Virginian Railway bond 1971 (Virginia) - green

VA-WV coal railroad. Nice vignette of two classical male figure flanking a circular framed steam train. Horizontal format, various amounts. Folds down the center from storage. Denomination stamp into vignette as shown. Issued and cancelled. Dated 1971. Measures approximately 13.5 by 9.5 inches.

This is the green version - check our listings for other colors.

The Virginian Railway Company (VGN) was formed in Norfolk, Virginia on March 8, 1907. Combining the Deepwater Railway in West Virginia and the Tidewater Railway in Virginia into a single interstate railroad. The main goal of the VGN was to transport high-quality smokeless bituminous coal. This coal came from southern West Virginia and was shipped to the port at Hampton Roads.

On April 15, 1907, William Nelson Page became the first president of the new Virginian Railway. Work progressed on the VGN throughout 1907 and 1908 using construction techniques not available when the larger railroads had been built about 25 years earlier. By paying for work with Henry Rogers' own personal fortune, the railway was built with no public debt. This feat, a key feature of the successful secrecy in securing the route, was not accomplished without some considerable burden to Rogers, however.

Page, West Virginia was the site of a switching yard, roundhouse, and station on the Deepwater Railway and later the Virginian Railway. After the railroad eliminated steam locomotives in 1957, and the area's coal mines were largely depleted and the facilities at Page were unneeded. Mullens and Princeton in West Virginia, and Roanoke, Victoria and Sewell's Point in Virginia were other locations where the extensive steam locomotive servicing facilities and roundhouses were also no longer needed after 1957.

For 50 years, the VGN was very successful. It was known for using the biggest and best steam, electric, and diesel engines. People even called it "Richest Little Railroad in the World." In 1959, it joined with the Norfolk and Western Railway, although it operated under a separate company for many years. Today, much of the old VGN line is still used by the Norfolk Southern Railway.

Product descriptions and images
Please note that some pictures may only be representative of the inventory available.  If we have more than one piece, we are unable to scan and display every piece.  Unless otherwise noted, that there are variations for signatures, cancellation marks/holes, serial number, and dates.  Colors will be as noted and pictured.