Summary main map shows central west virginia including drainage, cities and towns, the coal region, and the railroads. The west virginia northern railroad abandoned rails. The 2017 exhibit focused on the turn of the century logging boom in west virginia and the railroads that powered it. The last train to run on the west virginia northern railroad prepares to depart kingwood for the final time.
Maps showing the connections of the northern and southern. This is one or more of the class i railroads that the railroad became part of, if any. West virginia enjoys a rich and diverse history, and the railroads played a key role in the story that is west virginias history. Maps of the past, llc 531 a w hopkins st left side lower level san. Value of railroad antiques from west virginia northern. Young jr, a book that showcases the major railroads of the northern panhandle of the state.
Wvu press publishes photography book featuring railroads. This book documents the construction of railroads in west virginia, largely to access. West virginia northern railroad regional railroads. West virginia university press has published the steam and diesel era in wheeling, west virginia. From cass, consider the two hour whittaker trip in midmay on historic. Main map shows central west virginia including drainage, cities and towns, the coal region, and the railroads. Richmond railroads, virginia images of rail series by. West virginia mountain railroads sun, oct 11th, 2020 to tue, oct 20th, 2020. West virginia history volume 52 west virginia department. It, like the other timber and to a lesser extentcoal railroads that populated the mountains of eastern and central west virginia, existed solely by the online generated business along its route. West virginia logging railroads by william warden, hardcover. In a letter to the west virginia geological survey in 1916, george a. The west virginia railroad maintenance authority was formed by an act of the legislature in 1975 to facilitate railroad transportation and commerce in the state.
While hawkins has written numerous magazine articles on virginia railroads, this is his first book. You still have 2 chances to explore west virginias railroad history this fall, while enjoying the spectacular fall foliage colors. Northern and southern west virginia railroad stock certificate 1870s circa 1872 uncommon wv rail piece. Clarke moved to northern virginia community college in 1978 but continued his interest in west virginia s railroads, particularly the west virginia central and pittsburg railway.
Simply book your tickets and let the trains lead you through west virginias backcountry. Jul 24, 2017 simply book your tickets and let the trains lead you through west virginias backcountry. Author and photographer kevin scanlon has been visiting railroad towns in west virginia for about 40 years. Mountain rail adventure excursions explore the more remote regions of the mountains where even automobiles cannot access. Maps showing the connections of the northern and southern west virginia railroad, with the three grand trunk railways which unite the atlantic seaboard with the ohio river. Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, west. State rail authority west virginia department of transportation. Csx transportation is west virginia s largest carrier with 1,1 route miles of track. Today you have the opportunity to board a train and ride across some of west virginias most beautiful scenery. Abandoned railroads of west virginia home facebook. Oct 14, 2015 railroads peaked during the golden late 1800s, and well into the 1920s, before automobiles were able to navigate our mountainous roads. Larry hileman, terra alta, wv click images to view larger. Wvu press publishes photography book featuring railroads of wheeling.
Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, west virginia. In 1989, it was made a division of the new west virginia department of transportation so that its program might be better coordinated with an overall state transportation improvement. A headon collision of two trains seldom occurred, but one did take place east of rural retreat, virginia shortly after the close of world war i when wooden coaches were still in use. General map shows northeastern united states with its railroad network. You can read his story, down by the tracks in august 20 trains, where he shares the highlights. Northern and southern west virginia railroad 1873 23 x 38. Csx transportation is west virginias largest carrier with 1,1 route miles of track. From cass, consider the two hour whittaker trip in midmay on historic cars pulled by the. Cass scenic railroad is nestled in the mountains of wild and wonderful west virginia. Feb 27, 2010 this is a sample runby on the nowdefunct west virginia northern rr which operated excursions from kingwood to tunnelton wv where it connected with csx. Families big and small will love the cass scenic railroad. The twohour ride aboard a beautifully refurbished 20thcentury shay locomotive is the most popular of the. This page is about the meanings of the acronymabbreviationshorthand wvnr in the regional field in general and in the railroads terminology in particular.
Selected brunswick line trains would be extended to northern virginia. Old west virginia railroad maps maps of the past, llc. West virginia enjoys a rich and diverse history, and the railroads played a key role in the story that is west virginia s history. Amazing vignette of an early steam train with railcars with a small town in the background. Both of these canal companies saw that the railroad was much more practical transportation means because it could cross mountains and was not limited to river location. Abandoned railroads of the wyoming valley home facebook. Apr 15, 2016 4 epic train rides in west virginia that will give you an unforgettable experience.
