Shenandoah Valley Railroad (short-line)

38°8′58.9″N 79°3′37.1″W / 38.149694°N 79.060306°W / 38.149694; -79.060306

Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Shenandoah Valley Railroad logo showing the letters SVRR in the shape of a train
Overview
Reporting markSV
LocaleVirginia
Dates of operation1993–present
PredecessorValley Railroad, Shenandoah Valley Railroad (1867–90), Chesapeake & Western Railroad[1]
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length20.2 miles (32.5 kilometres)
Other
Websitehttp://www.svrr-llc.com/

The Shenandoah Valley Railroad (reporting mark SV) is a shortline railroad operating 20.2 miles (32.5 km) of track between Staunton and Pleasant Valley, Virginia. The railroad interchanges with CSX and Buckingham Branch in Staunton and Norfolk Southern in Pleasant Valley.[2] The railroad was purchased from Norfolk Southern in 1993 and is currently operated by the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad.[3]

History

The tracks the Shenandoah Valley Railroad runs on were previously operated by the Chesapeake & Western Railroad until February of 1992, when Norfolk Southern was given permission to abandon the tracks due to low usage.[4] Local interest parties acquired the line and originally contracted it out to various different operators such as Buckingham Branch Railroad. The line's owners settled on Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad once there was enough traffic on the line.[5]

A new cold storage facility was announced to be built along the railroad in 2018.[6]

Heritage locomotives

The railroad operates a restored B&O GP9, No. 6512, painted in B&O's blue and yellow colors. The locomotive was restored by the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad. It was acquired from Kanawha River Terminal’s coal facility in Ceredo, WV.[7] The company also operates ALCO RS-11 No. 367 with a Norfolk & Western colors and EMD GP9 No. 5940 with Chesapeake & Ohio colors.[8]

  • The Norfolk Southern interchange at Pleasant Valley, photo taken from the cab of Shenandoah Valley's GP38
    The Norfolk Southern interchange at Pleasant Valley, photo taken from the cab of Shenandoah Valley's GP38
  • SV 8701 was ex-US Army 4043, later DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) 87001, an RS4TC with serial number 61286, seen here in Vernona. Mechanical difficulties led to the locomotive being retired from the roster and sold for scrap. The frame, minus its trucks, was seen at the Cresson Steel Company scrap yard, 621 Penn Avenue, Cresson, PA, in May 2021.
    SV 8701 was ex-US Army 4043, later DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) 87001, an RS4TC with serial number 61286, seen here in Vernona. Mechanical difficulties led to the locomotive being retired from the roster and sold for scrap.
  • SV leased this LLPX EMD GP38 seen here at Weyer's Cave
    SV leased this LLPX EMD GP38 seen here at Weyer's Cave
  • SV 40 at Staunton
    SV 40 at Staunton

References

  1. ^ "History". svrr-llc.com. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  2. ^ "About Us Today". Shenandoah Valley Railroad, LLC. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  3. ^ Helbig, Terry (2016-08-12). "Speakers to highlight Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad". The Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  4. ^ Lewis, Edward A. (1996). American Shortline Railway Guide. Kalmbach Publishing, Co. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-89024-290-2.
  5. ^ Leopard, John (2023-09-16). "Shenandoah Valley Alco". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  6. ^ "Shenandoah Valley Railroad to serve new InterChange Cold Storage site". Progressive Railroading. 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  7. ^ "B&O GP9 restored to its original colors | Trains Magazine". Trains. 2015-12-21. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  8. ^ Gunnoe, Chase (2024-07-01). "Preservation news from Appalachia: 0-4-0 finds new home, GP9 gets B&O-inspired paint upgrade". Trains. Retrieved 2024-07-22.


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