Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park is Chugging Along

This summer, Downtown Ashland Association will break ground on a self-guided walking tour! The Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park will include nine stops, beginning at Ashland Train Station and continuing to railroad attractions like the red caboose, steam train mural, and many more. The tour will stretch one mile from the tracks, along England Street, to Pufferbelly Park.

We cannot wait to share the stories of Ashland’s railroad heritage and our place in the national railroad scene with residents and visitors alike! In the meantime, here’s info on how the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park keeps chugging along…

Inspiration
In an effort to spur local business by increasing foot traffic along downtown sidewalks, Downtown Ashland Association’s Board of Directors dreamed up a self-guided walking tour for visitors to discover our historic train town. They envisioned a series of small parks to be educational and entertaining while highlighting Ashland’s rich railroad history. Nine exhibits will be located within easy walking distance of each other, free to the public year-round, and include interactive elements with a website and mobile app to enhance the tour.

Input
Downtown Ashland Association put the idea to the test in 2019 by holding public input sessions and an online survey. Ashland residents were overwhelmingly in support of building the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park as a placemaking feature to tell Ashland’s story. The Association gathered valuable ideas for interpretive content, locations, and design.

Approval
Following public input, Downtown Ashland Association presented a proposal for the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park to the Town of Ashland. It was unanimously approved by Town Council in 2020. Once the park is constructed in the summer of 2023, the town will take on ownership and maintenance of the nine sites.

Volunteers
Building a public park is a group effort! Volunteers worked diligently for years to fundraise and plan for the park. Thanks to their efforts, more than one hundred individuals and businesses have donated toward the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park’s construction. Doswell Limited Partnership is its largest supporter, followed closely by the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation. Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, CSX, and The Port of Virginia provided support as well.

Collaboration
Creating the interpretive content of each exhibit was a joint project of the Hanover County Black Heritage Society, Ashland Museum, and Downtown Ashland Association. We have designed exhibits on major railroad inventions and innovations, railroad workers, technological advances, and their impacts on our local community.

Construction
Our local team is bringing the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park from idea to reality! Landscaping has been generously donated by James River Nurseries of Ashland. Engineering was contracted from Timmons Group. Construction plans are being prepared by Stable Foundations LLC of Ashland. Nine kiosks were fabricated by Randy Jackson of Steel Standing in Hanover Air Park. The Town of Ashland provides oversight throughout the process.

Breaking Ground
After years of planning and effort, the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park is breaking ground in August of 2023. Sites include the 1923 train station, Tinder Guest House’s restored 1926 red caboose, a wheel truck, a Janney coupler, and America’s longest railroad mural.

Launch
Stay tuned on our website, Facebook and Instagram to join the October ribbon cutting ceremony and community celebration.

Railroad Park Awarded $25,000 Grant

Downtown Ashland Association is proud to announce it has received a $25,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to help fund construction of the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park. The Park will take the form of a walking tour and tell Ashland’s railroad story in nine exhibits. Railroad Park is a placemaking initiative to drive tourism and economic activity in downtown Ashland.

The grant brings current funds raised to $185,000—fulfilling the construction budget! Fundraising continues to meet the cost of signage on Interstate 95, which will make Railroad Park a highly visible attraction. A total of $220,000 is needed. Downtown Ashland Association asks residents and businesses who wish to support the project to visit ashlandvirginia.com/railroad for more info.

Exhibits are under construction now, and engineering has begun for site plans. Construction will begin next year in hope to open exhibits by Ashland Train Day on April 29, 2023.

Downtown Ashland, with its quaint and quirky charms, already draws visitors to stroll by the shops and restaurants along the railroad tracks and to cross over between the train station and Randolph-Macon College. Railroad Park will enhance that experience by telling the community’s story alongside the exciting evolution of American railroads. Exhibits will include the 1923 train station, a restored 1926 red caboose, the 200-foot steam train mural, major railroad inventions, and the 45 freight and passenger trains traveling the rails through the heart of downtown daily.

Railroad Park is a joint project of Downtown Ashland Association, Ashland Museum, Hanover County Black Heritage Society, and the Town of Ashland.  More than one hundred individuals and businesses have donated toward Railroad Park’s construction. Doswell Limited Partnership is its largest supporter, followed closely by the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation. CSX and The Port of Virginia provided support as well.

Learn more and add your support at ashlandvirginia.com/railroad.

$50,000 Grant to the MidAtlantic Railroad Park

Doswell Limited Partnership, an LS Power affiliate, awards $50,000 Grant to the MidAtlantic Railroad Park

Artist rendering of a planned MidAtlantic Railroad Park exhibit at Ashland Town Center on England Street in Ashland, Virginia.

ASHLAND, VA – Downtown Ashland Association is proud to announce that it has received a $50,000 grant from the Doswell Limited Partnership (DLP) to help fund the development of Ashland’s MidAtlantic Railroad Park.  The grant makes DLP the Park’s largest sponsor to date.

The proposed walking-tour park will feature numerous exhibits that highlight Ashland’s rich railroad history.  Exhibits will include kiosk signage for existing assets like the train station, the train mural, and the Red Caboose, as well as new exhibits featuring railroad innovations like the Janney coupler.  The park is a placemaking initiative to drive tourism and economic activity in downtown Ashland.

