Piney River in Nelson County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Virginia Blue Ridge Railway
Photographed by Stephen Escalera
1. Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Marker
Inscription.
Virginia Blue Ridge Railway. . This is the Piney River Depot of the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway, a short-line railroad built in 1915-1916 to transport lumber from industrial sawmills at Woodson and Massies Mill. Steam engines were used until 1963, when the railroad converted to diesel power. The railroad connected with the Southern Railway at Tye River, providing access to national markets. Economic conditions and the chestnut blight caused the two sawmills to shut down by 1924. The establishment of several mineral-processing plants nearby beginning in the 1930s created prosperity for the railroad until these plants closed by 1980. The tracks were removed in the 1980s.
This is the Piney River Depot of the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway, a short-line railroad built in 1915-1916 to transport lumber from industrial sawmills at Woodson and Massies Mill. Steam engines were used until 1963, when the railroad converted to diesel power. The railroad connected with the Southern Railway at Tye River, providing access to national markets. Economic conditions and the chestnut blight caused the two sawmills to shut down by 1924. The establishment of several mineral-processing plants nearby beginning in the 1930s created prosperity for the railroad until these plants closed by 1980. The tracks were removed in the 1980s.
Erected 2018 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number RA-3.)
Location. 37° 42.483′ N, 79° 1.376′ W. Marker is in Piney River, Virginia, in Nelson County. It is on Patrick Henry Highway (Virginia Route 151) 0.4 miles south of Firehouse Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3124 Patrick Henry Hwy, Piney River VA 22964, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont and in Central Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, 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 5 miles of this marker, measured
Credits. This page was last revised on April 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2026, by Stephen Escalera of Roanoke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photo1. submitted on March 23, 2026, by Stephen Escalera of Roanoke, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide shot of marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?
