Buford’s Gap

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Buford’s Gap: A Wind Gap Crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains

A wind gap, sometimes colloquially called an “air gap,” is a dry notch in a mountain ridge formed by ancient river erosion that later diverted, leaving a pass without water. Buford’s Gap exemplifies this in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the broader Appalachian system. Located in Bedford County near Roanoke, at coordinates 37°23′37″N 79°46′53″W and an elevation of 1,240 feet, it provides a natural corridor through the rugged terrain, facilitating east-west travel across the Appalachians.

Formation and Geology

Geologically, Buford’s Gap originated during the Alleghenian Orogeny around 300 million years ago, when continental collisions uplifted the Appalachians. A precursor stream carved through resistant sedimentary rocks like sandstones and shales, but stream capture or piracy rerouted the water, abandoning the gap. This process, common in the Blue Ridge, created a relatively low-elevation breach (hundreds of feet lower than surrounding peaks), ideal for traversal compared to climbing over ridges. Unlike water gaps with active rivers, wind gaps require ascending the pass, but Buford’s offered a viable route amid the mountain barrier.

Early History

Historically, the gap held significance for Native Americans, including the Cherokee, whose trails like the Great Indian Warpath passed through it, connecting to routes toward Tennessee and North Carolina. European settlers followed, with relics like arrowheads found nearby. In 1851, the Buford’s Gap and Buchanan Turnpike was chartered and completed by 1855, serving as a key stagecoach road. During the Civil War, it was the site of a 1864 battle. Today, U.S. Route 460 traverses the gap, maintaining its role as a transportation corridor.

Norfolk & Western Railway

Railroads capitalized on Buford’s Gap’s gentle grades for Appalachian crossings. In the 1850s, the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad (V&T) selected it as the first rail passage over the Blue Ridge, completing tracks through the gap by 1852 to link Lynchburg with Bristol. This route boosted coal and timber transport. By 1882, it merged into the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W), which extended to Kenova, West Virginia, and the Ohio River by 1892, forming a vital east-west line.

Norfolk Southern Railway

The N&W, now part of Norfolk Southern (NS), continues to operate freight services through the gap, handling commodities across the region.

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

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