“This grant brings our organization significantly closer to reaching our goal of raising $180,000 for the park,” said Executive Director Maggie Longest.  “We very much appreciate the generosity of Doswell Limited Partnership for investing in the economic potential the Park can bring to Ashland and Hanover County.” 

“DLP Grant funding is awarded to non-profit organizations for projects that benefit the greater Hanover community” said Noreen Hill, DLP Business Manager.  “With the installation of the VDOT-approved brown signs at Exit 92, we expect the park to draw many visitors off the interstate and have a positive economic impact on the entire region.”

The MidAtlantic Railroad Park is a joint project of Downtown Ashland Association, Ashland Museum, Hanover County Black Heritage Society, and the Town of Ashland.  A Railroad Park Community Committee has been established to oversee development of the park. The committee includes members of all the supporting organizations as well as interested stakeholders.  

To date, more than one hundred individuals and businesses have donated $60,000 for the Park. The DLP grant, along with a similar-sized grant from the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, brings the total amount raised to $160,000.

“We’ve had extraordinary public support for this project,” remarked Tom Wulf, who heads up the Community Committee.  “We’ve had a significant number of park development ideas submitted through public input sessions and online surveys.  The concept of the railroad park originated with local artist Dan Bartges, and it is being strengthened by the public input process.”

Exhibit site selection and kiosk design have been approved by the Community Committee and the Town of Ashland.  Kiosk construction and site preparation is due to begin within the next few months.

For more information about the MidAtlantic Railroad Park, visit AshlandVirginia.com/railroad.

BACKGROUND

Doswell Limited Partnership is an affiliate of LS Power and owns the Doswell natural gas power generation facility located in Ashland, Virginia. Built in 1992 and expanded in 2018 to 1,292 MW by LS Power, the Doswell plant employs 29 individuals and is capable of providing energy to meet the needs of more than 1.2 million area homes in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

 Downtown Ashland Association is a community non-profit organization that works toward a strong and vibrant future for Ashland, Virginia.  Through marketing initiatives, special events, business engagement, historic preservation and more, the Association contributes to Ashland’s vitality by deploying our time, funding, and voice on behalf of the community. For more information, visit ashlandvirginia.com.

Supporting Railroad Park

Tiny Tim’s Trains & Toys proudly supports Downtown Ashland Association’s initiative to establish the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park. Owner Suzanne Hemingway contributed financially toward the Park’s construction and looks forward to greeting new visitors attracted by the Park.

“Thousands of cars pass by Ashland daily on I-95, where many get off for fuel and a quick bite to eat without knowing what lies west,” Hemingway stated. “Railroad Park will help entice visitors to downtown. I knew that I needed to get behind this, not just because of my businesses affiliation with trains, but to highlight the importance of community and advancement.” Hemingway looks forward to the positive economic impacts of Railroad Park, and hopes it will attract people who may not be familiar with Downtown Ashland.

Russel Youens, Suzanne’s business partner at Tiny Tim’s Trains & Toys, is best known for his vast knowledge of both model and real-life trains. Youens looks forward to Railroad Park to serve as entertainment, and believes it will highlight important historical moments in railroad history. “I whole heartedly embrace and support this effort to secure the Mid- Atlantic Railroad Park and plan to make a monetary contribution,” said Youens. “Any endeavor that will both celebrate trains and educate the public is more than positive.”

The Tiny Tim’s Trains & Toys team: Sonja Myers (left), Suzanne Hemingway (center), and Russell Youens (right)

The whole team at Tiny Tim’s Trains & Toys is eager to share the unique railfan culture of Ashland with travelers. “Ashland has always been a place to meet, a place to greet, and a place to share,” says Hemingway. “Railroad Park will further elevate this message by allowing people from all over to enjoy this contribution.”

To learn more and support the creation of the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park in Downtown Ashland, please visit ashlandvirginia.com/railroad.

Supporting Railroad Park

Tom Wulf, founder of WulfTeam Productions and long-time supporter of Downtown Ashland Association, is helping to enhance and promote the town with the advent of a walking museum.

Tom Wulf on location with WulfTeam Productions

Wulf served as a board member, president, and executive director of Downtown Ashland Association in the past. He now leads the volunteer committee working to establish a Railroad Park.

The project plan is to create new exhibits for train and history fans, while highlighting important structures and locations within Downtown Ashland.  Ashland Train Station, the steam train mural, Ashland Museum, and the Red Caboose are among planned attractions in the Park.

“There are so many different train and railroad exhibits here, yet no one has ever thought to group them together,” Wulf explained. “This is our opportunity to expand upon what we already have and make it greater.” Wulf states that Railroad Park would contribute significantly towards the Downtown Ashland economy, and make the town a more popular tourist site.

Video explanation of the project, produced by Tom Wulf

The Railroad Park project will take several phases to complete, so Wulf’s current priority is raising funding. He notes that Mary Morton Parsons Foundation granted $50,000 towards the project, so long as Downtown Ashland Association can raise matching donations by November 30, 2020. This funding will help buy displays and signage for the exhibits of Railroad Park. Wulf further notes that Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has approved Railroad Park for signage on interstate 95, which would be put in place after the project is fully constructed.

“We have secured over $40,000 needed to match the grant,” says Wulf. “The positive impact Railroad Park will have on Downtown Ashland is both economic and personal. These rails have been the roots of Ashland since its founding. It’s time we further embrace that.”

If you wish to donate or learn more about Railroad Park, please visit ashlandvirginia.com/railroad.

Photos by Tom Wulf