Virginia Central Porter Rod Driven Locomotive #3
Manufacturer: H.K. Porter Company, 1944
Weight: 45 tons
Horsepower: 300
The Virginia Central Railroad was originally chartered in in 1853 in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as the Fredericksburg and Gordonsville Railroad. The railroad had a 5-foot track gauge.
In 1876, the company reorganized as the Potomac, Fredericksburg and Piedmont Railroad and the track gauge was reduced to 3 feet. The line was opened to Orange, Virginia, on February 26, 1877. The company was reorganized again in 1925 as the Orange & Fredericksburg. In 1926, the tracks were converted to the standard gauge of a 4 foot 8.5 inches, and the Virginia Central name was adopted that same year.
In 1938, the entire line was abandoned except for a one mile segment in Fredericksburg which was used until 1983.
The Porter Rod Driven Locomotive #3 was built in 1944. It is a type of locomotive known as an industrial switcher. Switchers assemble trains before they leave the rail yard and disassemble trains after they come in. This process of assembling and disassembling is called switching.
The trucks on #3 have two pairs of wheels. The engine has one traction motor mounted on one pair of wheels in each set of trucks. Power has to be transmitted to the non-powered wheel sets by the use of side rods.
The 3 was last used by the Virginia Central Railroad in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It is believed to be one of only 28 remaining.
Erected by Virginia
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is February 26, 1877.
Location. 37° 16.401′ N, 79° 56.787′ W. Marker is in Roanoke, Virginia. It is in Downtown. It can be reached from the intersection of Norfolk Avenue Southwest and 3rd Street Southwest, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 303 Norfolk Ave SW, Roanoke VA 24016, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Mountain Region and in Southwest Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Depressed Center Flatcar APWX #1002 (here, next to this marker); Chesapeake Western DS-4-4-660 #662
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 586 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
