376:, just north of Williamsport in Hagerstown. This new north/south line would be the key to capturing the traffic on numerous just-acquired southern lines and directing it to the port of Philadelphia. The competing B&O wanted to divert the riches of the area to the port of Baltimore and expand into the south. Each tried to cut off the other from the south. Meanwhile, Virginia really didn’t want either to succeed so that traffic would be directed to the Norfolk port.
33:
404:
In August 1871, the
Central Improvement Company submitted a proposal to cancel the construction contract, asking for payment only for work completed. The proposal was rejected by SVRR. In 1872, the deadline for completion of the railroad was extended to January 1875 and 94 miles (151 km) of work
455:
In early 1885, SVRR defaulted on its loan interest, taxes, payrolls, and bills. A Roanoke judge put the line in a receivership, but in
December, the mortgage company holding its notes filed suit for liquidation of the road’s assets. The Norfolk and Western Railroad fought a legal battle for the next
412:
Problems with PRR escalated over the inability to obtain a traffic contract with the
Cumberland Valley Railroad. SVRR sent a team of surveyors during the summer of 1880 into Pennsylvania indicating a desire to build a line to Harrisburg to connect with the competing Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
388:
The
Central Improvement Company (a subsidiary of Pennsylvania Railroad) was awarded a contract to construct 224 miles (360 km) of the SVRR from Shepherdstown to Salem for $ 35,000 a mile. The work was to be completed by August 1872. The major source of capital came from the sale of 6% mortgage
451:
In 1882, N&W made a deal with PRR to swap the SVRR share capital for N&W common stock. SVRR got a loan from N&W of $ 600,000, plus up to $ 200,000 per year for 3 years. PRR kicked in $ 150,000 as advanced payment for highly discounted future traffic contracts. Control of SVRR stock was
359:
Since the route traversed three states (Maryland, West
Virginia, and Virginia) three legislative authorizations were required. Virginia provided approval on February 23, 1867. West Virginia approved the construction idea on February 25, 1870. Maryland provided the final approval needed on April 4,
463:
The competing Valley
Railroad ran out of capital to build in 1884 and struggled until it went into receivership in 1896. The final length of that line was 36 miles (58 km) from Staunton to Lexington, the southern 51 miles (82 km) to Salem never finished. The line was never profitable.
435:
as its spokesman, it convinced
Baltimore to authorize $ 1,000,000 to secure funding by other Virginia counties. Baltimore was to gain considerably by having the traffic from the richest parts of the south directed its way. Many delays occurred, particularly after the recession on the 1870s, but
379:
The PRR began purchasing stock in the SVRR, and took effective control of it. B&O took control of a competing north/south line called the Valley
Railroad. The plans showed the railroads were to run parallel to each other through the valley, sometimes just a few miles apart. The race was on.
1166:
A contract between SVRR and N&W is signed on 12/29/1882 (ratified by stockholders on 2/12/1883). The majority of SVRR share capital was traded for N&W common stock. N&W agreed to loan SVRR up to $ 200,000 per year, for a maximum of 3 years from 1/2/1883, if it loses
396:
was elected as the second president of SVRR; he was also a Vice
President of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Peter B. Borst was forced out because of his involvement with a competing plan for a similar rail line called the Luray Valley Railroad Company that was pushed through the
1235:
Into the mid-20th century the new owners, the
Norfolk & Western, operated two passenger trains a day in each direction. The #1 (southbound) and the #2 (northbound), Roanoke-New York City via Hagerstown and Harrisburg, were part of a pooled long distance
456:
four years to regain control. On September 30, 1890, the SVRR was reorganized as the Shenandoah Valley "Railway", with stockholders approval to sell to N&W. On December 2, the Shenandoah Valley Railway acquired the rights to the franchise of the
371:
After Maryland approved construction of a bridge over the Potomac river anywhere between Harpers Ferry and Williamsport, the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) took notice. There could be link with rival B&O railroad, as well as a link with its own
408:
In September 1872, the Cumberland Valley Railroad (a subsidiary of Pennsylvania Railroad) was asked to construct the tracks from their station in Hagerstown, MD to Shepherdstown, WV. Service began on that stretch in 1880.
