N&W in 1904 -- Passenger Service

[NW Mailing List]

Goes to show you that when you mess with schedules you can't please
everybody. Passenger service on the Pocahontas Division had received an
upgrade in 1904. With the opening of the Ohio Extension in 1892 service had
been provided initially by trains #2 and #7. This provided morning arrivals
in the cities of Norfolk and Columbus and connecting with through trains at
Radford. The N&W mainline at that time was considered to be the line
extending westward from Norfolk to Bristol on the Tennessee border. In 1894
that service was replaced by trains #3 & #4 and was known as the 'Norfolk &
Chicago Express'. This train featured Pullman sleeping car service which was
not available on the previous trains #2 and #7. Running over the Pocahontas
Division at night these train initially connected with Bristol to Norfolk
trains at East Radford. Later they had their runs extended eastward to
Norfolk. Daylight local service on the Pocahontas Division was covered by
trains #11 and #12 running between Columbus OH and Bluefield WV. Roanoke to
Williamson local service was also offered on trains #2 and #17. Then on May
27, 1904 dining car service was initiated over the Pocahontas Division on
new trains #15 and #16. To provide food service two coaches were rebuilt and
converted into 'Cafe' cars. So they add food service, upgrade the train, and
take "heat" in the newspaper for changing schedules.        Mason Cooper



 -----Original Message-----
From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org
[mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org]On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 7:36 AM
To: NW Mailing List
Subject: RE: N&W in 1904 -- Passenger Service


       GREAT MATERIAL, SIR GORDON!!!  THIS IS REALLY FINE STUFF!!!  MANY
THANKS FROM ALL OF US!!!  Lloyd.
  To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org  Subject: N&W in 1904 -- Passenger Service
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 21:45:00  From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org

    DISSATISFACTION WITH THE NEW SCHEDULE

    People are Clamoring for the Restoration of Train No. 11
                                            ---------
    Persons living along the line of the Pocahontas division of the Norfolk
and Western railway, especially in the territory west of Welch, are very
much dissatisfied with the train service as now furnished by the road, and
it is an open secret that Bluefield business men are far from pleased with
the new schedule.  The fact that No. 11 has been taken off, and that there
is no train west through the coal field before the [St Louis] World's Fair
special, which is almost invariably late, is causing dissatisfaction in all
quarters.  True, No. 7 leaves this city for Welch at 6:15 every morning, but
it carries no mail or express, and it does not benefit the large territory
west of Welch in the slightest.  The people of Wayne and Mingo counties are
clamoring for the restoration of No. 11, and Welch and intermediate points
are expected to make a kick for an early westbound train that carries mail.
Bluefield is ready to join Welch in any move she [woman's lib in 1904?] may
contemplate in this direction, and it is not improbable that an effort will
be made in the near future to have the schedule changed so as to better suit
the needs of the public at both ends of the line.  It is hinted that the
officials themselves are not satisfied with the workings of the new
schedule, and we learn from a semi official source that a change in the time
of the arrival and departure of trains on the Pocahontas division is likely
to be announced within the fortnight.  No hint is given as to what trains
will be affected by this change, but it is to be hoped that we will have
earlier mail service through the coal field.

    Bluefield Daily Telegraph
    June 7, 1904

    [The reporter who wrote the above article was not one to mince words]

    Gordon Hamilton


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