Ralph Kidd Interview

Ralph Kidd by April Toler

"A tannery company in Narrows started the railroad. The railroad’s purpose of being built was to transport timber and bark of two trees, White Oak and hemlock acids which were used to tan leather at the tannery company in Narrows. The train ran five times a week back and forth. It only took a foreman, engineer, brakeman, and the boss to run the train.  The railroad employed mostly people from around here except for the foreman.  The railroad also operated with the mail order catalog people ordered something and the railroad delivered it. A lot of people depended on the railroad for freight and to get their mail.  The train carried passengers to and from Narrows.  I used to stay all night in Narrows. Travel down there and the next day I would catch a ride back.  The train would have twelve or fifteen cars.  There were incidents due to water and ice.  The railroad closed whenever the Virginia Hardwood Company closed."