1221:
In September, Shenandoah Valley Railroad sold under foreclosure and reorganized as the Shenandoah Valley Railway; in December, Shenandoah Valley Railway is acquired and absorbed by Norfolk & Western
1148:
Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia Air Line was formed via a contract between SVRR, N&W, and the East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia Railroad. The Air Line was between Hagerstown, MD and Norfolk, VA.
50:
1194:
The Southern Despatch Line is formed between Pennsylvania Railroad, Cumberland Valley Railroad, Western Maryland Railroad, SVRR, N&W, and East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad.
352:
somewhere near Staunton, to a connection with the V&T around Salem, and finally to somewhere near the southwest corner of Virginia to meet the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad at
259:. In September 1890 it went into bankruptcy and was reorganized as the Shenandoah Valley Railway. In December 1890, it became part of N&W. Today the tracks are a major artery of the
1373:
1348:
The Mineral Wealth of Virginia, 1884 by Andrew S. McCreath. Printed in Harrisburg PA by Lane S. Hart. Copy located in the history room of the Charles Town West Virginia library.
1383:
444:
The financial panic of 1873 brought a deep recession that suppressed business into the 1880s. In 1882 SVRR received a loan of $ 79,000 from Philadelphia financiers
270:, a former part of the Norfolk Southern System a few miles west was a parallel line originally called the Valley Railroad. It was built in the late 19th century by
1378:
457:
424:. In 1881 the north and south sections were connected. Finally, in 1882, it stretched south to meet the Norfolk and Western Railroad in the new railroad town of
97:
69:
294:
formed late in the 20th century by several major shippers. The historic name of the once rival was adopted for the current privately owned intrastate
1393:
326:. The route called for 243 miles (391 km) of new construction. The line follows closely the great iron ore belt along the western slope of the
76:
1263:
1163:
Track completed southward from Waynesboro (Basic), VA to Roanoke, VA on 6/19/1882. Connection with Norfolk & Western Railroad is established.
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405:
south of the C&O railroad in Staunton eliminated. Service began between Shepherdstown, WV and the Shenandoah River on December 15, 1879.
452:
now with N&W. In 1883, SVRR floated $ 1.8 million of income bonds. Revenues continued to be far below forecast due to the bad economy.
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to cover that year’s shortfall. The life of all the bridges was ending and significant funds would be needed in the coming years.
319:
1179:
First-ever annual report is published. It is called the "Third Annual Report" to coincide with the N&W numbering scheme.
1145:
Elsewhere: Norfolk & Western Railroad Company (N&W) formed from purchase of Atlantic, Mississippi, and Ohio Railroad.
54:
1151:
The northern and southern sections of track are connected on 4/18/1881. Service is now from Hagerstown MD to Waynesboro VA.
460:. On December 15, 1890, N&W purchased the company outright for $ 6,000,000 of stock and added the rails to its system.
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Iron Horses in the Valley, The Valley and Shenandoah Valley Railroads, 1866-1882 by John R. Hildebrand, 2001
436:
traffic finally began between Harrisonburg and Staunton in 1883. The southern section was never constructed.
1130:
Separate section of service between Elkton and Waynesboro (area now called Basic City) begins on 11/22/1880.
1291:'Official Guide of the Railways,' June 1961, Norfolk & Western section, Table 3-Shenandoah Valley Route
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On March 14, 1870, the company was formed and the first president, Peter Bouck Borst, was elected.
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Train service begins between Shepherdstown and the Shenandoah river on 12/15/1879 (42 miles).
1244:, complete with Pullman service and lounge car service. Passenger service ended by summer, 1963.
413:
line. The bluff worked and a contract was worked out. But the split with PRR was now inevitable.
