N & W Montvale turn

[Anonymous]

Can anyone explain what a Montvale turn was on the N & W Blueridge dis. in the 40's & 50's?

[Anonymous]

Probably what you are referring to are "set off" trains. There was a 100-car middle storage track at Montvale (east of the Blue Ridge grade) where the practice was to to take that number of coal hoppers for later pick up. The next two Norfolk -bound coal trains would stop and fill out with 50 cars each before proceding east. That allowed for the heaviest possible coal train over Blue Ridge to be uncreased. This whole operation has been chronicled many times, including the Link books and various publications focused on the N&W. Herron Rail's Pocahontas Glory Vol 4 has an extensive video segment on the operation. I would highly recommend that whole series (All 6 Volumes) Usually, the "set off" trains were not double headed, but did have a pusher, both Y6's. The through trains were double headed with a Y6 (2-8-8-2) leading an A (2-6-6-4) with another Y6 pusher. The pushers would drop off on the fly at Dewey, Virginia and back west to the pusher siding located at Boaz, Virginia. I am not aware of any local freights that were operated as a Montvale Turn. There was a Phoebe Turn which ran from Roanoke to Phoebe, Virginia (at the east end of the Lynchburg freight line). A turn train operated to or near the place in it's name and returned to its origin. Hence the terminology Phoebe Turn went Roanoke to Phoebe and turned back to Roanoke. Hope this helps. gdc