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Revision as of 03:32, 9 January 2009

The Virginia Creeper Trail is a 35-mile (56 km) multi-purpose rail trail in southwestern Virginia. It runs from Abingdon to the North Carolina state line near Whitetop, Virginia.

History

The trail runs along a right-of-way dating to the 1880's — first belonging to the Abingdon Coal and Iron Railroad Company. After investing sizeable capital without opening, the railroad company went broke. In the early 1890's the company's assets were bought by the Virginia Western Coal & Iron Railroad Company. It too had trouble and its assets were purchased by the Virginia-Carolina Railroad Company.

In February 1900, the Virginia-Carolina Railroad Company began conducting business in Damascus, Virginia. By 1912, the railroad was extended to Whitetop and by the end of the decade to Elkland, North Carolina (now named Todd).

In 1956 the last steam engine was retired from the line and replaced with diesel powered engines. By 1974, the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company petitioned the Interstate Commerce Commission to abandon the line. In 1977 hard rains flooded and damaged most of the track and it was left unrepaired.

In 1977 removal of the track began and the land in Virginia was secured by the US Forest Service for a recreation trail. The land in North Carolina was returned to the land owners.

Current efforts to secure the easements in North Carolina to continue the Virginia Creeper Trail to Lansing, North Carolina are stalled.

Riders stop at one of the high trestles on the Virginia Creeper Trail.

Riding the Virginia Creeper Trail

The trail extends from Abingdon, through Alvarado, Damascus, Straight Branch, Taylors Valley, Creek Junction, Green Cove and Whitetop. The elevation of the trail drops approximately 300 feet from Alvarado to the South Holston River and then climbs nearly 2000 feet to Whitetop.

A rare 4-8-0 steam engine is located at the trailhead in Abingdon, and several restored stations survive along the trail itself. Two railroad cabooses are also located along the trail; one is located at the mid-point in Damascus, and the other is located further up the trail at Taylors Valley.

See also

External links

Hiking trails in Virginia
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