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1282:'Official Guide of the Railways,' August 1949, Norfolk & Western section, Table 2
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Shenandoah Valley Railroad organized as a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
416:
Also in 1880, service began on the section south of the Shenandoah River between
191:
32:
255:(N&W). The development of this railroad had considerable backing from the
1182:
Loss of $ 183,648.16 is covered by $ 200,000 loan from N&W for year 1883.
1118:
Service extended southward from Shenandoah River to Front Royal on 4/1/1880.
1133:
The northern section extended south to Shenandoah Iron Works on 12/20/1880.
1300:'Official Guide of the Railways,' June 1963, Norfolk & Western section
431:
Meanwhile, rival Valley Railroad (VRR) was trying to raise capital. With
244:
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153:
1338:
Norfolk & Western's Shenandoah Valley Line by Mason Y. Cooper, 1998
57: in this article. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
306:
The organizers of the SVRR planned to construct a railroad from the
471:
1127:
Service extended southward to Milford (now Overall) on 9/6/1880.
1209:
Shenandoah Valley Railroad forced into receivership 04/01/1885.
1351:
When Trains Came to Shepherstown, 200 by Johnna Armstrong for
26:
340:
introduced a charter for the railroad for a bill before the
344:
in 1866. The ambitious plan was to build a railroad from
231:
was a line completed on June 19, 1882, extending up the
1121:
Service extended southward to Bentonville on 5/10/1880.
1091:
Work is suspended because of difficulty with contractor
1124:
Service extended northward to Hagerstown on 8/19/1880.
1325:
SVRR Annual Report 10 (Fiscal Year 1890, last report)
1313:
SVRR Annual Report 3 (Fiscal Year 1883, first report)
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1374:Predecessors of the Norfolk and Western Railway
1064:Shenandoah Valley Railroad chartered 2/23/1867
476:1882 Station map. Source: Library of Congress
440:Recession, strikes and bankruptcy (1882–1890)
8:
129:
1103:Construction resumes in the spring of 1879.
389:bonds backed by the Pennsylvania Railroad.
314:(a branch out of Harrisburg, PA called the
66:"Shenandoah Valley Railroad" 1867–1890
1197:$ 135,000 loan from N&W for year 1884.
1079:Work on the road (railroad track) begins.
117:Learn how and when to remove this message
1384:Railway companies disestablished in 1890
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1322:SVRR Annual Report 9 (Fiscal Year 1889)
1319:SVRR Annual Report 6 (Fiscal Year 1886)
1316:SVRR Annual Report 5 (Fiscal Year 1885)
1275:
1264:List of defunct West Virginia railroads
128:
1379:Railway companies established in 1867
530:Shepherdstown, (Jefferson County) WV
278:. A portion extending northward from
7:
55:adding citations to reliable sources
18:Shenandoah Valley Railroad (N&W)
498:Hagerstown, (Washington County) MD
1259:List of defunct Virginia railroads
1254:List of defunct Maryland railroads
784:Weyer’s Cave, (Augusta County) VA
384:Main line construction (1870–1882)
25:
886:Vesuvius, (Rockbridge County) VA
31:
1394:Defunct West Virginia railroads
966:Arcadia, (Botetourt County) VA
752:Elkton, (Rockingham County) VA
458:Washington and Western Railroad
320:Virginia and Tennessee Railroad
42:needs additional citations for
428:. The track was now complete.
1:
1024:Hollins, (Roanoke County) VA
1353:The Station at Shepherdstown
578:Gaylord, (Clarke County) VA
346:Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
272:Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
253:Norfolk and Western Railway
180:Norfolk and Western Railway
1410:
1389:Defunct Maryland railroads
1369:Defunct Virginia railroads
658:Overall, (Page County) VA
610:Ashby, (Warren County) VA
374:Cumberland Valley Railroad
316:Cumberland Valley Railroad
296:Shenandoah Valley Railroad
276:Chesapeake Western Railway
229:Shenandoah Valley Railroad
130:Shenandoah Valley Railroad
720:Marksville (Stanley), VA
399:Virginia General Assembly
350:Virginia Central Railroad
342:Virginia General Assembly
1240:in cooperation with the
824:Waynesboro Junction, VA
546:Shenandoah Junction, WV
251:and to connect with the
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268:Harrisonburg, Virginia
1242:Pennsylvania Railroad
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338:Page County, Virginia
308:Pennsylvania Railroad
257:Pennsylvania Railroad
446:E.W. Clark & Co.
