Virginia Blue Ridge Railway


The Virginia Blue Ridge Railway is a historic intrastate short line railroad that operated in central Virginia in the 20th century.

History

The company was incorporated in 1914, and construction was started in 1915. The VBR extended from Tye River Depot in Nelson County, where it interchanged with the Southern Railway, to Massies Mill. The railroad followed the course of the Tye and Piney Rivers for several miles before entering the mountains. It was initially built to haul chestnut for lumber out of the heavily-timbered Piney River area to local mills until World War I. The chestnut blight wiped out much of the timbered areas. However, the railroad later served several quarries in the area where titanium dioxide and aplite were mined. It passed through the communities of Roses Mill, Piney River, Canopy, Lowesville, and Buffalo Mine. Steam operations on the VBR ended on August 1st, 1963 with ex-U.S. Army 0-6-0 #9 being the honor of pulling the last steam powered freight train.
The line was abandoned in 1981. In the early 21st century, part of the roadbed was being developed as a rails-to-trails project, the Blue Ridge Railway Trail.

Locomotives

This is the locomotive roster of the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway.
Number/NameWheel
Arrangement		BuilderSerial NumberBuiltRetiredNotes
12-8-0H.K. Porter, Inc.unknown19151953Bought new. Only locomotive purchased new by the VBR. Scrapped in 1953.
2 2-8-0Richmond Locomotive Works247218951947Ex-Southern Railway #222, later renumbered to #186. Sold to the VBR on September 22nd, 1938. During its time on the VBR, the engine was never relettered or renumbered. Scrapped in 1947.
34-6-0Baldwin Locomotive Worksunknown19091946Originally built as Augusta Southern Railroad #73. Later sold to the Georgia and Florida Railroad as their #173. Sold to the VBR on November 10th 1941. Scrapped in 1946.
1st #40-4-0STVulcan Iron Worksunknown19091943Originally built as Old Dominion Soapstone Corporation #2. Continued service until December 1st, 1931. Sold to the Alberene Stone Company. Sold to the VBR in June 1942 as their 1st #4. Sold to Leas & McVitty Inc. in December 1943. Last used in the late 1950s. Sold to Charles Wassum in 1961 and was displayed in front of a motel in Marion, Virginia. It was eventually purchased by Will Harris, a private collector, who moved it to his property in Goshen, Virginia where it continues to sit on display today. Sold to the VBR in 1947 as their 2nd #4. Sold to the Mead Corporation in Lynchburg, Virginia in May 1951 as their #300. Now at the Wilmington and Western Railroad in Wilmington, Delaware.
50-6-0American Locomotive Companyunknown11/19428/1/1963Built as U.S. Army #4039. Sold to the VBR on February 17th, 1947 as their #5. Retired on August 1st, 1963. Sold to Earle Gil for use on the Morris County Central Railroad in late 1965 and entered service on August 27th, 1966. Last used on the Morris County Central when it shut down in 1980. Now at the Whippany Railway Museum in Whippany, New Jersey awaiting restoration.
62-8-0Baldwin Locomotive Works3231211/19074/1/1959Originally built as Southern Railway #385. Sold to the VBR on November 17th, 1952 as their #6 and became known as The Big Engine. Taken out of service in November 1956 due to heavy maintenance and officially retired on April 1st, 1959. Sold to Earle Gil in 1963 and restored for use on the Morris County Central Railroad. Last ran on the MCC in 1978. Now at the Whippany Railway Museum in Whippany, New Jersey on static display.
70-6-0Lima Locomotive Worksunknown19448/1/1963Built as U.S. Army #4061. Sold to the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad in 1947 as their #51. Sold to the VBR on April 20th, 1956. Retired on August 1st, 1963 and later sold to Steam Trains Inc. who in turn sold it to one of the founders of Steam Trains Inc. Mr. Stout. In 1970, the locomotive was sold to another individual who, like Mr. Stout, didn't have a good relationship with Steam Trains Inc. In June 1976, the locomotive was scrapped and parts of the engine were used to restore other engines.
80-6-0American Locomotive Companyunknown19428/1/1963Built as U.S. Army #4038. Later renumbered to 618 in 1954. Sold to the VBR in 1958 as their #8. Stored serviceable in early 1963. Sold to the Delaware Otsego Railroad in late 1965 and renumbered to #2. Remained in excursion service from 1966 until 1975. The engine is now under the ownership of Bill Miller.
90-6-0American Locomotive Companyunknown19428/1/1963Built as U.S. Army #4023. Later renumbered to 616 in 1954. Sold to the VBR in 1958 as their #9, however it was not used until March 23rd, 1961. Had the honor of pulling the last steam powered freight train on August 1st, 1963. Sold to the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad in June 1967. Taken out of service in 1981. Now currently awaiting restoration at Bridgeport, New Jersey.
10SW1Electro-Motive Diesel10511940still in serviceBuilt as Lackawanna #430. Sold to the VBR in 1963 as their #10. Sold to the Union Tank Car Company as their #12226. Currently still in service in Marion, Ohio.
11SW1Electro-Motive Divisionunknown1940unknownBuilt as Lackawanna #427. Sold to the VBR in 1963 as their #11. Dismantled for parts in 1973. Sent to the Railway Supply Company of Birmingham, Alabama in 1974 as a trade-in. Later sold to the Kaiser Chemical Company in Bainbridge, Georgia. As of 2006, it was reported to be in service at the Formosa Plastics facility in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
12SW1Electro-Motive Division10531940still in serviceBuilt as Lackawanna #432, later renumbered to 354. Sold to the VBR on June 7th, 1965 as their #12. Sold to the Union Tank Car Company in 1985 as their #12227. Still in operation today.