Jul 06, 2016 wvu press publishes photography book featuring railroads of wheeling. Abandoned railroads of the wyoming valley april 10 at 5. The existence of the west virginia midland railroad was a relatively short one lasting essentially a quarter of a century. The concept of an interstate trade network, or even regional rather than local service, would require the consolidation of separate railroad companies. For him, the railroads define the town as much as the town defines the railroads.
Wv northern railtrail west virginia rails to trails. Railroads built west virginia, and still play a vital role daily mail wv. See the map of the west virginia northern railroad between kingwood junction and tunnelton, west virginia. The west virginia directory of economic development organizations lists 48 entities. Many of our railroads are thriving, and many more have been abandoned to return to nature. Wvn 1899 1991 na continued as a tourist railroad until 1999 west virginia and pittsburg railroad. Getting aboard will transport you back in time to an era when steam driven locomotives were a part of everyday life. From the late 1800s through the 1950s, west virginia was one of the nations largest producers of lumber. Railroads, in, wv, west virginia railroads, mapquest. Trips range from daylong excursions into the monongahela national forest to shorter sightseeing trips along the banks of the greenbrier, tygarts valley and shavers fork rivers. A trip on the cass railroad is packed full of rich history, unforgettable scenic views and a closeup encounter with the sights and sounds of.
Summary main map shows central west virginia including drainage, cities. In addition to the prior extensions, there has been grading along the main line for the purpose of standardizing the road and some from skelt along the back fork of the elk river. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. After the civil war railroads exploded in the us with hundreds of lines starting service all over the country. This led to the discovery of the coal and coke railway in west virginia and a fascination with the railroad, which ultimately led to a book on its history. Library of congress, map of the potomac river by robert knox sneden. The east bound train had made its regular stop at rural retreat and was proceeding to wytheville.
Railroads peaked during the golden late 1800s, and well into the 1920s, before automobiles were able to navigate our mountainous roads. The west virginia northern railroad wvn was a short line railroad that ran from kingwood to tunnelton in preston county, west virginia. Wvu press publishes photography book featuring railroads of. Chronicles the waning years of the logging industry and the equipment and operations of the railroads that served it.
The belgian window glass workers of west virginia charleston. Dec 15, 2011 this is another great book in the series on west virginia coal mining and railroads. West virginia train adventures mountain rail west virginia. Some remain, slowly being reclaimed by mother nature. This is a sample runby on the nowdefunct west virginia northern rr which operated excursions from kingwood to tunnelton wv where it connected with csx. Wv northern railtrail in april 2015, project partners preston county parks and recreation commission pcparc and friends of the cheat foc announced that ten miles of the former west virginia northern railroad corridor between kingwood and tunnelton had been purchased for conversion into a railtrail. With unparalleled scope and span, he documented the impact and. In consideration of such transfer of ownership the west virginia department of transportation, division of. All railroads recount instances of train wrecks and accidents.
West virginia railroads date back to before the mountain state was even born in june of 1863. The west virginia rail system is comprised of 2 class i railroads and 11 short line or regional railroads. At one time, trains played a major role in daily life in west virginia. Virginia central and pittsburgh railway in 1880, which followed the north. Hechmer, general manager for the west virginia midland railroad, wrote the following. Topographical map of part of northern virginia showing relief by hachures, drainage, cities and towns, counties, roads, and railroads with. Families big and small will love the cass scenic railroad adventure departing from west virginias historic logging company town of cass. Transportation in west virginia mh3wv railroads highways. Wvu press publishes photography book featuring the. Cass scenic railroad state park 218 main st, cass, wv 24927 elkins depot welcome center 315 railroad ave, elkins, wv 26241. This book covers the unique geared locomotives that moved that lumber.
West virginia northern railroad memorabilia value guide. The west virginia northern railroad was a fabled class iii short line operating for 115 years and based in the northern regions of the state. The purpose of this page is to bring to light, the vast rail lines that once crisscrossed the wyoming valley area. Freight railroads west virginia department of transportation. Norfolk southern is next in size with 801 route miles of track. It lays out the various branches and explains how and where the loads from mines were consolidated into the trains virginians unique electrics and powerful steam engines took to the coast. Morgantown weekly new dominion, 10 and 31 october and 12 december 1917. West virginia northern railroad, wvn, 1899, 1991, na, continued as a tourist railroad. Morgantown new dominion, 6 november 1912 and 5 january 1917 and frederick, cinder heads in the hills.
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