Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2018) |
| Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Petersburg, Virginia | ||
| Locale | Virginia | ||
| Founder | Francis Mallory | ||
| Dates of operation | 1858–1870 | ||
| Successor | Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track gauge | 5 ft (1,524 mm) gauge[1] | ||
| |||
The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was built between Norfolk and Petersburg, Virginia and was completed by 1858. The line was 85 miles (137 km) of 5 ft (1,524 mm)[2] track gauge.
It played a role on the
In the 21st century, almost all of the original well-engineered N&P, including the corduroy roadbed through the Great Dismal Swamp and 52-mile tangent alignment is still in service. It forms part of a major coal export route terminating at Lambert's Point near Hampton Roads. In addition to coal, most of the route is in active use in the 20th century for intermodal container and automobile parts and completed vehicle shipments.
A railroad for Norfolk
Although railroads emerged as a new transport technology in the 1830s, and a line of the
William Mahone: Engineering and building the N & P
In 1853, the new Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad hired as its chief engineer 26-year-old
In 1855, Mahone married
Naming stations
Otelia Mahone became a well-known character of sorts in her own right. Popular legend has it that Otelia and William Mahone traveled along the newly completed railroad naming stations from Ivanhoe, a book she was reading by Sir Walter Scott. From Scott's historical Scottish novels, she chose the place names of Windsor, Waverly and Wakefield. She tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor, a small Southampton County town.
No one seems to know how Zuni, a station located between several of the others, was named. However, when they reached a location in Prince George County not far from the end of the line in Petersburg, apparently the couple could not agree. It is said that they invented a name based upon their "dispute", and that is how Disputanta was named. In 1858, the railroad was completed and William Mahone was named its president in 1860.
American Civil War
By the time the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was completed, the clouds of conflict which would become the
After Virginia voted to secede on April 17, 1861, local officials began to establish control of federal property at Norfolk. However, the valuable shipyard was guarded by troops. While still a civilian, Mahone helped bluff the federal troops to abandon the Gosport Shipyard in Portsmouth by running a single passenger train into Norfolk with great noise and whistle-blowing, then much more quietly sending it back west, and then returning the same train again (again with much noise, etc.) creating the illusion in Portsmouth across the Elizabeth River just out of sight of large numbers of arriving Confederate troops. Combined with carefully placed misinformation to those manning the shipyard, the ruse worked, and not a single Confederate soldier was lost as the Union authorities quickly set fire to the yard and ships and abandoned the area, retreating to Fort Monroe across Hampton Roads.
Initially serving under General
Atlantic, Mississippi, and Ohio Railroad
After the war, Mahone led the rebuilding of the N&P, and soon became involved in the
The AM&O operated successfully for several years, but fell behind in bond payments during the financial panic of 1873. The bondholders worked well with Mahone until 1876, when they had other receivers appointed. After several years of operating under receiverships, Mahone's role as a railroad builder ended in 1881 when northern interests purchased the AM&O and renamed it
Mahone was able to arrange for the proceeds of the sale of the AM&O (including the former N&P) to help found 2 schools for teachers. The Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute near Petersburg was forerunner of Virginia State College, which expanded to become Virginia State University. The other school he helped fund became Norfolk State College, which expanded to become Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia.
The former South Side Railroad was originally one of three AM&O divisions, and was later consolidated with the former N&P into a single division. The AM&O did well for several years, but fell on hard times in the financial panic of 1873 which negatively impacted almost all of the railroads. After several years of operating under receiverships, Mahone's role as a railroad builder ended in 1881 when northern interests purchased the AM&O and renamed it
Norfolk and Western, Norfolk Southern
The
Over 150 years after completion, much of the former Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad route is still in active use and is a vital portion of
On December 11, 2012,
References
Railways portal
- ^ "South Side". Confederate Railroads.
- ^ "Norfolk & Petersburg". Confederate Railroads.
- ^ "First Amtrak train rolls into Norfolk". wavy.com. December 11, 2012. Archived from the original on March 23, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- Blake, Nelson Morehouse, Ph.D. (1935). William Mahone of Virginia; Soldier and Political Insurgent. Richmond, VA: Garrett and Massie Publishers.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Dixon, Thomas W Jr. (1994). Appalachian Coal Mines & Railroads. Lynchburg, Virginia: TLC Publishing Inc. ISBN 1-883089-08-5.
- Huddleston, Eugene L, Ph.D. (2002). Appalachian Conquest. Lynchburg, Virginia: TLC Publishing Inc. ISBN 1-883089-79-4.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - Lambie, Joseph T. (1954). From Mine to Market: The History of Coal Transportation on the Norfolk and Western Railway. New York: New York University Press.
- Lewis, Lloyd D. (1992). The Virginian Era. Lynchburg, Virginia: TLC Publishing Inc.
- Lewis, Lloyd D. (1994). Norfolk & Western and Virginian Railways in Color by H. Reid. Lynchburg, Virginia: TLC Publishing Inc. ISBN 1-883089-09-3.
- Prince, Richard E. (1980). Norfolk & Western Railway, Pocahontas Coal Carrier. Millard, NE: R.E. Prince.
- Reid, H. (1961). The Virginian Railway (1st ed.). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing Co.
- Reisweber, Kurt (1995). Virginian Rails 1953-1993 (1st ed.). Old Line Graphics. ISBN 1-879314-11-8.
- Striplin, E.F. Pat. (1981). The Norfolk & Western: a history. Roanoke, VA: Norfolk and Western Railway Co. ISBN 0-9633254-6-9.
- Traser, Donald R. (1998). Virginia Railway Depots. Old Dominion Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. ISBN 0-9669906-0-9.
- Wiley, Aubrey; Wallace, Conley (1985). The Norfolk and Western Railway Handbook. Lynchburg, Virginia: W-W Publications.
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