown has been converted into an excellent paved bike trail. This trail goes east from downtown, where one can ride through the now tree-ridden site of Island Yard on Percival’s Isle in the James River. Farther east down this line, past where the trail ends, is the Six Mile Trestle, a beautiful but decaying bridge over the James River and CSX main. Going west, riders can take this trail through a tunnel and under the active Black Water Creek trestle on the former Southern main.
RAILROAD FREQUENCIES
NS, ex-N&W: 161.190; ex-Southern: 160.950; yards: 160.275 and 160.530. CSX, road: 160.230; dispatcher: 160.320; yard: 160.530.
FOR YOUR FAMILY
Lynchburg offers first class amenities and entertainment. Nearby is the Blue Ridge Parkway for a scenic drive. You’ll find an excellent restaurant, lodge, restored farm, and hiking opportunities at Peaks of Otter. The area features 1700s estates, such as Point of Honor and Thomas Jefferson’s summer home of Poplar Forest. Outfitters along the James River offer excellent canoeing. One restaurant worthy of note is the Depot Grille, located in the former N&W freight house downtown. This restaurant offers excellent contemporary, Virginia-inspired cuisine, features railroad memorabilia, and has a dining area on a porch with great views of CSX’s James River line. Other restaurants of note include the Jefferson Street Brewery, La Carreta for Mexican, Isabella’s Italian Trattoria, and many more. Charlottesville and Roanoke are nearby and provide more opportunities.
