Eng 2180 at Radford, 1954

[NW Mailing List]

On Wed, May 28, 2025 at 7:55 AM Rob wrote:

> Hi Ken, Abe:  Well, that is the bridge across New River that goes over to
> the former American Viscose plant on the Pulaski county, Fairlawn side of
> the river. I'm pretty sure the plant built there was by American Viscose. I
> can't say for sure it was built by Viscose, because it was before my time.
> When they went belly up they sold the plant site to ATT. It's located above
> the golf course housing development area.
>

Avtex Fibers, successor to Viscose, did build a textile factory on the site
but it didn't require rail access. The plant closed in 1979 and was sold to
AT&T in 1980. I covered the stories as a reporter at the Radford News
Journal.

The Avtex plant was closed on September 28 (1979) due to various reasons.
The plant produced texturized polyester fabrics, and, because of the higher
cost of raw materials, an over-supply in the market and the older, outdated
equipment at the plant, the facility was closed.


Approximately 330 people were employed at the 500,000 square foot plant. It
is located on 750  acres of land on the New River.


*Radford News Journal*, Friday, Dec. 14, 1979


*Western Electric buys Avtex plant*


The former Avtex Fibers Plant in Fairlawn, vacant since the plant closed in
late September, has been purchased by the Western Electric Company., The
sale was announced Thursday afternoon by the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company in Richmond.


The 500,000 square foot building and the 740 acres of land in a horse shoe
bend of the New River across from East Radford, were purchased for over $7
million.


Western Electric, the supply and manufacturing division of the Bell System,
plans to use part of the facility as a primary assembly plant. When
modifications to the building are completed in mid-summer, several hundred
persons are expected to be employed.


*Radford News Journal*, Friday, March 14, 1980



The rails ended at the end of the bridge, although the line did get rough
grading through the property, as Rob says. I seem to remember the last time
we discussed this that someone said they did run an engine across the
bridge when it was completed but that was the only movement on those tracks.

Bruce in Blacksburg
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