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NS to discontinue service over former Norfolk, Franklin & Danville
Might be something the Buckingham Branch RR should look into, especially if there are opportunities for traffic growth.
A line that has been approved for service discontinuance is different from a line approved for abandonment. In case of service abandonment, the rail and ties remain in place and the railroad still owns the right of way. An abandonment authorizes the railroad to remove rail and ties, and in some cases the right of way reverts to the adjacent property owners. There are parameters in whether a line is abandoned or service is discontinued but I am not familiar with this.
So, what does this mean? Is the track going to be abandoned? Will someone else take it over?
I’ve seen shortlines start off with less and turn it into something.
This could be a good time for a short line to get involved. The 414 carloads though not much for a class 1 could certainly be of interest for a regional. And with grants from the state of Virginia to upgrade the line it could make it.
Does anyone else remember a guy named Adolph W Arnold who back in the 1960s had a sort of obsession with the Atlantic & Danville and would mail his newsletters about it to anybody who expressed interest? I think he lived in Massachusetts so he was not even close to the line.
Ah, euphemism for " federal govt/ Virginia state, give us that $5.9 million or else we will abandon this line".
Unfortunately, the state and NS have sought to involve short line interests, but to no avail. It’s just not a profitable route, even if operated as an island from the old ACL main in Emporia. Sad to see it go, hopefully it can at least be a bike trail in the future. The Tobacco Heritage Trail already operates west of Lawrenceville, so this is an opportunity there.
The old A&D has been on life support for decades. Too bad for Southside Virginia…whatever traffic is diverted off the RF&D will load up US58 or US460, so we’ll end up paying for this in higher highway maintenance…which the state can’t afford, either.
Yes hopefully another railroad will perhaps find a way to invest in the needed upgrades and repairs…would be sad to see such a stretch go to disuse at a time when the last thing we need are more large trucks on our highways, when rail does such a better job of moving freight.
To Ronald Thuemler: As a truck driver, and rail enthusiast, I’d like to see trains deliver to every business in America. We all to often go under appreciated, and often hated for many different reasons. I don’t go fishing for pats on the back, I’m just doing my job, but remember: “If you got it, a truck brought it.”
Trucks hauling intermodal trailers get off I-95 at Emporia VA and take US-58 into Norfolk and Portsmouth VA. The NF&D runs through Emporia to Suffolk paralleling 58. It would take millions of dollars, but an Intermodal ramp could be built at Emporia. Container trains could be run from Emporia to Suffolk where they could connect with the NS mainline to Norfolk. This could take a lot of truck traffic off of an already dangerous highway.
I have worked the Franklin District as a machine operator for NS many times over the years. I also have a few close friends who began their railroad careers on the NF&D. Hopefully the easternmost 20 miles from Franklin to Suffolk will continue in service. This railroad has a lot of nice memories for me.
Mr. Keeler,
Every mode of transportation has its place, but I fully agree with Mr. Thuemler. It is disgraceful that, as a society, we STILL haven’t learned the value of railway infrastructure!
A “bike trail” isn’t the answer either, Mr. Topham.
Oh, what will our children think of our priorities?!
Garl B. Latham
NS has discontinue services on the rest of this line from Suffolk to Franklin, VA. This was in the Tidewater News Newspaper on April 4, 2014:
“NORFOLK SOUTHERN DISCONTINUE LOCAL LINE”
FRANKLIN—Running and maintaining the freight rail through Southampton, Franklin and Isle of Wight County has become too costly for Norfolk Southern Railway Co. After stating its case before the Surface Transportation Board, that company will discontinue its service effective Saturday, April 12.
In response to questions from The Tidewater News, Robin Chapman, director of public relations in Virginia for Norfolk Southern Corp., forwarded the details from the SFB.
Chapman explained the board is “the federal agency that oversees regulated commercial activities of the railroad industry. When a railroad proposes discontinuing service on a line, the STB must approve. In this case, Norfolk Southern petitioned the STB to exempt it from a more extensive formal proceeding on the basis that no objections have been raised, and the STB approved the exemption.”
That petition to be exempted was filed Nov. 26, 2013, and granted March 12.
Originally the line was created as a route from the Tidewater region to Danville in the 1800s by then Atlantic and Danville Railway. Eventually it became part of NSR in 1983. The line is 53.2 miles in length, and also includes the city of Emporia, Greensville County, the town of Edgerton and Brunswick County.
NSR said that railway has become a financial burden both on the company and interstate commerce.
Costs to operate and maintain the line far exceed any money that could be made from the four remaining shippers.
In addition, the company stated, the line “is no longer operable, having been embargoed on Oct. 1, 2013, as a result of deteriorating track and bridge conditions, and is in need of substantial rehabilitation.
“NSR further stated that such rehabilitation costs cannot be recouped because the Lin
NS has discontinue services on the rest of this line from Suffolk to Franklin, VA. This was in the Tidewater News Newspaper on April 4, 2014:
“NORFOLK SOUTHERN DISCONTINUE LOCAL LINE”
FRANKLIN—Running and maintaining the freight rail through Southampton, Franklin and Isle of Wight County has become too costly for Norfolk Southern Railway Co. After stating its case before the Surface Transportation Board, that company will discontinue its service effective Saturday, April 12.
In response to questions from The Tidewater News, Robin Chapman, director of public relations in Virginia for Norfolk Southern Corp., forwarded the details from the SFB.
Chapman explained the board is “the federal agency that oversees regulated commercial activities of the railroad industry. When a railroad proposes discontinuing service on a line, the STB must approve. In this case, Norfolk Southern petitioned the STB to exempt it from a more extensive formal proceeding on the basis that no objections have been raised, and the STB approved the exemption.”
That petition to be exempted was filed Nov. 26, 2013, and granted March 12.
Originally the line was created as a route from the Tidewater region to Danville in the 1800s by then Atlantic and Danville Railway. Eventually it became part of NSR in 1983. The line is 53.2 miles in length, and also includes the city of Emporia, Greensville County, the town of Edgerton and Brunswick County.
NSR said that railway has become a financial burden both on the company and interstate commerce.
Costs to operate and maintain the line far exceed any money that could be made from the four remaining shippers.
In addition, the company stated, the line “is no longer operable, having been embargoed on Oct. 1, 2013, as a result of deteriorating track and bridge conditions, and is in need of substantial rehabilitation.
“NSR further stated that such rehabilitation costs cannot be recouped because the Lin