Edinburg to Mount Jackson, VA

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This Norfolk Southern line (formerly Southern Railway) runs west of the Shenandoah River, and is paralleled by US Route 11 and I-81. The line is well graded and there are several high steel bridges along the route. Further east, there is another parallel Norfolk Southern (formerly Norfolk & Western) line that is now used for all through freight.

As of August, 2003 this segment is "out of service" south of Edinburg, through Bowman and Mount Jackson (and possibly further south), but the rails are still intact. All grade crossing signals are still in place at the major road crossings. The ballast is old in some areas but is well maintained in others; there are several weeds growing along some sections near Bowman.

This view is at Edinburg facing northeast. The "main line" is in... — This view is at Edinburg facing northeast. The "main line" is intact but solidly rusted in this area. Note the crossing signal on the left is damaged. The siding at right has a modern road crossing, but it is no longer connected to the main line (switch points removed). Photo by Mike Palmer, 8/1/2003.

This view is at Mt. Jackson facing northeast. The next photo sho... — This view is at Mt. Jackson facing northeast. The next photo shows this same area in 2008. Photo by Mike Palmer, 8/1/2003.

This is the location of the original depot in Mt. Jackson, which... — This is the location of the original depot in Mt. Jackson, which was torn down in 1975. The new building on the right is the Mount Jackson Visitor's Center that was dedicated in 2003. It was built to look like an old style train station. It houses a visitor's center, town offices, town police, town library and a town museum with some RR artifacts. The first crossing right by the visitor's center is Depot Street and the next one up is Dutch Lane. The north end switch for the town siding is between these two crossings. View is looking towards Bowman. Photo by Dave Shingleton, 7/20/2008.

Another view of the Mount Jackson visitors center on the site of... — Another view of the Mount Jackson visitors center on the site of the old depot, looking south. Also visible is the north switch for the town siding and Gospel Street adjacent to the right-of-way on the right. Photo by Dave Shingleton, 7/29/2008.

This is taken from the same location as the previous picture, bu... — This is taken from the same location as the previous picture, but facing the other direction (south), towards "South Jackson". This view shows the mile post and town name. The building ahead to the left by the siding is the old farmers co-op and it has been closed a number of years. Photo by Dave Shingleton, 7/20/2008.

This is a view looking north from the Orkney Drive crossing. Thi... — This is a view looking north from the Orkney Drive crossing. This is where the south switch is for the town siding that runs up past the depot site/visitor's center. Heading south from this switch is a bridge that crosses over State Route 263 heading towards "South Jackson". Photo by Dave Shingleton, 7/20/2008.

This is a closer shot looking north that shows the north switch ... — This is a closer shot looking north that shows the north switch for the town siding just before the Dutch Lane crossing. Taken from Depot Street. Photo by Dave Shingleton, 7/22/2008.

The railroad bridge over a tributary of Mill Creek looking south... — The railroad bridge over a tributary of Mill Creek looking south out of Mount Jackson. (This bridge also crosses over a highway, as seen in the next picture.) Photo by Dave Shingleton, 7/29/2008.

The high steel bridge over VA Route 263, south of Mount Jackson.... — The high steel bridge over VA Route 263, south of Mount Jackson. Immediately to the south is a tributary of Mill Creek, as seen in the previous photo. Photo by Dave Shingleton, 7/29/2008.

The railroad bridge going over Mill Creek, south of Mount Jackso... — The railroad bridge going over Mill Creek, south of Mount Jackson. Photo by Dave Shingleton, 7/29/2008.

This shows one of two businesses in town that require a rail con... — This shows one of two businesses in town that require a rail connection, from the south. A fertilizer company and its spur, in use by a covered hopper. Photo by Dave Shingleton, 7/26/2008.

Nearby the fertilizer company, there was a pile of old ties and ... — Nearby the fertilizer company, there was a pile of old ties and further up a pile of new ones. It looks like there has been some random tie replacement here and there but there are still many bad ones throughout the line. No pattern or specific order was observed. The line over the bridge looked very well maintained unlike other parts of the line. Photo by Dave Shingleton, 7/26/2008.

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