N&W in 1907 -- Spice Creek Branch

[NW Mailing List]

I suspect, but can't prove, that a lumber railroad was built up Spice Creek, before the N&W built their branch line.

Roderfield was named after Dr. W. Roderfield Iaeger and was probably started as a community when the N&W Railroad reached the location in 1891.  At that time Dr. Iaeger started a saw mill, known as Iaeger and Brothers, at the mouth of Spice Creek.  I think it was later leased to Sudduth & Baily Lumber Company who had lumber mills at Roderfield, Hensley and Welch



Premier Pocahontas owned 762 acres near the head of Spice Creek and did open four collieries.  The Company later became part of Royalty Smokeless.



Eventually the Spice Creek Branch would serve 9 mining operations of four different mining companies.  The mining companies actually changed hands a number of times through the years.  



Some rails,  a mile post markers and a highway crossing signal are still in place along the branch as it parallels highway US 52.     



Alex Schust

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NW Mailing List 
  To: N&W Mailing 2List 
  Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 4:55 PM
  Subject: N&W in 1907 -- Spice Creek Branch


  IN CITY AND COALFIELD
  ------
      S. H. Meem, engineer in charge, is authority for the statement that the Premier Pocahontas Collieries Company will construct a railroad from Roderfield on the Norfolk and Western railway, up Spice creek, a distance of four and one-half miles, to develop 4,000 [blurred; could be 1,000] acres of Pocahontas coal.  Four coal operations will be established.  Norfolk and Western equipment will be used.

  Bluefield Daily Telegraph
  August 31, 1907

  [The Website http://www.state.wv.us/mhst/coresults.cfm?company=Premier%2DPocahontas%20Coll%27s%20Co
  shows the initial tonnage of this company was in 1909 and the final tonnage in 1953.]

  Gordon Hamilton


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