328:Blue Ridge Mountains
312:Hagerstown, Maryland
237:Hagerstown, Maryland
51:improve this article
1052:Historical timeline
950:Natural Bridge, VA
848:Stuart’s Draft, VA
292:short-line railroad
131:
934:Buffalo Forge, VA
538:Morgans Grove, WV
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280:Staunton, Virginia
168:Dates of operation
1344:978-0-9633254-7-1
1334:978-1-57249-232-5
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334:Peter Bouck Borst
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288:Rockingham County
249:Roanoke, Virginia
233:Shenandoah Valley
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238:
234:
230:
221:
215:1,435 mm
195:
193:
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166:
163:
159:
158:West Virginia
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71:
68: –
67:
63:
62:Find sources:
56:
52:
46:
45:
40:This article
38:
34:
29:
28:
19:
1296:
1287:
1278:
1234:
1040:Roanoke, VA
990:Houston, VA
942:Glasgow, VA
894:Midvale, VA
808:Crimora, VA
696:Kimball, VA
462:
454:
450:
443:
430:
415:
411:
407:
403:
391:
387:
378:
370:
362:
358:
332:
305:
265:
239:through the
228:
227:
140:Headquarters
113:
104:
94:
87:
80:
73:
61:
49:Please help
44:verification
41:
1238:night train
982:Lithia, VA
878:Lofton, VA
744:Milnes, VA
728:Ingham, VA
570:Rippon, WV
514:Grimes, MD
192:Track gauge
1363:Categories
1270:References
816:Dooms, VA
800:Harriston
792:Patterson
712:Luray, VA
704:Elgin, VA
642:Manor, VA
594:Boyce, VA
422:Waynesboro
77:newspapers
1222:Railroad.
958:Solitude
870:Location
776:Grottoes
680:Location
490:Location
401:in 1870.
392:In 1871,
348:, to the
318:) to the
266:South of
247:to reach
186:Technical
176:Successor
1248:See also
760:Sellers
468:Stations
302:Planning
263:system.
245:Virginia
211: in
162:Virginia
154:Maryland
135:Overview
1308:Sources
206:⁄
91:scholar
1342:
1332:
1167:money.
418:Elkton
360:1870.
150:Locale
93:
86:
79:
72:
64:
1216:1890
1204:1885
1189:1884
1174:1883
1158:1882
1140:1881
1113:1880
1098:1879
1086:1873
1071:1870
1059:1867
1037:239.3
1029:236.5
1013:232.2
1005:227.9
987:224.6
979:219.2
971:214.2
963:208.9
947:198.6
931:191.0
923:188.7
899:179.7
891:174.9
883:167.6
875:162.7
867:Mile
853:159.4
845:153.0
837:150.0
829:148.0
821:143.2
805:136.9
789:132.1
781:129.1
765:127.2
749:112.5
741:106.7
733:104.0
725:101.9
677:Mile
487:Mile
235:from
98:JSTOR
84:books
1340:ISBN
1330:ISBN
717:95.6
709:88.8
693:85.1
663:79.8
655:75.6
647:72.9
639:66.4
631:62.1
623:59.2
615:56.4
607:53.2
599:49.2
591:46.2
583:39.9
575:36.2
567:33.7
559:32.5
551:28.4
543:23.1
527:16.9
519:14.1
420:and
286:and
160:and
70:news
1021:234
995:225
955:207
939:197
915:186
907:186
813:141
797:133
773:130
511:9.0
503:5.9
495:0.0
336:of
282:in
53:by
1365::
757:??
701:86
685:83
535:19
356:.
330:.
298:.
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1355:.
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204:1
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