NS Altavista District
T he former main line of the Virginian Railway, the Altavista District serves as the primary artery for loaded coal trains travelling to Norfolk from the West Virginia coal fields. The Hurt Connection links the ex-Southern main line to the Altavista District. The Durham District (former N&W) crosses at Vabrook, just outside Brookneal.
N&W style colorized position lights predominate on this CTC-controlled line. The line follows the Roanoke River along part of the route.
Typical traffic and volume
T he Altavista Dist., the former main line of the Virginian Railway hosts loaded eastbound coal trains. The Altavista and Blue Ridge Districts form two one-way corridors for coal traffic. Between Hurt and Roanoke, the line sees a better mix of traffic, since Roanoke/Linwood trains 127/128 and Detroit/Linwood trains 194/195 use the line west of Hurt. Loaded power plant coal trains (764) leave the Altavista District at Vabrook to serve plants around South Boston and just across the North Carolina state line.
Timetable
Virginia Division--Altavista District
Abilene to Roanoke--Westward M.P. Stations Tracks Notes V141.6 Abilene Conn..... Farmville Belt Line 143.4 Abilene.......... 133.9 Cullen........... 154.3 Womacks*......... 9290' siding 157.3 Phenix........... 162.7 Aspen............ 162.9 Aspen DD 168.4 Vabrook.......... Durham District 168.7 Red Hill* 9300' siding 177.4 Long Island DD 182.7 Seneca........ 9190' siding 189.2 Tabor............ 194.9 Mansion DD 195.0 Mansion.......... 197.0 Dogwood*......... 9290' siding 200.3 Hurt Conn........ Danville District 205.2 Leesville........ 209.9 Amos Branch*..... 9100' siding 214.6 Huddleston DD 217.7 Stone Mtn........ 221.4 Moneta........... 222.6 Westgate......... 226.3 Board Mtn.*...... 9290' siding 229.7 Goodview DD 231.4 Stewartsville.... 233.8 Hardy............ 240.0 Demuth........... Tinker Creek ConnectionBlue Ridge District 243.1 So. Roanoke (JK) Winston-Salem District
Legend CTC Centralized Traffic Control DD Talking defect detector Note: On Feb. 15, 1997, NS created new names for control
Listening in
72 Road & Dispatcher Channel 161.190
67 EOT devices 161.115
27 ARN (PBX-Crewe) 160.515
76 Roanoke Terminal DS/Yard 160.250
Lynchburg dispatcher, Roanoke, outside of Roanoke Terminal.
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The former main line of the Virginian Railway, the Altavista District serves as the primary artery for loaded coal trains travelling to Norfolk from the West Virginia coal fields. The Hurt Connection links the ex-Southern main line to the Altavista District. The Durham District (former N&W) crosses at Vabrook, just outside Brookneal.
