June 2024 Article (General)

June 2024

Welcome to the Nelson & Albemarle Railway Historical Society website! 

Two new additions came to the NEARHS library recently and while they had less to do with the history of the Nelson & Albemarle Railway or predecessors, non the less, they were important to general railroading history in Virginia.  Both books are by the same author, Nathan Vernon Madison, and represent locomotive manufacturing in the1800's and into the earl part of the next century.  "Tredegar Iron Works: Richmond's Foundry on the James" was published in November 2015 and while the Works was an ordnance provider during the Civil War, they had were an early locomotive builder.   "Richmond Locomotive & Machine Works, The Engine of the Old Dominion" was published in April of 2023 and both books arrived in our library this month.  This company, arising out of the Metropolitan Iron Works from the 1870's, would become a part of the American Locomotive Works in 1901 and much like the Tredegar Iron Works, produced ordnance during WW1.  Ceasing operations in the late 1920's (prior to the Great Depression).  While many small locomotives came out of the Richmond Works prior to the acquisition b ALCO, after that, much larger locomotives were built at the Works .  One item not included in this book is a roster of locomotives built during it's lifetime.  That information is well-documented in Railroad History 130 (pp. 88-99), The Journal of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society.

Separately, the compilation of slides, photographs, and negatives in our collection is still in progress with hopes to finish by late-July.  This has become important as we work toward a publishing our Nelson & Albemarle Railway book during the next year.  The separate reference will include not only the items in the collection but also published photographs that have been noted in our many articles, which have not found their way into the collection in any format (including postcards).  A full update of the photographers will also be published.

Note that  we are ALWAYS looking for early photographs (negatives, slides, or prints) from the N&A.  Finding some of the older locomotives (original #2, #3 and #8 do NOT have any known photographs yet) has been a difficult search with no results to date.  Complicating that search is the distinct possibility that those specific locomotives  may have been used or leased equipment - meaning there may never be any photos added to our listing or collection.  

Our challenge remains to find a photo of the Fairbanks-Morse motor car, "Maude", or the later purchase of the Plymouth (Fate-Root-Heath) 'critter' which was acquired when Phoenix Soapstone was purchased.  If you have anything to share, for any of the N&A or predecessor engines, please write to or send your comments to nelsonalbemarle@comcast.net

Special Thanks to Ashton of www.yourfirstpcbuild.com for assistance in site creation!