Virginia Service expansion

[Palmland]

I know not which line this was or if this was actually famous

According to the 1948 Official Guide of the Railways, no trains (passenger or freight) served that town. However, it was 2 miles from Afton, TN where a Southern Railway local stopped and 5 miles from Greeneville, TN where the local stopped as well as the Tennessean (New York to Memphis) and the Pelican (New York to New Orleans). So your family would have had lots of options for train travel.

This is the line that would have service if Amtrak extends the route of the Roanoke trains to Bristol and Knoxville.

 

[west point]

According to the 1948 Official Guide of the Railways, no trains (passenger or freight) served that town. However, it was 2 miles from Afton, TN where a Southern Railway local stopped and 5 miles from Greeneville, TN where the local stopped as well as the Tennessean (New York to Memphis) and the Pelican (New York to New Orleans). So your family would have had lots of options for train travel.

This is the line that would have service if Amtrak extends the route of the Roanoke trains to Bristol and Knoxville.

Greenville also had the Brimham special stop. Tusculum college is a very old university now. Tusculum became a college when some teachers from Washington college TN (located in Washington county TN) left WCT over differences. WCT is now a private school high school. As a highschooler visited both site that had original buildings. Those buildings apparently are gone now. TC is now apparently in Greenville's city limits

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tusculum_University

https://www.bing.com/search?q=washi...4479C07A4B6EAC53FEF&FORM=QBRE&sp=3&ghc=1&lq=0

 

[George Harris]

From Google Maps:

"Quick facts​

Tusculum is a city in Greene County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,298 at the 2020 census. It is the site of Tusculum University, the oldest university in Tennessee and the 28th oldest in the United States. Tusculum is a suburb of nearby Greeneville."

By the way, West Point, that third through train was the Birmingham Special. It was the last passenger train on the line, despite at least during the early to mid 1960's both the Tennessean and the Pelican carried more passengers.

This whole line down the valley Roanoke to Knoxville is excruciatingly slow, and that not due to low maximum speeds but to curvature, which is near continuous. This from memory, as I do not have my old TT's at hand, Bristol to Knoxville is 130 miles by rail and a run time of somewhere above three hours. Google maps says I-81 is 114 miles and under two hours. Bristol north to Roanoke is/was also relatively slow by rail. I suspect ridership on this line would be relatively low, as it would be mostly people who don't want to or can't drive and don't want to take a bus, assuming such is available. Doubt there is much if anything in the way of flights except maybe Knoxville to DC or NY.

 

[west point]

Tennessean Knoxville - Bristol = 3:05 :15 layover Bristol - Roanoke = 3:37
130,7 miles 151.1 miles
most time lost at Bulls gap ~~ 20 miles east of Morristown.

Note: These times are when the train was still heavy mail with 1 RPO, 2 - 4 storage mail, 2-4 REX cars. 2 - 3 coaches, diner, 4 Pullmans with 2 off at Bristol.

 

[Willbridge]

Greenville also had the Brimham special stop. Tusculum college is a very old university now. Tusculum became a college when some teachers from Washington college TN (located in Washington county TN) left WCT over differences. WCT is now a private school high school. As a highschooler visited both site that had original buildings. Those buildings apparently are gone now. TC is now apparently in Greenville's city limits

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tusculum_University

https://www.bing.com/search?q=washi...4479C07A4B6EAC53FEF&FORM=QBRE&sp=3&ghc=1&lq=0

I looked up Tusculum in the convenient November 1943 Official National Motor Coach Guide and found it listed as Tusculum College, ten minutes west of Greeneville, served by Tennessee Coach Company. It was on their route between Bristol and Knoxville. It had 17 weekday departures and 15 on Sundays. There was an agent at the college stop.

 

[west point]

Willbridge how doe the TCC schedules compare to SOU TT's times? BTW Tusculum is east of Greenville. Tusculum was serviced by SOU locals 1 & 4 Knoxville <> Bristol. heavy on mail, Storage mail and REA express.

http://www.streamlinerschedules.com/concourse/track1/birmspecial194112.html

 

[Willbridge]

Willbridge how doe the TCC schedules compare to SOU TT's times? BTW Tusculum is east of Greenville. Tusculum was serviced by SOU locals 1 & 4 Knoxville <> Bristol. heavy on mail, Storage mail and REA express.

http://www.streamlinerschedules.com/concourse/track1/birmspecial194112.html

All buses made all stops. The typical trip between Bristol and Knoxville was around five hours. The fastest trips were after midnight (4:40 / 4:45). There was a low wartime speed limit, but the stops were so close together that it probably didn't matter.

 

[jasminvirgelzaa72]

Greenville also had the Brimham special stop. Tusculum college is a very old university now. Tusculum became a college when some teachers from Washington college TN (located in Washington county TN) left WCT over differences. WCT is now a private school high school. As a highschooler visited both site that had original buildings. Those buildings apparently are gone now. TC is now apparently in Greenville's city limits

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tusculum_University

https://www.bing.com/search?q=washi...4479C07A4B6EAC53FEF&FORM=QBRE&sp=3&ghc=1&lq=0

It's cool that you can study there under a special program. Not every college/university has this. For example, I study to be a marketer, but I also train with a football team and play for the university. Because of this, I don't have enough time to study. I often use a writing service for help, I use https://edubirdie.com/dissertation-writing-services for this. I don't have a sports department. I have to somehow combine studying with training (so far it's not going well).

I googled it, Tusculum college looks really nice. Wow, it was founded in 1794.

 

[west point]

Some thoughts on expansion to Bristol.
1. it is ~ 151 rail miles from Roanoke - Bristol Best N&W rail time ~ 4:00 with 7 stops mostly flag stops,
Air miles ~ 132: car miles 148 due to interstate double back at ROA. Measuring points different so will go by rail miles.
2. Due to many sidings now removed would expect Amtrak times would be at least 4:30. Probably 4:45 even not having to handle mail that the N&W trains did.
3. The final Amtrak RR time needs to be just under 2:00
4. VA DOT each year could install an average of 12 miles of 110 - 125 MPH grade separated replacement trackage connecting to the present slow track average of 37.5 MPH.
4. Each 12 mile section would save ~13 minutes with one stop. That is not counting a mile or so straightening off the present N&W tracks.
5. 5 sections would save ~1:00+
6. So, in 13 years after completion of construction with 4 - 7 stops the enroute time would be somewhat less than 1:35.
7. Each section should be graded and bridged for 2 main tracks similar to how Brightline did from Cocoa to Orlando.
8. These sections should start construction at the 1/3, 2/3 points or the 1/2, 1/4, 3/4 points locations of the route to allow passenger trains to pass or get by slower freights.

Have no idea how long it now takes NS IM trains but if they could travel this improvement. suspect reduction of ~~ 5:30 to 2:30.

Did not consider the Radford - Roanoke sections to be among first to receive this work as it is somewhat faster and could wait till the last few years.