https://www.virginiamps.org/home daily 1.0 2025-07-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/4a6cc826-dcb8-4268-befc-9b3062301d5e/DSC_8102.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/7311bd42-d2e3-4eb4-821d-be26a1b42201/VMPS+Logo+Gold+Transparent+Background.png https://www.virginiamps.org/about daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/7311bd42-d2e3-4eb4-821d-be26a1b42201/VMPS+Logo+Gold+Transparent+Background.png https://www.virginiamps.org/visit daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/7311bd42-d2e3-4eb4-821d-be26a1b42201/VMPS+Logo+Gold+Transparent+Background.png https://www.virginiamps.org/projects daily 0.75 2025-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/d8d38e82-63ed-4607-b5b2-6cbf0e0a027f/VMPS+Logo+Gold+Transparent+Background.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/f8d0642d-c10e-42d9-b52d-1a9f4212ebcc/Victoria+Furnace+2.jpg Victoria Station An engine crew poses trackside at Victoria Iron Furnace in Goshen, Virginia circa late 1800's. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/d6cb0c2e-9251-48cc-935b-f5f97606bc14/WNL_3615.JPG Victoria Station Victoria Station was constructed in 2023 at the former Victoria Iron Furnace site. Extensive excavation work was required prior to rail construction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/fced0a75-97f1-460e-9d08-12234b7b6031/LEE_8213.JPG Victoria Station 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/61992e47-1cf8-4d42-8220-47a0b15b572e/WNL_3611.JPG Victoria Station In addition to excavating the train station area, VMPS constructed approximately one mile of two lane roadway to provide access to the site. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/eab229e0-9ca8-4c7d-bfee-0270bef5cdef/WNL_3604.JPG Victoria Station Victoria Station's parking area was built on the former iron furnace's iron slag dump with accommodations for over 500 vehicles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/adcf75db-09ff-4b48-a7ca-726215048b43/LEE_9805.JPG Victoria Station Hundreds of dump truck loads of gravel were required for the project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/6d596771-9adc-4893-804a-4388f85ffd00/WNL_3639.JPG Victoria Station Stone was excavated to provide facades for culverts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/dd1fee69-0f9a-4c3f-8e27-db7aeb5678df/WNL_3631.JPG Victoria Station Stonework blends with the site's natural beauty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/7a033b77-82b4-456d-978d-fa29a462cd6f/WNL_3626.JPG Victoria Station The VMPS crew worked 7 days a week for over 6 months on site excavations in preparation for rail installation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/4f970c6f-802f-492b-bbc4-4a020774bcbe/LEE_1573.JPG Victoria Station 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. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/8031341c-a942-4ed4-9d56-a77bb67aaf86/DSC_7501.JPG Victoria Station Railroad ties were laid out carefully to ensure even grade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/e4cbac8c-1495-489b-ba8c-c6604ca5a1d1/DSC_6639.JPG Victoria Station Each tie was plated by hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/d7b9ddde-6df3-4997-bd03-5caf8836824e/DSC_7513.JPG Victoria Station Each section of rail was laid out and checked for grade and parallel spacing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/bf98e4c5-642d-450e-b298-c31bfda7d103/DSC_6940.JPG Victoria Station Thousands of spikes were set by hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/32818c23-6bfd-4738-89fd-e54d52144c19/DSC_6980.JPG Victoria Station All the livelong day... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/2ecac094-c62d-4847-bbe7-08952dde9f77/DSC_6953.JPG Victoria Station Over 1,200 feet of track was installed without the aid of modern tracklaying equipment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/b9f2cd89-ae92-4e6b-9a41-4de5b5727366/DSC_7533.JPG Victoria Station Gravel was poured to fill gaps between the new ties. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/4c29e6c6-6ed9-46d6-b849-d9fe51dacb30/DSC_7157.JPG Victoria Station While the new rail siding was under construction, the VMPS crew also landscaped about 50 acres of the former Victoria Furnace site. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/45fc0788-14ef-4979-b23e-3b78c28a4d31/WNL_3853.JPG Victoria Station A partial view of Victoria Station's rail approach reveals the project's scale. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/9239265e-69ca-4600-bedc-63dd36f15b65/WNL_3843.JPG Victoria Station Preparations were made to install a new rail switch, connecting Victoria Station to Virginia's rail system. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/d5daa265-ea6c-4b14-a176-e83218e9297f/DSC_7566.JPG Victoria Station The new switch arrived with some assembly required. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/084873f6-5c56-4909-9fc9-8be755d29d0c/DSC_7709.JPG Victoria Station The rail switch was constructed just weeks before it entered service. The dedication of the VMPS crew and volunteers cannot be overstated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/146b0c60-76a5-4bb8-a882-f7fb07caa334/DSC_7607.JPG Victoria Station Experienced leadership moved the project forward on schedule. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/ff2e9b2e-a6e5-461c-b2f3-6988611c6433/DSC_7629.JPG Victoria Station Most of all, Victoria Station was built with sweat equity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/059e01d1-3454-4e4d-ab09-eb9d0d3beaeb/LEE_2515.JPG Victoria Station With layout complete, the switch connection was made by Buckingham Branch Railroad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/70daab6c-9464-4a3d-ad4e-4ac50bd3c785/LEE_2522.JPG Victoria Station With the switch installed, Victoria Station's new rail siding was just a stone's throw from completion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/e361b670-e07d-4c79-9eb9-d463bb2ceb06/LEE_2648.JPG Victoria Station On September 14, 2023, Engine 611 steamed into Victoria Station. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/ff6763ac-5102-46de-ab68-bc79d1640600/LEE_2690.JPG Victoria Station Engine 611 crosses the switch onto the newly built Victoria Station siding for the first time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/3aa821e1-a0ef-4e33-9fd0-3c135df714fc/LEE_2717.JPG Victoria Station Engine 611 and its short consist became the first train to overnight at Victoria Station. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/9bbdfefc-d9a2-4718-b0e7-f6a36d4c31a3/victoriastation611pullout.jpg Victoria Station Engine 611 steams out of the newly built Victoria Station with a full consist of passenger cars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68687cb777a87f3f8b120c09/27b5d906-27f3-4a9a-a4c8-7ae6e64e15cc/DSC_6972.JPG Victoria Station Virginia Mechanical Preservation Society offers sincere thanks to the workers, volunteers, and supporters who made this project a reality.