Another historic station in our area has fallen victim to fire. The "Liberty Station Restaurant" in my hometown of Bedford Va. was heavily damaged by fire starting starting shortly before noon on Sept. 18th. This was particularly painful to me, as I grew up hanging around this station. I walked past the station every day on the way home from school, and watched the end of N&W passenger service here. At the Bedford station I visited the "General" on it's Civil War Centennial tour, and watched N&W "Redbird" geeps and Southern E's and F's. I boarded my first mainline steam excursion here behind 4501 in 1966, and climbed aboard the last run of N&W's "Pocahontas" behind 759 on May 1, 1971. One of my prized possesions is one of two ticket daters from Bedford. In recent years the "Liberty Station" restaurant has been one of the best eateries in our area. Many NRHS and N&WHS members dined there regularly, in my case two weeks ago. Owner Harry Leist had recently purchased the building from NS after having leased it for many years. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. I sincerely hope that he had it properly insured so that I and many others can continue to enjoy our memories and his great food.

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=11156393

Two photos of the station from 1917

http://spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/norfol ... ns322.jpeg

http://spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/norfol ... ns325.jpeg