Marion and Rye Valley Railway
Encyclopedia
The Marion and Rye Valley Railway was a standard gauge logging railroad that ran from an intersection with the Norfolk and Western Railway
at Marion, Virginia
, southward to Sugar Grove, Virginia
.
At Sugar Grove, it intersected with the Virginia Southern Railroad
which ran from Sugar Grove, across Iron Mountain, through Troutdale
and then westward to Fairwood. There was also a branch from the wye track at Sugar Grove that went eastward toward Camp, Virginia. The two railroads combined formed a line operating some 27 or so miles. Both were initially owned separately, but eventually fell under the same management and ownership.
The main line featured four switchbacks between Currin Valley, south of Marion, and Teas, just west of Sugar Grove, and another set of switchbacks between Sugar Grove and Troutdale at the top of Iron Mountain.
Motive power for the railroad was provided by Shay-type locomotives
, an Alco
consolidation, a Heisler
, and an Edwards Motorcar.
The railroad was chartered by the State Corporation Commission
of Virginia in 1891 as the Marion and Rye Valley Railroad, reorganized in 1900 as the "Marion and Rye Valley Railway Company", and disbanded in 1931 and sold to the Marion Brick Company. The line was abandoned sometime afterward.
There are virtually no remains of the railroads today other than abandoned railroad grades and a few spikes that are eroded out of the old grades from time to time.
Norfolk and Western Railway
The Norfolk and Western Railway , a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence....
at Marion, Virginia
Marion, Virginia
Marion is a town in Smyth County, Virginia, United States. The population was 5,968 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Smyth County. The town is named for American Revolutionary War officer Francis Marion.-Tourism:...
, southward to Sugar Grove, Virginia
Sugar Grove, Virginia
Sugar Grove is a census-designated place in Smyth County, Virginia, United States. The population was 741 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sugar Grove is located at ....
.
At Sugar Grove, it intersected with the Virginia Southern Railroad
Virginia Southern Railroad
The Virginia Southern Railroad is a shortline railroad division of the North Carolina and Virginia Railroad, a RailAmerica subsidiary, operating of track between Norfolk Southern Railway connections at Oxford, North Carolina and Burkeville, Virginia...
which ran from Sugar Grove, across Iron Mountain, through Troutdale
Troutdale, Virginia
Troutdale is a town in Grayson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 194 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Troutdale is located at ....
and then westward to Fairwood. There was also a branch from the wye track at Sugar Grove that went eastward toward Camp, Virginia. The two railroads combined formed a line operating some 27 or so miles. Both were initially owned separately, but eventually fell under the same management and ownership.
The main line featured four switchbacks between Currin Valley, south of Marion, and Teas, just west of Sugar Grove, and another set of switchbacks between Sugar Grove and Troutdale at the top of Iron Mountain.
Motive power for the railroad was provided by Shay-type locomotives
Geared steam locomotive
A geared steam locomotive is a type of steam locomotive which uses reduction gearing in the drivetrain, as opposed to the common directly driven design....
, an Alco
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
consolidation, a Heisler
Heisler locomotive
The Heisler locomotive was the last variant of the three major types of geared steam locomotive, Charles L. Heisler receiving a patent for the design in 1892 following the construction of a prototype in 1891. Somewhat similar to a Climax locomotive, Heisler's design featured two cylinders canted...
, and an Edwards Motorcar.
The railroad was chartered by the State Corporation Commission
State Corporation Commission
The State Corporation Commission, or SCC, is a Virginia regulatory agency whose authority encompasses utilities, insurance, state-chartered financial institutions, securities, retail franchising, and railroads...
of Virginia in 1891 as the Marion and Rye Valley Railroad, reorganized in 1900 as the "Marion and Rye Valley Railway Company", and disbanded in 1931 and sold to the Marion Brick Company. The line was abandoned sometime afterward.
There are virtually no remains of the railroads today other than abandoned railroad grades and a few spikes that are eroded out of the old grades from time to time.