Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-09-30
Affairs of the Railroads.


The Norfolk & Western Railway has a
camp OF workmen at Shenandoah juno
ton sinking an artesian well near its coal
shutes just south of that place, and an
eight-inch hole is being bored with the
hope Of striking stream of water. The
company will establish pumping station
there if il gets sufficient water, so that en-
gines may take on water at the same time
they take on coal. There seems to be no
doubt that it will get water, as the Ieffer-
sonville Development Company has re-
Gently sunk four wells and got water
within fifty feet of the surface. A pump
ing station at the Junction will do away
with the one at Shepherdstown, which
has been operated ever since the road
was first constructed.
The B. & o. Railroad has almost COM
pleted the installation of an extensive
system Of automatic signals at Shenandoah
Junction. A large force of workmen has
been kept busy there ever since last
spring, and the improvement will cost
many thousands of dollars Anew tower
has been erected west of the county road
crossing, and the signals extend from al
most TO Duffields on the east to HobbS's
on the west. The system is an elaborate
one and has every modern device for &C
curacy of operation and safety for trains.
The switches in front OF the station build
ing are to be removed from the main
tracks. The numerous switches in the
tracks at this point, and the fact that the
road makes sharp curve here, have long
been a source OF trouble and danger, and
within the past year or two there have
been several serious accidents, while
others have been narrowly averted. The
new system, ii is hoped, will avert this
annoyance and danger.
II is thought that the Norfolk & Western
and Baltimore & Ohio roads will soon I'M
dertake the erection of new joint depot
at Shenandoah Junction. They own a
parcel of ground where the two roads
cross that is admirably adapted for a joint
depot, fronting on the county road, and a
station there would be great convenience
for travellers. Both roads ought to be
ashamed Of the shack now used asa station,
which is uncomfortable and poorly ar
ranged, with no convenienceS whatever.
All of the N. & w. trains have to back
into a switch for nearly half mile, and
there is great waste of time and energy
in handling the passenger traffic. A joint
depot is very badly needed there, and the
travelling public would appreciate suchan
improvement.
There is talk of the B. & o. Railroad
making a cutoff from Millville, on the
Valley Branch, to Pitchers Mill, on the
main line mile or two west of Harper'S
Ferry, and thus do away with the track
along the Shenandoah river. This would
be mighty expensive undertaking, how
ever.
The carpenters are pushing along the
woodwork of the new N. & w. depot in
Shepherdstown and it will soon be ready
for the roof. The iron posts that will
support the shed are being put in place
this week. They are firmly set in con-
crete and will last for ages. The space
about the station will be paved with Wit
rified brick set on edge, and part of the
brick are now on hand All of the work
is being done in the most substantial
manner, and the result will be station OF
which the railroad company and the COM
munity will alike be proud.