The Texas In Virginia

Early in 1862, Governor Joseph E. Brown was very much concerned over the scarcity of salt for the people of Georgia. Salt was a necessary item for the curing and preserving of food, and as the supply dwindled it was soon subjected to unprincipled speculation. A minor source of salt was the dirt floor of the smokehouse where the meat was hung to cure. The dirt was taken up and boiled in water to reclaim the salt that had accumulated. Governor Brown sought to overcome this shortage. Since he was the Chief Executive Officer of the State owned Western & Atlantic RR, he had an instrument by which he could act quickly, and he directed the Superintendent of the Road to enter into a contract for the purchase and delivery of salt. The nearest source of salt was in the western part of Virginia at a place known as Saltville, about 30 miles east of Bristol and some eight miles off the main line of the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. There was a branch line that connected Saltville with the Virginia & Tennessee RR. Saltville was surrounded by a series of slat domes, and the salt was within 200 feet of the surface of the ground. The salt was brought to the surface as a brine which was then evaporated by cooking in open vessels. Aside from the cooking vessels and some piping, fuel was the main thing needed in order to keep the fires going, and wood was used for this purpose.

View of Saltville, Virginia.

Governor Brown, having contracted for the production and delivery of salt from Saltville, soon ran into problems of transportation. He could and did exercise reasonable control over the railroads in Georgia, but beyond Chattanooga he had to rely on the East Tennessee & Georgia RR to Knoxville and the East Tennessee & Virginia RR beyond. These two railroads were short of equipment, and Governor Brown agreed to loan some from the Western & Atlantic RR. Accordingly, early in 1863, the engine Texas with nine boxcars and a few platform cars were moved northward to the East Tennessee & Virginia RR for the purpose of hauling wood to Saltville for use as fuel, and the salt out for distribution to the needy people of Georgia. This equipment remained in Virginia until after the end of the War when Master Mechanic Flynn arranged for its return to the home rails of the Western & Atlantic RR.

It is not known why the Texas was chosen for this special duty. The requirement was initially stated for a good engine capable of heavy duty. Perhaps the role of the Texas as the real hero of The Great Locomotive Chase caused it to be selected for this important duty. Most likely it was because of the overall condition of the Texas which was good.