St. Paul Virginia Railroad Museum

10/31/2025

TODAY'S PHOTO from the Clinch Valley Times' archives recalls a piece of history that will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. In honor of the Santa Train's 50th anniversary back in 1992, that year's Santa Train was led by a very special locomotive. It was the Union Pacific #3985 4-6-6-4 CHALLENGER.

In the photo, the Challenger can be seen slowly rounding the curve just above the site of the long-gone St. Paul Virginia Union Depot. This magnificent locomotive had been temporarily re-numbered as Clinchfield #676 for the occasion.

Challengers were built to pull long, heavy freight trains. Extremely powerful, their dual sets of 6 driving wheels did so with ease.

At one time, the Clinchfield railway (that's how most of us still refer to it) owned 18 Challengers. They were purchased between 1942 and 1947. However, diesel motive power was coming of age, and by 1954, all the Clinchfield Challengers had been retired. Of all the Challengers that were built, only two have survived - Union Pacific #3985 and Union Pacific #3977.

There is something inherently special about a steam locomotive that's hard to define. They're almost a living thing. You'd have to see one in action to understand

10/20/2025

09/14/2025

FOR FANS OF THE N & W RAILWAY - Click this link to explore an overview of its timeline.

The Norfolk & Western was a highly profitable eastern coal-hauler that connected Norfolk with Cincinnati. It disappeared into Norfolk Southern in 1982.

09/10/2025

Would you be able to say this at the end of the day?

09/10/2025

THE ST. PAUL TOWN CREW is busy today renewing the lines that designate parking spaces along Russell Street in front of the Clinch Valley Times office. This is part of a townwide project and today's beautiful weather is perfect for the job. The efforts of the St. Paul Town Crew make our community a safer and more attractive place to live and to visit. We appreciate them 🙂

08/29/2025

We're sure you will enjoy this fine WWII account of duty and bravery written by Clinch Valley Times' guest contributors. Click this link to read it on the CVT's webpage: https://clinchvalleytimes.net/2025/08/29/anchors-aweigh/

The role of women in WWII is sometimes overshadowed by the efforts of their male counterparts. However, they did their share, did it bravely, and did it well.

Their legacy lives on.

FLORINE JEWEL BROOKS PENNINGTON – March 10, 1010 – September 25, 2019 Co-authored by her son Daniel Pennington & Sharon Pigeon ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1943, Florine Jewel Brooks graduated…

08/07/2025

DUE TO THE HIGH DEMAND and a quick sell out for our past mountain excursion trips, we have decided to offer our Famous Autumn Excursion to our schedule to give everyone a chance to ride a train through the beautiful Smoky Mountains. The Watauga Valley Railroad Museum is proud to be able to offer these excursion trips to keep the railroading history on going for history and educational purposes. This train excursion will operate on Saturday, September 6, 2025 through the Great Smoky Mountains.

Attached is a photo showing the train and a press release about the trip which starts out in Bryson City, NC. Appreciate if you could get the information in your newspaper as soon as possible since the deadline to purchase tickets will be in the coming weeks. This will also give interested patrons in your area a chance to select the class of service they desire. We always have great responses from your area. There are so many people wanting to ride a train which is very limited in the area.. These trips will give everyone a chance to ride a train in some of the most beautiful countries in the Eastern United States.

www.wataugavalleynrhs.org Watauga Valley Railroad Museum is a non-profit 501 c (3) nonprofit educational organization. All proceeds go into our railroad museum in restoring rail equipment and the Chuckey Depot Museum in Jonesborough.

Mike Tilley
President
Watauga Valley Railroad Museum

08/04/2025

THE EVENTS OF JULY 18, 2025 in Dante, Virginia were a reminder of the potential for flooding in areas with topography such as ours. Back in 1930, there was a similar flood in Dante, and you can read about it and view photos of the aftermath by clicking this link: https://clinchvalleytimes.net/2025/08/04/ninety-five-years-ago-the-1930-hospital-hollow-flash-flood-in-dante-va/

Appalachians are at their best when disaster strikes. This was true in 1930, 1957, 1977, and 2025. Let's keep it that way by continuing to "bond for survival."

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was transcribed from the May 7, 1930 edition of The Roanoke Times. CLOUDBURST CAUSES HAVOC IN VIRGINIA MINING TOWN DANTE SUFFERS HEAVY DAMAGE Six Inches o…

07/17/2025

Since 2011, I have been opening the St. Paul Virginia Railroad Museum to the public. This photo was taken during a particularly memorable occasion there in July of 2017. Stacey Sottung, a friend from Pennsylvania, stopped by for breakfast and brought her church group with her. They were on their way to a community service work site in Tennessee.

The Railroad Museum really came alive that day. We had good food, a lot of laughs, and great conversation. It's always heart-warming to meet young people who are interested in the welfare of others.

06/19/2025

PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG and help get the word out to members of the Meade family 🙂

05/31/2025

Celebrating the history of St. Paul, Virginia and the people who made it happen.