RAILFAN GUIDE

Florence Division

North End Subdivision — ND

The “A-line”

Richmond, VA to Rocky Mount, N.C.

123.2 miles Richmond to Charlie Baker

Radio: Road channel AAR032 (160.59 MHz)
FB dispatcher AAR094 (161.52 MHz)
Collier yard repeater AAR068 in/out, AAR032 in/out
Rocky Mount yard repeater AAR096 out, AAR012 in

Revised 2024.02.01

Legend

Notes

Note 1: Weldon (Coastal) is the north end of the double track for meets between Weldon and Halifax. The lead into Weldon yard and ultimately the Roanoke Rapids spur diverges northbound immediately south of the NEDT switch off track #2 which amounts to the siding in this case.

The Roanoke Rapids spur was engineered in the Autumn of 1973 out of the southern remainder of what is now the Portsmouth subdivision, formerly of Seaboard heritage. The Seaboard line coming south used to cross the Roanoke River over a trestle that is in disrepair immediately to the east of the 1911 Atlantic Coast Line trestle still in use, then curve due west into Roanoke Rapids on its way to Norlina. Now the stub services Flambeau Air Mold and a paper mill. Aerial photographs reveal a spectacular hairpin curve to allow the yard job to swing from a northeasterly direction around to the west.

Back at the NEDT interlocking, Coastal Lumber [DEAD] on the west side of the tracks had a short lead into their yard and there appears to be a longer storage stub off track #2 on the east side. Operating crews often call the signal at Weldon "Coastal" after the lumber company right next to it.

Note 2: 2012.11.18 — A new turnout named BX was cut in to allow southbound Amtrak trains to connect to the NS Norfolk district for new service to Norfolk inaugurated 12 December, 2012. The first Amtrak train passed through it in the early afternoon of Monday, 26 November, 2012 on a run to Norfolk to train the operating crew.

Historically, BX tower was at the top of the hill between North Collier and Appomattox River bridge where the original main line headed down to downtown Petersburg. The old main line was pulled up decades ago, but an intermediate signal stood there until 2011 when work began on this new turnout.

Note 3: 2015.10.07 — The Emporia diamond has been removed, severing the NF&D line. In late 2013 Norfolk Southern filed notice to discontinue service on the NF&D west of Franklin, VA. They will still service the industry remaining on the line in Franklin, but the only customer west of Franklin was Lawrenceville Brick in Edgerton. They received only sporadic deliveries so the line west of Franklin will likely be abandoned and pulled up.

Note 4: 2014.02.09 — Railfan history: The A.C.L. passenger station for Weldon was actually located on the elevated platform that was attached to the south end of the trestle over the Roanoke River. Stairs behind the library led up to the platform. Weldon could boast a union station of sorts with the SAL tracks turning west at ground level under the trestle to head towards Roanoke Rapids and ultimately Norlina.

Note 5: 2014.02.13 — The wye in Roanoke Rapids winds north, then curves east into the Kraft paper mill plant where NC48/Roanoke Avenue/Gaston Road crosses the Roanoke River. American Waste Systems has a lead off the spur just south of West 5th Street, but it appears disused.

Note 6: 2015.11.25 — The Georgia–Pacific chip mill on the former Virginian Railway Jarratt District, known as the CSX Jarratt spur, has closed so this track is no longer used. It had been used to deliver coal to the plant.

Note 7: 2016.11.19 — Double-track between A30.1 Reams and A37.9 Carson has been cut in. The old Carson house track has been removed.

Note 8: 2020.07.22 — The Battleboro Industrial Track roadbed is being used to extend double track north from Battle toward Bricks. As a result, the Battleboro I.T. hand-throw switches have been removed at both ends with a new interlocking named Bullock cut in at A110.69 in anticipation of the Carolina Connector intermodal facility coming online. Berry Plastics had not seen rail service in years and the Cogentrix power plant is reported closed, but the switcher and some hoppers remain in the plant lead.

The CCX siding to the east of Main 2 is designated "OTMT" meaning "Other Than Main Track" with signals governing entry to the siding. The north and south leads into the intermodal facility diverge off this CCX siding.

2021.11.24 — The CCX was officially opened to traffic, just in time for the Christmas shipping season.

Note 9: 2020.05.02 — Historic: The ACL old main line diverged at Ellerslie Ave. to downtown Petersburg; in fact, aerial photos clealy show the wye that has since been encroached by a self storage business. After it was truncated the old main was known as the “Pocohontas Lead” before being taken up to make the bypass the main line.

Note 10: 2024.01.18 — First Response Rail Service opened a railcar and intermodal container repair facility at Hahn, VA mp A73.1 in the old Georgia-Pacific facility just south of Skippers on the VA/NC state line. It is protected by a dwarf signal so trains are allowed to tie up in the facility.

Note 11: 2022.02.05 — The trestle sub-structures are being rebuilt to re-lay the 10 miles of east main between Halifax and Delmar.

Note 12: 2023.03.15 — Atlantic Strategic Minerals bought the assets of Iluka Resources north of Stony Creek, VA and have re-installed the switch and industry tracks.