Station Number: 181
Code Number: 0301
Telegraph Callsign: MO
Charlottesville was the western end of the Piedmont Sub. Chessie’s
name trains had their consists changed in Charlottesville and C&O
trains also stopped at a Union station shared with the Southern. The C&O was
the first railroad to reach Charlottesville and its first depot there was built
in 1848. In 1858 the railroad reached the Shenandoah Valley resulting in a
tremendous increase in the shipment of goods and raw materials through the town.
The original depot was burned by General Sheridan’s troops in 1865. A new
one was built to replace it and was itself replaced in 1905 by a large colonial-style
brick depot. This station was the first of its kind on the C&O. At its
peak in the 1920’s the Charlottesville Station was handling 13 trains
daily.
The Charlottesville Station was sold in 1984 and was converted
into office and retail space. According to Garth Groff, renovation of
the passenger station was completed about 1990 and the building is now home to
stock brokers and other “suits.” The platforms were enclosed with new
wooden walls but the main station was not changed. Garth also reports
that the former Union station is also being renovated and converted
into commercial space.
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia benefitted tremendously when the railroad
reached Charlottesville. Enrollment increased substantially due to the
University’s increased accessibility. In 1855 a platform for passengers
was built to serve the school and in 1860 a siding was built to
facilitate the delivery of coal. The UVA stop was gone by 1928 though.
Other C&O Facilities
The C&O maintained a sizeable yard, shop, and roundhouse in
Charlottesville. The yard facilities included a 115' turntable and a
300 ton coaling tower. The yard was closed in April of 1986. In 1988
the turntable and part of the yard were torn up. At one point, Garth
Groff reported that the main and 4 yard tracks remained and were in
use by CSX MOW and as a place for locals to turn. Since then, the
Buckingham Branch has taken over. The coaling tower is still standing
and at one point there were plans to turn it into an apartment
building.
Photos
Charlottesville Depot
The first four images of the Charlottesville depot are from old
postcards. I can’t date this one exactly as the postmark was lost
when the stamp came off. The card, however, claims that U.S.
and Canadian postage was 1¢. (From the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
The postmark on this card is double stamped and hard to read, but looks
to be October of 1907. (From the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
The date on this card is July of 1908. (From the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
I find this card (postmarked July, 1907) interesting for a number of
reasons. First, you can see a C&O and an N&W boxcar in the background.
The second reason is the writing on the card, which was addressed to a woman
in Blacksburg, VA. It says, “Are you married, single, or a widow? Will
be in the 'burg during July, when you can reveal the secret.” I find
this fascinating. Was the author (who signed the message only with initials)
a potential suitor? (From the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
[NEW] This is an undated, unused postcard showing the streetside of the depot. (From the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
Charlottesville depot, street side. (Martha Tarrant photo, used with permission).
[NEW] Streetside of the Charlottesville depot on May 29, 1970. (Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily.)
It’s August of 1974 and it’s train time at the Charlottesville depot.
C&O GP7 5892 appears to be shifting the consist of Amtrak‚s James Whitcomb Riley. (From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily.)
The Charlottesville depot in June of 1974. (From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily.)
This shot shows the Charlottesville depot as it appeared in 1986.
(Ron Huffman photo, used with permission.)
[NEW] This photo shows what looks like the removal of the platform
canopy. The slide was dated June of 1989. (Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily.)
Charlottesville depot, track side. This photo shows how the platform was closed in
(or — actually — removed) and replaced with offices.
(December 2002 photo)
Charlottesville Yard
This photo shows the C&O yard in the 30’s or 40’s. It belongs to
the Rivanna Chapter of the NRHS. I’m trying to get in touch with
them to find out if they mind my linking to it.
E8 4021 leads a 5-car passenger train east in October of 1961. (Photographer unknown.
From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
It’s May 29, 1970 and the George is arriving in Charlottesville. (Photographer unknown.
From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
There is a lot to see in this January, 1974 photo. To the left, there is a C&O GP38 and another unit on the turntable. Nearby is B&O
GP9 6657 (ex-C&O 6107). Toward the center is a Chessie C&O wide-vision caboose and in the center is an Amtrak passenger train behind a
pair of E8’s, one in the simplified C&O/B&O scheme. To the left is a C&O GP9 with a pir of passenger cars. It must have been a
busy day. (Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
Charlottesville Yard on June 25, 1974. There’s been a two car derailment and work is in progress to get the cars
back on the rails. I know it was the 1970’s, but is that guy’s suit actually orange? (Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
It’s March 2, 1975 and a line of C&O power is waiting for an assignment.
(Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
A few months later and GP9 6214 is waiting for its next assignment with two GP38’s and an SD40.
