Copper Creek Trestles at Speers Ferry VA

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Clinchfield Railroad Copper Creek Trestle at Speers Ferry

Clinchfield’s Copper Creek History

Both of these trestles were built to tap the rich coal fields of southwest Virginia and to haul the coal southward. The Clinchfield Railroad viaduct (upper) also became a major manifest freight line linking the north and south.

Clinchfield Railroad’s predecessor, the Charleston Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad would have built a line and bridge similar to the placement of the lower trestle in the late 1880s. However, lack of funding and a world financial panic ended those plans.

Around 1890, the South Atlantic and Ohio Railway built the lower trestle and rail line to Appalachia Virginia. This routing required steeper grades, adding to the headaches and costs required to run a coal hauling railroad.

In 1909, the Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio (Clinchfield Railroad) built the higher viaduct and routing that allowed for a railroad without steep grades. This strategy required more initial investment, but significantly lowered operating costs.

Copper Creek Trestles at Speers Ferry VA

Copper Creek Trestle’s Historical Marker

Inscription from Historical Marker:

The Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railway built the taller of the two structures which stand before you in 1908. At 167 feet over the Copper Creek-Clinch River junction, the Copper Creek Viaduct was then one of the tallest railroad bridges in the eastern United States. Construction of this trestle – and many other bridges and fifty-five tunnels – by the CC&O opened up coal deposits in Virginia and Kentucky via a superbly engineered direct rail route to numerous cities in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Prior to its completion, alternate rail routes to these markets were over one hundred miles longer and featured some of the steepest grades in the United States.

More than a century later this viaduct is still a vital link in the rail network of Clinchfield’s successor company, CSX Transportation. An average of 18 to 24 coal trains currently pass daily over this bridge, keeping the lights on in such major cities as Charlotte, Columbia, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Charleston. Northbound coal empties are returning to the rich coal seams of Eastern Kentucky, Virginia, and Southern West Virginia. Additional trains carrying general merchandise, grain, plastics, lumber, chemicals, and aggregates also pass over this trestle.

The lower bridge was constructed by the South Atlantic & Ohio Railroad around 1890 and is currently owned by Norfolk Southern Corporation. Close to one hundred per cent of the business handled by Norfolk Southern consists of both empty and loaded coal cars to and from Virginia coal mines. Contractual agreements between CSX and Norfolk Southern, though they are competitors, allow each to use the other’s tracks, so trains of both railroads can often be seen on either of the Copper Creek trestles. Note the CSX trains on both trestles in the photograph to the left.

CSX and NS at Copper Creek by Ron Flanary

Copper Creek Trestles at Speers Ferry VA

Photo and narrative by Ron Flanary

“On May 4, 2008, I was in place to photograph an NS unit coal train crossing the bottom bridge at Copper Creek. As I waited for the train to appear, I heard another rumble. It was a CSX southbound! I was hoping and praying they would appear before my lens simultaneously—but they didn’t. The NS head end passed just 30 seconds before the CSX appeared on top.

This isn’t considered “ethical” in the world of photography, but this “photo illustration” made from a combination of the two images shows what might have happened if the CSX train was 30 seconds faster. Even if it had to be created through digital combination, it’s a nice image. I could always lie and say that’s how it actually was, but I’m basically an honest guy.”

Clinchfield.org Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the Clinchfield Railroad. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Clinchfield.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

Clinchfield Railroad

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3Cs Websites

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