Shenandoah Valley Railroad (short-line)
Encyclopedia
Shenandoah Valley Railroad is a privately owned intrastate short-line railroad extending northward from Staunton, Virginia
in Augusta County
and Rockingham County
. The line was originally built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
and later purchased in 1942 by the Chesapeake Western Railway
.
The new short-line was formed late in the 20th century by several major shippers, and adopted the old historic name which was not in use. It is operated under contract. The Bay Coast Railroad
was the contract operator between April 2003 and August 2006. As of September 1, 2006 the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad
became the contract operator. The railroad interchanges with the Buckingham Branch Railroad
in Staunton, along with Norfolk Southern in Pleasant Valley.
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
in Augusta County
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
and Rockingham County
Rockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
. The line was originally built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
and later purchased in 1942 by the Chesapeake Western Railway
Chesapeake Western Railway
The Chesapeake Western Railway is an intrastate railroad operating subsidiary of the Norfolk Southern Railway in west-central Virginia. It extended from Elkton on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River in Rockingham County to Stokesville in Augusta Country at the foot of the Allegheny Mountains. ...
.
The new short-line was formed late in the 20th century by several major shippers, and adopted the old historic name which was not in use. It is operated under contract. The Bay Coast Railroad
Bay Coast Railroad
The Bay Coast Railroad operates the former Eastern Shore Railroad line from Pocomoke City, Maryland, to Norfolk, Virginia. The Bay Coast Railroad interchanges with the Norfolk Southern Railway at both Norfolk, Virginia and Pocomoke City, Maryland.-History:...
was the contract operator between April 2003 and August 2006. As of September 1, 2006 the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad
Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad
The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad is a heritage and freight railroad in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It operates the West Virginia State Rail Authority-owned Durbin Railroad and West Virginia Central Railroad , as well as the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in Virginia.-Trains:The DGVR...
became the contract operator. The railroad interchanges with the Buckingham Branch Railroad
Buckingham Branch Railroad
Buckingham Branch Railroad is a Class III short-line railroad operating over 200 miles of historic and strategic trackage in Central Virginia...
in Staunton, along with Norfolk Southern in Pleasant Valley.