Norfolk and Western Railway Company

Reorganized in 1896 from Norfolk and Western Railroad Company.

The Norfolk and Western Railroad was created and organized in 1881 when Clarence H. Clark and his associates purchased property and franchises belonging to the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad Company. As a result of the purchase, the combined track length owned by Clark and associates was just over 400 miles. By 1900 another 1,100 miles had been added including a branch line to Columbus, Ohio. The company experienced little growth until after the end of World War II. By 1964, its lines stretched over 7,600 miles and included such cities as Norfolk, Buffalo and Detroit, Chicago, Des Moines, Omaha and Kansas City. By 1970, the Norfolk and Western Railway Company had assets totaling over two billion dollars. Although it had much mileage in both Virginia and West Virginia, more than two thirds of Norfolk and Western track lay north and west of the Ohio River at the end of the 1970s.

The Norfolk & Western Railway was established through a reorganization of the bankrupt Norfolk and Western Railroad in 1896, the latter company itself having arisen from the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad, a successor to the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad. In order to raise capital to pay off debt, meet its payroll and other obligations, and make continued improvements to the line, the new company issued $23 million in preferred stock, $66 million in common stock, and $62.5 million gold bonds paying four percent, secured through a consolidated mortgage to the Mercantile Trust Company of New York.

Through expansion and various mergers, the N&W grew to become a major U.S. carrier, serving 14 states. The company manufactured steam locomotives at its own Roanoke Machine Works (established in Roanoke, Virginia in 1882), and among the railroad's affiliated holdings were several hotels. In 1982, the N&W combined with the Southern Railway to form Norfolk Southern Corporation.

The Norfolk & Western Railway was established through a reorganization of the bankrupt Norfolk and Western Railroad in 1896, the latter company itself having arisen from the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad, a successor to the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad. In order to raise capital to pay off debt, meet its payroll and other obligations, and make continued improvements to the line, the new company issued $23 million in preferred stock, $66 million in common stock, and $62.5 million gold bonds paying four percent, secured through a consolidated mortgage to the Mercantile Trust Company of New York.

Through expansion and various mergers, the N&W grew to become a major U.S. carrier, serving 14 states. The company manufactured steam locomotives at its own Roanoke Machine Works (established in Roanoke, Virginia in 1882), and among the railroad's affiliated holdings were several hotels. In 1982, the N&W combined with the Southern Railway to form Norfolk Southern Corporation.