08/27/2026
🚂 A Glimpse Into Elliston’s Railroad History
The railroad was once the heartbeat of communities like Elliston, Virginia. These photographs give us a wonderful look at the Elliston train station in 1943, when the Norfolk and Western Railway was an important part of everyday life in the area.
One fascinating piece of railroad history pictured at the Meadowbrook Museum is the train order hoop. Before modern communication systems, written instructions for train crews could be handed to a moving train without it having to stop. A station attendant would place the written order in a metal clip attached to the flexible wooden hoop and hold it beside the passing train. A crew member would reach out and catch the hoop as the train went by. The hoop was then tossed to the ground and retrieved by the station attendant for the next train.
The 1943 photograph shows just how busy and hands-on railroad operations could be. The station wasn’t simply a place where passengers boarded a train—it was an important part of the communication and transportation network that connected Elliston with the surrounding communities and the larger Norfolk & Western system.
At the Meadowbrook Museum, we love preserving these tangible pieces of our local railroad story. The train order hoop may look like a simple wooden object, but it represents an era when timing, skill, and teamwork kept the trains moving. 🚂
Come see this piece of Elliston’s railroad history and discover more stories from our community’s past at the Meadowbrook Museum! We are open Saturday’s 10am to 12pm.
