Part 1 - Harrisonburg&apos;s Difficult Past With RailroadingIn 1836 the Virginia Central Railroad was extending its Louisa line, and a charter stated that the railroad would cross into West Virginia near Harrisonburg. In 1845 the route was still being determined out of Gordonsville in the bitter rivalry between the northern (Harrisonburg) and southern (Staunton and Charlottesville) routes. Newspapers discussed the certainty of the line going south, yet the company stood firm with Harrisonburg, but Harrisonburg would lose the bidding war and the line would solidify the Charlottesville and Staunton connect.

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