The Danville and Western Railroad, better known to locals as the “Dick & Willie,” once served as the economic backbone of southern Virginia. Its history begins in 1884, when it was first chartered as the Danville & New River Railroad, running from Danville to Taylorsville—today’s Stuart. Financial difficulties soon followed, forcing the sale and reorganization of the line in 1891 as the Danville & Western Railroad.
Just two years later, in 1893, the line became part of the growing Southern Railway System. By 1899, it expanded further when the Danville, Mocksville, and Southwestern Railroad merged with the Danville & Western, adding the Cascade and Leaksville line. This merger brought with it a major change: a conversion from narrow 3-foot gauge rails to the standard 4 feet, 8.5 inches still used today.
The Dick & Willie had strong leadership under Major Theophilus Parker and Colonel A.B. Andrews. In 1905, the railroad modernized significantly, replacing locomotives, buying passenger cars from the Pennsylvania Railroad, and refurbishing depots along the line. The railroad’s freight was diverse—coal, cotton, tobacco, wood, and general goods—with coal alone accounting for 75,000 tons annually.
By 1917, the Danville & Western had reached its peak. The company operated nine locomotives, 14 passenger cars, and 200 freight cars. That same year, the line boasted 31 stops, moving 2,000 cars a month. Passenger trains ran daily, while freight trains traveled every other day. Train numbers followed a careful system: odd numbers heading west, even numbers east. Stuart’s line hosted passenger trains numbered 3 and 4, while mixed-use trains were 21 and 22. The Leaksville line had its own roster, with passenger service on trains 50 and 51, and freight handled by numbers 54 and 55.
But the railroad’s story wasn’t without tragedy. In February 1908, Engine 20 derailed near Spoon Creek in the Critz area, a wreck long remembered by residents. Despite such setbacks, the line remained a vital link for communities across the region.
The Danville & Western’s dominance, however, faded with the rise of the automobile. The company was eventually replaced by the Carolina & Northwestern Railroad and later absorbed into the Norfolk Southern system.
Today, though the tracks are silent, the memory of the Dick & Willie Railroad endures. From its early beginnings in the 1880s to its height in the early 20th century, the line played a defining role in shaping the industry and identity of southern Virginia — leaving behind a legacy of progress, resilience, and connection.
Jarred Marlowe is a local resident and historian. He is a member of the Col. George Waller Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Blue & Gray Education Society, and the committee chair for the Martinsville-Henry County 250 Committee. He may be reached at marloweja15@gmail.com.
