Buckingham County: A New Railroad
Courtesy TrainWeb.
Over many years, Buckingham County struggled to provide railroad service for its citizens. In March of 1881, the following announcement ran in Charlottesville’s Jeffersonian Republican:
A new Railroad known as the “Buckingham Road” is to be built at once. It will connect with the Richmond and Allegheny Railroad at Bremo, opposite New Canton, and will cross James River on a bridge to be built on the substantial piers and abutments now standing ready to receive the structure. The road will pierce the slate district and enter the famous iron and gold region of Buckingham, passing Buckingham Court-house to some point on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad. The officers are F. O. French, Pres.; Jas. B. Ficklin, vice president; E. R. Leland, secretary and treasurer; R. H. Temple, chief engineer.
This vision was realized, in part, with the branch line running to Dillwyn. See:
Buckingham County: 1874, Part II
James B. Ficklin was involved with post-Civil War politics in Buckingham County, representing District 5 as Magistrate. For more, follow these links:
Buckingham Courthouse: Following the Fire
Reconstruction in Buckingham County, Part IV
slate river ramblings . . . . 
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