Norman's Station was a small stop on the W&OD where a shelter, or waiting shed, stood across the road from the present location, at the crossing of the track and Norman's Station Road, now called Smith's Switch Road. These three-sided shelters were typical of many small stops along the line, with a station or shelter about every three miles. The nickname Virginia Creeper reflected the railroad's leisurely pace and contrasted with the ambitions of its founders, who had wanted it to rival the great eastern trunk lines. W&OD trains averaged forty to forty-five miles per hour, but frequent stops slowed travel, and crewmen often had to jump on and off moving cars to stop traffic with flags or lanterns at road crossings. Despite regulations, conductors also often made unscheduled stops for regular riders.