NORFOLK'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving Norfolk in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Norfolk, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Terminal Station (Norfolk)
1200 E. Main St.
Opened 1912, replacing earlier station at same location, destroyed by fire

Seaboard Station (Portsmouth)
1 High St.
Opened 1894

North Portsmouth Station
Broad St. between Hartford St. and Woodrow St.

Newport News Station
2295 Harbor Rd.
Opened 1940, replacing earlier station built in 1892

Cape Charles Station
Mason Ave. near Harbor St.

Historically, ferry boats transported passengers between Norfolk and stations in Portsmouth, Newport News, and Cape Charles.

NORFOLK & WESTERN

(Terminal Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 23  Powhatan Arrow        Portsmouth OH   9:15   25   7:15
  3  Pocahontas            Cincinnati      1:30        1:30        2:40 pm
 21  Cannon Ball           Richmond        7:45        7:45
 15  Cavalier              Cincinnati      9:35       10:15
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 16  Cavalier              Cincinnati      7:15        7:50
 22                        Richmond       10:30    8   7:05 pm
  4  Pocahontas            Cincinnati      4:30        5:05        5:10 pm
 24  Powhatan Arrow        Portsmouth OH   8:00   26  11:25
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak, last train was the Pocahontas.

In 1958, Norfolk & Western began terminating trains at Lamberts Point. Between 1975 and 1977, Amtrak used this station located at 2200 Redgate Ave.

VIRGINIAN RAILWAY

(Terminal Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  3                        Roanoke         8:00 am
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  4                        Roanoke         4:00 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1956.

NORFOLK SOUTHERN

(Berkley)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  1                        Raleigh         9:35 am
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  2                        Raleigh         4:50 pm
Passenger service discontinued in late 1940's.

Used Terminal Station until 1940.

SEABOARD AIR LINE RAILWAY

(Seaboard Station/Portsmouth)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 13                        Norlina         9:30
 17                        Norlina         4:15        4:40
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 18                        Norlina        10:55        8:30
 14                        Norlina         5:30
Passenger service discontinued in 1968.

ATLANTIC COAST LINE

(North Portsmouth Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 49                        Wilmington NC  10:35
 41                        Wilmington NC   7:00
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 42                        Wilmington NC  10:35
 48                        Wilmington NC   7:00
Passenger service discontinued in 1954.

Until 1939, trains terminated at Pinners Point, with ferry boat connections to and from Norfolk. This was replaced with a bus connection between Norfolk and Portsmouth.

SOUTHERN RAILWAY

(Pinners Point Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  3                        Danville        8:05 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  4                        Danville        8:05 am
Passenger service discontinued in late 1940's.

Trains terminated at Pinners Point, with ferry boat connections to and from Norfolk. In the train's final years, this was replaced with a bus connection between Norfolk and Portsmouth.

CHESAPEAKE & OHIO

(Newport News)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 47  Sportsman             Detroit         9:20        9:15
 41  George Washington     Charlottesv.    2:40        3:15        2:50 pm
 43  F.F.V.                Charlottesv.    7:20        7:25
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 42  George Washington     Charlottesv.   11:20       10:10       11:00 am
 46  Sportsman             Detroit         4:20        4:15
 48                        Richmond        9:20        8:30
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971.

Until 1954, trains actually terminated at Phoebus, although Newport News was the station for the Norfolk ferry connection.

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

(Cape Charles)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

454  Del-Mar-Va Express    Philadelphia   12:10 pm     2:35 pm
450                        Philadelphia    4:45 pm
448  Cavalier              Philadelphia   11:15  468  11:25 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

449  Cavalier              New York        5:40  469   6:25 am
451                        Philadelphia    1:46 pm
455  Del-Mar-Va Express    Philadelphia    4:25 pm    12:50 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1958.

STATIONS TODAY

The Terminal Station was demolished in the early 1960's, a minor league baseball park now occupies that location.

In 2012, Amtrak restored service to Norfolk at a new station at 190 Park Ave., near the minor league baseball park and former Terminal Station.

The Seaboard station in Portsmouth remains standing.

The North Portsmouth station was located 1 1/2 miles from the Pinners Point ferry terminal.

The Newport News station was used by Amtrak until 1981. A "Train Station Restaurant" now exists at that location. In 1981, Amtrak moved to the present location at 9304 Warwick Blvd.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.