From the fabulous 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis comes this classic song performed by the incredible Judy Garland.
"Clang, clang, clang" went the trolley
"Ding, ding, ding" went the bell
"Zing, zing, zing" went my heartstrings
For the moment I saw him I fell
"Chug, chug, chug" went the motor
"Bump, bump, bump" went the brake
"Thump, thump, thump" went my heartstrings
When he smiled, I could feel the car shake
At one time Radford was divided into two parts, east and west, because it was divided by a large ravine called Connelly's Run which is part of today's Wildwood Park. The two sections were connected partly by the railroad along New River. In 1894, the first bridge was built across Connelly's Run for a trolley line and horse and buggy traffic. During construction, several workmen fell to their deaths when a temporary wooden scaffold came apart.
About forty years later the trolley bridge was replaced by filling in the ravine with earth and stone from several nearby quarries. This is where Main Street crosses today. The large tunnel you see was built to connect Wildwood Park and Bissett Park with a biking and walking trail. When excavation for the tunnel began in 2003, the old metal trolley bridge was found still standing upright under all the fill.
As you stand near the tunnel listen very carefully for Judy Garland singing The Trolley Song from the early days of the twentieth century in Radford, VA
The trails through Wildwood Park can be steep at some places so be sure to wear good walking shoes. After parking at the main entrance to Wildwood Park, you can take the scenic route by using the paved path and the bridge, or you can quickly reach this section of the park by taking the sidewalk in front of the National Bank and walk to the end of the block where you will find a side entrance to the park. The park is closed after dark.