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The Blue Ridge Railroad
Backcountry Notes ^ | February 20, 2010 | Jay Henderson

Posted on 02/20/2010 6:09:58 AM PST by jay1949

The Blue Ridge Railroad was chartered and funded by the Virginia General Assembly in 1849 in order to build a rail link between the Piedmont and the Shenandoah Valley. After rejecting a route across Swift Run Gap, the state turned to French-born engineer Claudius Crozet, one of the founders and the first Commandant of the Virginia Military Institute, determined that a series of four tunnels could be built at reasonable expense at Rockfish Gap. [archival images.]

(Excerpt) Read more at backcountrynotes.com ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; History
KEYWORDS: backcountry; blueridge; crozet; railroad

1 posted on 02/20/2010 6:09:58 AM PST by jay1949
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To: stefanbatory

*ping*


2 posted on 02/20/2010 6:15:32 AM PST by hennie pennie
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To: jay1949
Thanks for posting I really enjoy this site and the pictures too.
3 posted on 02/20/2010 6:18:20 AM PST by housemouse 1
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To: jay1949
Interesting article and website. Thanks for posting.
4 posted on 02/20/2010 6:20:29 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: jay1949
Interesting article. My GG Grandfather James Appleton and his brother built the first RR tunnel (the Staple Bend Tunnel near Johnstown, PA) in the US in 1832, but it was only 900 ft long. He was from England and most of the laborers were Welsh and Irish. It would be nice to see those tunnels restored.

Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains --William Penn

5 posted on 02/20/2010 6:56:40 AM PST by smokingfrog (You can't ignore your boss and expect to keep your job... www.filipthishouse2010.com)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

I’ve often been curious when reading your postings if this area of the country is where you got your user name from?


6 posted on 02/20/2010 7:04:50 AM PST by hennie pennie
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To: hennie pennie

I confess that my username is my familiar name, Jay, plus the year of my birth. Makes it easy to remember.


7 posted on 02/20/2010 7:14:45 AM PST by jay1949 (Work is the curse of the blogging class)
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To: hennie pennie

Actually, I’m from a lot further west in far Southwest Virginia,in the Big Sandy River Valley running along the Kentucky border. It’s about 4 hours west of Blacksburg.


8 posted on 02/20/2010 7:19:21 AM PST by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
Thanks.

LOL, whenever I see your name, it evokes an image of the panoramic Blue Ridge Mountains . .. . and then, lol, I read your posting.

Thanks for clarifying.

9 posted on 02/20/2010 7:29:03 AM PST by hennie pennie
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To: hennie pennie
Appalachian plateau in the far west is home for me:

I now live in south central Pennsylvania because of job though.

10 posted on 02/20/2010 7:35:41 AM PST by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

That is a wonderful map, thank you for sharing it.


11 posted on 02/20/2010 8:11:00 AM PST by hennie pennie
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