This website has been archived from TrainWeb.org/hotrail to TrainWeb.US/hotrail.

Just below is a map of the Harrisonburg and Elkton areas modified from a www.MapsOnUs.com map. Alternatively, is one modified from www.Mapquest.com. I had to add the blue lines to each; the blue lines represents rail lines.

The NS main line through Elkton extends from Front Royal to the north (ultamately Hagarstown, MD) and NS's capital, Roanoke, in the south (it parallels U.S. 340). The main line sees about 4 trains a day; if Conrail get's split, this will grow to 12 over the next three years. NS's busier main, the ex-NW track, lies to the east over the mountains. The CW branch runs west off of the main in Elkton, to Harrisonburg, mostly parallel to U.S. 33.

Once in the city, the track splits up. The track on the right side of the map, near Dukes Dr, comes in from Elkton (it winds through part of the city). The track that comes out the bottom, or runs south, interchanges with the Shenandoah Valley RR just a few miles south; this interchange doesn't see much traffic as SVRR is connected with CSX farther south. There are a few other industries on this line.

The track running west or on the left side used to run to Bridgewater and Dayton, but now dead-ends a few hundred yards out of Dayton at a local industry. The line also serves a few other local customers. The track running north goes through the heart of the city's agri-industrial businesses. Companies on this line include the likes of Rocco, Tyson, and WLR foods (all poultry foods companies) as well as Whetsels Seed and other farm co-ops. The largest feed mills in Harrisonburg receive up to 40 or more covered hoppers a day (and sometimes twice a day). This track runs all the way to Manassas, Va (via Strasburg, Va), but is out of service between Mt. Jackson and Edinburg.

Further explanation of the map: The heavy orange lines are state routes. The one that goes down the middle-left is state route 42, aka South High Street. The redish roads are U.S. highways. The one down the middle of the map is U.S. Rt. 11 (aka Main St.). The mid-map Y in Rt. 11 is where it becomes one way. Liberty St. handles southbound U.S. 11 and Main continues with North bound Rt. 11. At the very top, perpindicular to 11 is U.S. Rt. 33, aka Market Street. 'H' designates the location of the Hospital. 'JMU' shows parts of James Madison University's campus, and 'HHS' is the location of Harrisonburg High School. The red dot indicates the location of the now-abandon former station and headquarters for the Chesapeake Western Railroad. The blue dot is NS's current office.