I'm trying to model the Danville & Western RR, a nice little run down short line in Virgina, ca. 1940. I finally found a reference to the D&W having owned "[A] mixture of wooden baggage-express, baggage-mail, and coaches of former 1880-1890 era Pennsylvania RR ownership."

I'm hoping somebody can tell me what cars these may have been - either by number or by class. I would like to model one or two of them, if possible, but I would rather not just go off and make something up. Of course, it would be great if any photos exist of the cars - before or after the sale - alone with any final disposition information.

Thanks for anything anybody can provide,
Ken

Have you tried Google? Also check the library for a book called "Ghost Railroads of Virginia". A very quick check with google turned up this photo of the D&W station at Blacksburg, Va.:
spec.lib.vt.edu/imageb...lh484.jpeg

Actually, that's the station in Leaksville, NC (I think) - the D&W never got close to Blacksburg.

I've tried everything I can think of in Google search, Google books, etc. I'd be happy for just some sort of sales receipt, notation on an annual report, inventory, anything - finding information about the D&W roster seems almost impossible. I did find an equipment register from 1913 which lists car types, numbers, and dimensions, but translating that to 1940 is dicey at best, and there's nothing other than numbers for the passenger equipment anyway.

Ah, the joys of trying to prototypically model an obscure short line which vanished over half a century ago!

I thought it odd that it was in Blacksburg, was there more than one D&W?

If you know the names of the towns that the railroad served I would check with the historical society in each town. They will usually have a record with pics of trains and the depot and maybe any major RR customers buildings. Also the local newspapers are a treasure trove of pics and info, however all the pics will be in b&w of course. BTW the D&W had some nicknames with "Delay and Wait" being my favorite! A right of way and track plan map is available here:

blacklight.betech.virg...g/u5077707

I have since found another pic of that station this time saying it is Leaksville! Ahhhhhhhh, the accuracy of the "net"!

Also this site has a wealth of photos in and around Leaksville:

www.leaksville.com/

In just poking around I found a pic of #21 and a pic of the depot before and after it was restored. Also a pic of the wreck of old 97 lying in pieces at the bottom of the mountain.

Tyson_Rayles wrote:

A right of way and track plan map is available here: blacklight.betech.virg...g/u5077707

VERY interesting! Now, if only I could figure out how to actually see the map - is it available on line (I can't figure out how, if it is), or do I need to go visit the library in person?

Tyson_Rayles wrote:

I have since found another pic of that station this time saying it is Leaksville! Ahhhhhhhh, the accuracy of the "net"!

Told ya so! It's really too bad that the branch to Leaksville just disappears to staging on my layout - I probably have more info on that area than the rest of the railroad combined!

Tyson_Rayles wrote:

Also this site has a wealth of photos in and around Leaksville: www.leaksville.com/ In just poking around I found a pic of #21 and a pic of the depot before and after it was restored. Also a pic of the wreck of old 97 lying in pieces at the bottom of the mountain.

Fascinating stuff, especially the old wooden depot and #21.

As a side note, some day I want to model "Old 97" just before the wreck. Somewhere, I found a complete consist of the train, though of course I have no idea where I put that tidbit at the moment.

"VERY interesting! Now, if only I could figure out how to actually see the map - is it available on line (I can't figure out how, if it is), or do I need to go visit the library in person?"

What?! You don't want to drive there in person?
I would call them and ask if for a modest fee they could make a photo copy/copies and mail them to you.

I guess this new extension is going to be keeping you busy Kenneth:

October 26-November 1, 1947

The economic outlook for Leaksville, Spray and Draper has brightened considerably this year.

What's made the outlook particularly bright was a recent announcement by Duke Power Co. that it will build a $15 million coal-burning power plant alongside the Dan River between Leaksville and Draper. That plant will require a nine-foot dam across the Dan River to store water to be used for condensation purposes.

Since Duke unveiled plans for the plant, the power company has struck an agreement with Danville and Western Railroad to extend its line to the plant site.


And this just in:

June 21-27, 1948

The Danville and Western Railway is allowing passengers to ride the caboose of its freight trains between Leaksville and Leaksville Junction, an eight-mile ride. But this is hardly a profit center for the railroad. It charges 10 cents per passenger, and last year it took in less than $10. ...

In light of that last bit of news Kenneth you might want to consider dropping all passenger service!



These were excerpts from the Leakville News. They didn't have any photos however .