Upon driving south on Interstate 85 on the VA/NC border through Lake Gaston, I spotted an enormous train trestle spanning the lake. Is this the former SAL route from Richmond to Norlina or is it another Norfolk-Southern line?

-- Andrew Callo (calloa@ncsavx.ncarts.edu), July 19, 1998

Answers

The SAL Mainline bridge you are referring to is still there and actually in very good shape to have been abandoned as long as it has. I am not sure of the exact year. The telegraph poles are still intact. It is complete with everything but the rails. I was just there this past weekend 6/15/02 taking a few pictuers.

-- Frank Harris (fharris3@nc.rr.com), June 21, 2002.

East of I-85 is the former SAL Norlina Subdivision bridge (or what's left of it.) To the north was Bracey, and to the south was Pascal.

-- Doug Riddell (railroaddoug@erols.com), July 21, 1998.