Shenandoah Valley Railroad (short-line)
{{Short description|Shortline railroad in Virginia}}
{{Coord|38|8|58.9|N|79|3|37.1|W|display=title}}
{{Infobox rail | gauge={{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
|railroad_name = Shenandoah Valley Railroad
|logo_size =
|marks = SV
|locale = Virginia
|start_year = 1993
|end_year = present
|predecessor_line = Valley Railroad, Shenandoah Valley Railroad (1867–90), Chesapeake & Western Railroad{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.svrr-llc.com/history.html |website=svrr-llc.com |access-date=2024-07-22}}
|old_gauge =
|electrification =
|length = {{convert|20.2|mi|abbr=off}}
|hq_city =
|website = http://www.svrr-llc.com/
|logo=File:Shenandoah Valley Railroad Logo.png|logo_alt=Shenandoah Valley Railroad logo showing the letters SVRR in the shape of a train}}
The Shenandoah Valley Railroad {{reporting mark| SV}} is a shortline railroad operating {{convert|20.2|mi}} of track between Staunton and Pleasant Valley, Virginia. The railroad interchanges with CSX and Buckingham Branch in Staunton and Norfolk Southern in Pleasant Valley.{{Cite web |title=About Us Today |url=http://www.svrr-llc.com/about-us-today.html |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Shenandoah Valley Railroad, LLC |language=en}} The railroad was purchased from Norfolk Southern in 1993 and is currently operated by the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad.{{Cite web |last=Helbig |first=Terry |date=2016-08-12 |title=Speakers to highlight Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad |url=https://www.times-news.com/news/slice_of_life/speakers-to-highlight-durbin-and-greenbrier-valley-railroad/article_4b2ede17-5417-5c6a-b701-e836e7681b61.html |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=The Cumberland Times-News |language=en}}
History
The Shenandoah Valley Railroad's route was owned by the Chesapeake Western Railway until February 1992, when Norfolk Southern abandoned it due to low usage.{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Edward A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3i6K_Nf9e2EC |title=American Shortline Railway Guide |date=1996 |publisher=Kalmbach Publishing, Co. |isbn=978-0-89024-290-2 |pages=78 |language=en}} Local parties acquired the line and contracted to various operators such as the Buckingham Branch Railroad before settling on the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad once adequate traffic returned.{{Cite web |last=Leopard |first=John |date=2023-09-16 |title=Shenandoah Valley Alco |url=https://railfan.com/shenandoah-valley-railroad/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Railfan & Railroad Magazine |language=en-CA}}
In 2019, a new {{convert|600000|sqft|adj=on}} cold storage facility served by the Shenandoah Valley Railroad opened in Mount Crawford.{{Cite web |date=2018-08-14 |title=Shenandoah Valley Railroad to serve new InterChange Cold Storage site |url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/short_lines_regionals/news/Shenandoah-Valley-Railroad-to-serve-new-InterChange-Cold-Storage-site--55366 |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Progressive Railroading |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-04-29 |title=$41.6 Million Dollar Investment - InterChange Cold Storage |url= https://theshenandoahvalley.com/locality-partner-good-news/41-6-million-dollar-investment-interchange-cold-storage/ |website=Shenandoah Valley Partnership |access-date=2025-04-06}}
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.{{Cite web |date=2015-12-21 |title=B&O GP9 restored to its original colors {{!}} Trains Magazine |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/01-bo-paint/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Trains |language=en-US}} The company also operates ALCO RS-11 No. 367 with a Norfolk & Western colors and EMD GP9 No. 5940 with Chesapeake & Ohio colors.{{Cite web |last=Gunnoe |first=Chase |date=2024-07-01 |title=Preservation news from Appalachia: 0-4-0 finds new home, GP9 gets B&O-inspired paint upgrade |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/preservation-news-from-appalachia-0-4-0-finds-new-home-gp9-gets-bo-inspired-paint-upgrade/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Trains |language=en-US}}
Gallery
File:SV1PlesantValley.jpg|The Norfolk Southern interchange at Pleasant Valley, photo taken from the cab of Shenandoah Valley's GP38
File:Shenandoah Valley Railroad - SV8701 loco.jpg|alt=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 Verona. Mechanical difficulties led to the locomotive being retired from the roster and sold for scrap.
File:SV2015.jpg|SV leased this LLPX EMD GP38 seen here at Weyer's Cave
File:DGVR40 Staunton WJGrimes.JPG|SV 40 at Staunton
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://hawkinsrails.net/shortlines/sv/sv.html More pictures] at HawkinsRails
{{Virginia railroads}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shenandoah Valley Railroad Short Line}}
Category:Spin-offs of the Norfolk Southern Railway
Category:Non-operating common carrier freight railroads in the United States
Category:Transportation in Augusta County, Virginia
Category:Transportation in Rockingham County, Virginia
Category:Transportation in Staunton, Virginia
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