(The following article by Chip Jones was posted on the Richmond
RICHMOND, Va. — As Steve Powell watched two red and gray locomotives round a bend in northern Hanover County, he cracked a smile.
“It’s really just a relief to be out here because it’s been a year in the works,” he said.
Powell was referring to the expansion of Dillwyn-based Buckingham Branch Railroad, which yesterday took over operations for CSX Corp. on nearly 200 miles of track across Virginia.
Powell, assistant vice president and general manager of Buckingham Branch, was visiting the rail yard in Doswell to supervise the first train movements under the new arrangement with CSX.
The sound of hissing brakes and a ringing bell filled the air as a Buckingham Branch train delivered a load of pine logs to a MeadWestvaco Corp. wood yard.
By day’s end, Powell expected that his trains would serve many of the estimated 30 industrial clients on a backwoods rail line from Richmond through Hanover County, and west to Charlottesville, Staunton and Clifton Forge.
The deal marks a big step – and some risk – for Buckingham Branch, which for about 25 years has served a 17.3-mile-long stretch of railroad in Buckingham County.