The story of Victoria Station…
In 1881, deep within the Blue Ridge Mountains, construction commenced on the Victoria Iron Furnace in the small town of Goshen, Virginia. At the time, Victoria Furnace was an engineering marvel that briefly claimed title as the world’s most advanced facility of its kind. Throughout the late 19th Century, Victoria Furnace transformed the small farming community of Goshen into an industrial hub. Iron production brought supporting industries, population, and promise for the future. Growth and commerce were facilitated by newly constructed railways and steam locomotives which hauled freight and passengers.
Goshen’s rise in the late 1800’s coincided with a period of the most rapid technological advancement in human history. At the dawn of the 20th Century the once groundbreaking Victoria Furnace was already outdated. By the early 1920’s, all operations at the site had ceased. The machines that smelted Goshen’s iron ore were themselves cut up and sold as scrap iron. The last trains to steam away from the site hauled away the very rails they rode in on. The remains of Victoria Furnace were completely abandoned to nature and time.
Now, after more than a century, steam trains are once again returning to Victoria Furnace. In 2023 the Virginia Mechanical Preservation Society began repurposing the long forgotten industrial site for a new type of industry: tourism. Through VMPS’ efforts, Victoria Station has been constructed specifically to establish a permanent location to support scenic steam rail excursions in Virginia. New railroad tracks have been built exactly where they were a century ago. Passenger boarding facilities now occupy the same space where pig iron was once hand loaded into boxcars. The ruins of Victoria Furnace are visible today in the foundation of Victoria Station.
Virginia Mechanical Preservation Society proudly invites you to visit Victoria Station during our regularly scheduled live steam events and excursions. In the meantime, please check back here to view galleries and get the latest updates about ongoing developments at this unique historic site.
An engine crew poses trackside at Victoria Iron Furnace in Goshen, Virginia circa late 1800's.
Victoria Station was constructed in 2023 at the former Victoria Iron Furnace site. Extensive excavation work was required prior to rail construction.
The main passenger loading area required acres of filler at a depth of several feet. Filler was sourced onsite from mountains of iron slag piles leftover from furnace operations a century ago.
In addition to excavating the train station area, VMPS constructed approximately one mile of two lane roadway to provide access to the site.
Victoria Station's parking area was built on the former iron furnace's iron slag dump with accommodations for over 500 vehicles.
Hundreds of dump truck loads of gravel were required for the project.
Stone was excavated to provide facades for culverts.
Stonework blends with the site's natural beauty.
The VMPS crew worked 7 days a week for over 6 months on site excavations in preparation for rail installation.
Once excavation and grading were completed, the entire site was finished with gravel. Rail and ties were only delivered about a month before the first scenic rail excursions were scheduled to depart from the site.
Railroad ties were laid out carefully to ensure even grade.
Each tie was plated by hand.
Each section of rail was laid out and checked for grade and parallel spacing.
Thousands of spikes were set by hand.
All the livelong day...
Over 1,200 feet of track was installed without the aid of modern tracklaying equipment.
Gravel was poured to fill gaps between the new ties.
While the new rail siding was under construction, the VMPS crew also landscaped about 50 acres of the former Victoria Furnace site.
A partial view of Victoria Station's rail approach reveals the project's scale.
Preparations were made to install a new rail switch, connecting Victoria Station to Virginia's rail system.
The new switch arrived with some assembly required.
The rail switch was constructed just weeks before it entered service. The dedication of the VMPS crew and volunteers cannot be overstated.
Experienced leadership moved the project forward on schedule.
Most of all, Victoria Station was built with sweat equity.
With layout complete, the switch connection was made by Buckingham Branch Railroad.
With the switch installed, Victoria Station's new rail siding was just a stone's throw from completion.
On September 14, 2023, Engine 611 steamed into Victoria Station.
Engine 611 crosses the switch onto the newly built Victoria Station siding for the first time.
Engine 611 and its short consist became the first train to overnight at Victoria Station.
Engine 611 steams out of the newly built Victoria Station with a full consist of passenger cars.
Virginia Mechanical Preservation Society offers sincere thanks to the workers, volunteers, and supporters who made this project a reality.
