Train No. 1 had a narrow escape from a serious accident yesterday near Curve, on the Radford division, when the engine ran into a rock which had fallen from the railroad embankment to the track.  The boulder was as large as a barrel and fell on a curve where it was impossible to see it.  The engineer threw on his air as soon as he saw the obstruction and the engine suffered no damage other than a broken pilot.  The pony trucks left the track but were easily replaced.  No one was injured and the train was delayed only about twenty minutes.

Source: Gordon Hamilton, N&W Mailing List