Princeton Railroad Museum
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
The Princeton Railroad Museum is housed in a replica of the former Virginian Railway Station. This museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Virginian Railway, the "Richest Little Railroad in the World." It has an extensive collection of lanterns, lamps, and lights as well as railroad artifacts, photographs, and art from both the Virginian Railway and the Norfolk and Western.
Images
Princeton Railroad Museum
A restored 308 Caboose.
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
In 1907, the Virginian Railway was formed when the Deepwater Railway Corporation combined with the Tidewater Railway Company. Financed completely by Henry Huttleston Rogers, the Virginian Railway stretched 443 miles from Sewells Point in Norfolk, Virginia to Deepwater, West Virginia. This railroad line took a more direct route crossing rivers and through tunnels rather than running parallel to rivers. The Virginian operated from 1909 to November 1959 when it merged with the Norfolk & Western Railroad.1
The original train station was built by the Virginian Railway in 1909 and continued to operate until 1979 when it was demolished. It featured a waiting room and served as a hub for transporting people, coal, and other goods.
Princeton Railroad Museum celebrated their grand opening on September 30, 2006. This project was community lead and funded by grants and donations from individuals and groups. The Norfolk Southern Railroad donated the site of the original train station for this museum.
The vintage caboose was donated to the City of Princeton by the Norfolk Southern Railroad. It was one of 25 cabooses built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1948-1949.2 The museum restored the caboose by fixing the floor and repainting the exterior.
The original train station was built by the Virginian Railway in 1909 and continued to operate until 1979 when it was demolished. It featured a waiting room and served as a hub for transporting people, coal, and other goods.
Princeton Railroad Museum celebrated their grand opening on September 30, 2006. This project was community lead and funded by grants and donations from individuals and groups. The Norfolk Southern Railroad donated the site of the original train station for this museum.
The vintage caboose was donated to the City of Princeton by the Norfolk Southern Railroad. It was one of 25 cabooses built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1948-1949.2 The museum restored the caboose by fixing the floor and repainting the exterior.
Sources
"History of the Virginian Railway." Princeton Railroad Museum, http://www.princetonrailroadmuseum.com/history-of-the-Virginian-railway/ Accessed 31 July 2017.
"VGNRWY Caboose 308" Princeton Railroad Museum, http://www.princetonrailroadmuseum.com/, Accessed 2 August 2017.
"Princeton Progess: Grants Help Worthy Project" Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 19 July 2008, p A4.
"VGNRWY Caboose 308" Princeton Railroad Museum, http://www.princetonrailroadmuseum.com/, Accessed 2 August 2017.
"Princeton Progess: Grants Help Worthy Project" Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 19 July 2008, p A4.