(August 14, 1975 photo. Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
This is a view of the Charlottesville yard in July 1978.
(Photo copyright S. Peter Nyce, used with permission)
[NEW] This little brakeman's shelter stood under a road overpass so that it didn't get rained on. This
photo was taken on August 22, 1978.
(Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
This photo shows the Charlottesville Yard in September of 1979.
The coaling tower is in the background to the right. (1979,
Gary Morris photo, used with permission)
The yard is full of Chessie System equipment, including both EMD and GE power, in this photo
from 1982. (Norman Blackwood photograph. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily.)
The B&O bay window caboose right behind the GP seems a bit out of place amidst all the C&O cabooses.
(Photo from August of 1983. Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily.)
[NEW] This view of the Charlottesville yard — taken in June of 1989 — was taken at the
same time and by the same unknown individual as the photo of the removal of the train sheds above.
(Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily.)
Coaling Tower
The C&O’s Charlottesville coaling
tower in 1978. The tower looks ready to service a hungry steamer even though
there’s a 2nd generation diesel in the foreground.
(Photo copyright S. Peter Nyce, used with permission)
[NEW] In this photo from July 28, 1987, the coaling tower is no longer in use.
I’m guessing that the sanding tower was, though. (Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily.)
[NEW] It’s January 13, 1990 and work is still going on from when the
yard tracks were ripped out. (Sam Bone photo. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily.)
The C&O’s Charlottesville coaling
tower. (January, 2003 photo by Larry Z. Daily)
Turntable
[NEW] August 14, 1975: a pair of SD40’s sit on the radial tracks with the turntable in the background.
(Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
I wasn’t sure whether to put this photo here or in the steam special section. It’s a nice broadside view
of the turntable, though, so I decided to put it here. (July 23, 1978. Photograph by William R. Michler. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
The C&O’s Charlottesville turntable in 1986. (Photo by Ron Huffman, used with permission)
C&O GP7 5871 is still in its original paint on April 2, 1966. The notes
on the slide simply indicate that this image was taken in Charlottesville, so in my
first post of this photo I asked whether anyone could identify the location. Both John
Maugans and John DeLong said that the locomotive is parked on one of the radial tracks
in the engine terminal. Thanks, guys.
(Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
This photo, by Jack Spangler, shows the C&O’s crossing of the Southern
in Charlottesville. The photo is from 2013 and the former C&O tracks are operated
by the Buckingham Branch. They cross Norfolk Southern (formerly Southern Railway) rails
in the distance. (Jack Spangler photo. Used with permission.)
Steam Specials
C&O F-11 4-6-0 number 377 was part of a group of engines built in 1902-1904 for the CC&L by Baldwin. The C&O aquired 377 though merger.
She was retired in 1952, but saved from the scapper’s torch to serve as a historical exhibit. 377 is seen here in Charlottesville on June 7, 1953.
(Photographer unknown. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily.)
This 1966 photo shows on of the Southern Steam Specials in Charlottesville at the crossing of the
C&O. The C&O tracks are in the foreground. (Jack Spangler photo. Used with permission.)
It’s July 23, 1978 and C&O GP9 6258 is lending a helping hand to Southern 610. (William R. Mischler photo.
From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
[NEW] On September 3, 1979 the Southern Steam Special was powered by Canandian Pacific class H1c 4-6-4 number
2839. (D. R. McCulloch photo. From a slide in the collection of Larry Z. Daily).
[NEW] The special ran from Alexandria to Charlottesville in conjunction with
NRHS convention that was being held in Washington that year. (D. R. McCulloch photo. From a slide in the
collection of Larry Z. Daily).
In this July 1982 shot, C&O GP9 6238 is being used to move ex-C&O 2716. (Norman Blackwood photo. From a slide in the
collection of Larry Z. Daily).
Another shot of 6238 and 2716. (Norman Blackwood photo. From a slide in the
collection of Larry Z. Daily).
GP9 6238 moves 2716 onto the turntable. (Norman Blackwood photo. From a slide in the
collection of Larry Z. Daily).
One of the main stars of the N&W Steam Program was 4-8-4 611. In this June, 1985 shot, the famous
locomotive is taking a spin on the Charlottesville turntable. (Norman Blackwood photo. From a slide
in the collection of Larry Z. Daily).
Please note that, due to a huge volume of spam coming in on my email account, I’ve had to change my email address.
The new address is lzdaily@nospam.piedmontsub.com (but remove the nospam and the dot before piedmontsub.com).
All materials on this Web site are protected by United States
copyright law. This includes, but is not limited to, articles and graphics. Unless
otherwise indicated, these materials are the property of Larry Z. Daily and may not
be used without prior written permission of Larry Z. Daily
