Max Meadows in Wythe County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Railroad Depot
The railroad station at Foster Falls
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2010
1. Railroad Depot Marker
The railroad station at Foster Falls is located along a section of rail branching from Norfolk and Southern's Radford Division Line near the town of Pulaski. The extension snakes south and branches to Galax and Fries. This line, called the Cripple Creek extension, was developed by the New River Plateau Railroad Company to reach the wealth of mineral deposits located near Speedwell Furnace.The Cripple Creek extension began in 1882 and reached Speedwell in 1906, incorporating Galax. The tracks branched off at Cripple Creek and followed the New River to transport supplies to the Fries textile mill, reaching Fries in 1901. The Foster Falls section was completed by 1886, and the station operated until its close in 1956-57. In 1889 the New River Plateau Railroad Company was absorbed by the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company and became the North Carolina Branch of the Cripple Creek extension. The North Carolina extension was closed in 1985, and later donated to become the New River Trail.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas
this page online
Location. 36° 53.063′ N, 80° 51.363′ W. Marker is in Max Meadows, Virginia, in Wythe County. Marker can be reached from County Road 623, 0.2 miles west of Foster Falls Road (County Road 608), on the right when traveling west. Marker is mounted on the east platform railing of the subject building. The former railroad depot is near milepost 24 on the New River State Trail rail trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Max Meadows VA 24360, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Jackson’s Ferry and Shot Tower (approx. 1.1 miles away); River Crossing Old & New (approx. 1.2 miles away); Jackson's Ferry (approx. 1.2 miles away); Shot Tower Historical State Park (approx. 1.3 miles away); History of the Shot Tower (approx. 1.3 miles away); Shot Tower at Jackson's Ferry (approx. 1.3 miles away); The New River (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named New River (approx. 1˝ miles away).
Also see . . .
1. New River Plateau Railroad ("Cripple Creek Extension"). Construction started at Martin's Tank, a small stop on the Norfolk and Western Railroad, and headed upstream along the New River. The track
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2010
2. Foster Falls Railroad Depot
2. The Cripple Creek Extension. The line was abandoned under N&W ownership in 1985. Today, the right-of-way serves as the New River rail-trail. (Submitted on September 7, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2010
3. Foster Falls Railroad Depot (southwest corner)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2010
4. Norfolk & Western Caboose 518517
Credits. This page was last revised on September 7, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 275 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 7, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
