Station Number: 147
Code Number: 0215
Telegraph Callsign: CU
The county of Louisa was formed from Hanover County in 1742. It was named for Princess Louise,
the daughter of King George II and Queen Caroline of England. The first courthouse, located about
one mile from the present courthouse complex, was built on Beaver Creek (now the Tanyard Branch)
on the Talley Farm. One of the first acts of the Louisa County Court was the establishment of a
tavern near the courthouse. The tavern and court house became the core of the town of Louisa. In
1800 a post office was established at Louisa Courthouse and in 1838 the Louisa Railroad reached the
town. The arrival of the railroad was a great benefit and greatly spurred the town’s
development. From the late 1890’s to the 1920’s Louisa was known as a summer resort. In
addition to the Louisa Hotel, local families also took in what they called “summer boarders.”
Louisa was also the site of several schools throughout the 1880’s. In 1993, the town of Louisa
(and the station in particular) starred in the movie Foreign Student.
The first station in Louisa was destroyed by fire and replaced in 1860. That station was replaced in 1868,
perhaps because of damaged inflicted during the War. The new station was, in turn, replaced by the station pictured
below in 1899 for a total cost of $386. In November, 1923 a platform and curb were added to the station area.
In November of 1939 an automobile unloading platform was built along track number 868. In 1937, according to the
Side Track Record, Louisa boasted a 2019' passing track (track number 867), a 603' spur (track number
868) serving the Sinclair Refining Company, a 577' house track (track number 869), and a 334' set off track
(track number 870). In July, 1943 one of the spur tracks was retired. In September, 1943 the passing track was extended
and a spur track retired1. The stock pen was retired in 1948. The 1950 Industrial Directory listed a 4 car team
track in Louisa. The team track served the coal yard of Mrs. C. D. Flanagan, the Louisa Feed Service, and the
Woolfolk & Co. textile plant. The town also still had its auto loading and unloading dock. In 1956 a
crossover track (track number 2699) was built between the passing track and the spur (track number 868).
A spur was built east of Louisa, between mile posts 144 and 145 in 1978 to service the Louisa Feed Service. Agency
services at Louisa station were discontinued in November of 1979 and agency functions were transferred to Gordonsville.
In 1980 the crossover track became part of track 868. The house track was retired in April, 1991.
1 It’s not clear from my sources whether one spur (most likely the set off track) was
retired and listed twice or whether both spur tracks were retired. I’m inclined to believe that only the
set off track was retired in 1943.
Photos
The Louisa station was built in 1899 to the C&O’s 1892 standard.
This design was a hallmark of the C&O. It’s unclear, though,
whether the design originated with the C&O or the Wabash, which also
built stations of this design. The station is still standing and is owned by
CSX. Currently it is leased to the Maddox Feed Store and is being used as a
storage building. (Top photo 1998 by Larry Z. Daily. Bottom photo 1982 by Ron Huffman, used with permission.)
This view shows the Louisa station in January of 1973, as seen from
the rear of Amtrak’s train #98. (LaVerne Brummel photo, used with
permission)
This photo, taken from almost the same spot as LaVerne’s, shows the area today. It was taken by
Wayne Owen, a track inspector for the Buckingham Branch Railroad. I’m not sure what it is, but there’s
something really cool about this picture. (Wayne Owen photo, used with permission)
This postcard image shows an aerial view of Louisa. The station area looks quite different than in the
above 1973 photo. The building directly behind the station is the Maddox feed store; the building to the
left is a Southern States Cooperative. (From the collection of Larry Z. Daily)
As noted above, my sources indicated that the curbing and platform around the station were added in
1923. In January of 2010 I visited the area and snapped this photo of the curbing around the station. It suggests
that the curbing, at least, was started in 1921.
This freight house stands directly to the east of the station. The house
track once ran behind this building. A sign on the back corner of the
east end warns that there’s no clearance for a man on the side of a
car. (1998 photo)
This vermiculite loading facility stands to the east of the station. I’m
not sure how long it’s been there, but the siding has been there at
least since the 60’s. I’m not sure who owns this facility - if anyone
can provide that info I’d appreciate it.(1998 photo)
Here’s a trackside view of the vermiculite loading operation. The
Louisa Depot is to the right. (1997, Jerry Simonoff photo, used with
permission)
The C&O’s Sidetrack Records for 1937 showed an automobile unloading ramp
on track 868. During my January, 2010 visit I discovered that someone had cleared away the brush that had grown
up around the vermiculite loader that is also on track 868. Whoever it was also uncovered this platform which, I
believe, is the old auto ramp.
The C&O’s Sidetrack Records for 1937 showed a siding serving a Sinclair Refining
in Louisa. On a 2004 visit to photograph the vermiculite loading facility I found the remains of the old
Sinclair siding. (2004 photo)
Map
This map was prepared from U.S.G.S. topological maps, C&O track charts dated 1963, C&O Side
Track Records dated 1937, a copy of the Side Track Records updated through the 1990’s, and
C&O Valuation maps, also updated through the 1990’s.
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
