In 1849, Virginia began a bold railroad expansion toward the Ohio River and its lucrative trade connections. The project's plan covered 423 miles and called for piercing two mountain chains with three railroads. The Blue Ridge Railroad was the shortest of these but crossed the most mountainous terrain. At times, hired slaves, who prepared the tracks, and Irish immigrants, who blasted the tunnels, faced challenges that seemed almost insurmountable....

"Here is the complete history of the railroad that was originally built with a large investment of British capital to transport cotton from the farms of Southside Virginia to the port of Norfolk. It operated a steam powered narrow gauge branch line and Southern Railway steam locomotives during its 50-year lease to that road, then favored Alco diesels during its period of independent operation and subsequent operation by the Norfolk and Western Railway...