West virginia logging railroads by william warden alibris. The battle of lewisburg featured on civil war books and authors blog civil war books and authors, 11172017 featured titles. The cass scenic railroad climbs the mountain on switchbacks just like it did when they hauled timber down that same railroad. The cass scenic railroad began as a logging train, part of the west virginias early 20thcentury lumber industry. A part of west virginia university, we publish books and scholarly journals by authors around the world, with a particular emphasis on appalachian studies, history, higher education, the social sciences, and interdisciplinary books about energy, environment, and. West virginia adventure by rails via the cass scenic railroad and new. Johnson newlon camden and henry gassaway davis were the two men that were the driving forces behind these railroads. Coal mining and lumbering, of course, tie in directly with most west virginia railroads. West virginia university press is the only university press, and the largest publisher of any kind, in the state of west virginia. This fifth volume in the west virginia railroads series is a general history of the geared shay, climax, and heisler type locomotives that were so prevalent in west virginia logging operations in the era from the 1890s through the 1950s. If you are a rail fan, you will love west virginia. The virginian operated a 6 mile electrified mainline, much of it through its west virginia territory, which improved operations over steam.
Home used books west virginia railroads railroading in the mountain state vol 1. Map, available online, railroads, west virginia library. Tours, activities and experiences bookable on tripadvisor, ranked using exclusive tripadvisor data. The shay locomotives that pull the cass scenic railroad train today used to haul logs and finished lumber along remote rail lines. Whether you are satisfying your wild side or simply looking for a relaxing time with the family, one of the following tourist trains excursions will have something just for you. On april 15, 1907, william nelson page became the first president of the new virginian railway. Collections west virginia and regional history center. As a child during the great depression, young began to photograph railroads in wheeling, west virginia. Logging railroads of the west by adams, kramer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The west virginia department of transportation wvdot has developed a state rail plan which is intended to serve as a framework for the states rail freight and passenger transportation planning activities and project development plan over the next 20 years. Simply book your tickets and let the trains lead you through west. Cass scenic railroad west virginia railroads model.
In this image you can see three 40foot exmeadow river lumber cars built between 1935 and 1942. Near clifftop, west virginia route 41 parallels the old rightofway for a half mile as it bypasses the town. Many of these railroads played a vital role in both developing virginia and seeing it prosper, such as serving the port of norfolknewport news in the southeast and tapping the states rich coal reserves to the west. From the late 1800s through the 1950s, west virginia was one of the nations largest producers of lumber. Chronicles the waning years of the logging industry and the equipment and operations of the railroads that served it. This was the first mallet locomotive to come up the c and o greenbrier division.
West virginia railroads date back to before the mountain state was even born in june of 1863. West virginia train adventures mountain rail west virginia. Coal, industry, labor, railroads, transportation west. West virginia offers numerous tourist trains throughout the state. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. 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. Middle atlantic area showing drainage, cities and towns, county boundaries, coal in west virginia and the railroads with emphasis on the main line. Built late in the railway era, it was intended for the almost exclusive haulage of coal from west virginia mines to norfolk, virginia. Looking for ghosts in west virginia trains magazine.
The plan is available for download as a pdf file 7 mb. This is a listing of cemeteries in ritchie county, west virginia. This fourth volume in the west virginia railroads series tells the story of the virginian railway within the state. West virginia logging railroads 9781883089030 by warden, william and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Mountain rail adventure excursions explore the more remote regions of the mountains where even automobiles cannot access. Ebook online virginia railroads volume 1 railroading in the old dominion free boook online. Coverage is also included for other railroads that crossed or interchanged with. Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, west. But over time a tidal wave of consolidations and mergers dramatically reduced their number. Ritchie county, west virginia cemeteries through 1993. This book outlines the history of railroading in west virginia fro. The steam powered shay and other geared locomotives of cass relive an era when steam locomotives were an essential part of everyday life. Jsm, rf5 ritchie county, west virginia history and romance. The best west virginia scenic railroads with photos tripadvisor.
The railroads, of course, have always played an important role in picking up coal and delivering it to market. This is one or more of the class i railroads that the railroad became part of, if any. This book documents the construction of railroads in west virginia, largely to access the untouched stands of timber in such counties as upshur, webster, nicholas, and randolph. It lays out the various branches and explains how and where the loads from. Included are overview histories of each type of engine followed by chapters showing photos of the engines as they were being used in woods in large and small.
Product information this fourth volume in the west virginia railroads series tells the story of the virginian railway within the state. This book covers the unique geared locomotives that moved that lumber including the shay, climax and heisler, designed to. The pennsylvania railroad company was the largest railroad in the united states in terms of corporate assets and traffic from the last quarter of the nineteenth century until the decline of the northeasts and midwests dominance of manufacturing. Tourist trains west virginia department of transportation.
Like vol 1 and vol 2, timko has teamed up with photographer everett young to provide another upclose and in the hollers look at the coal fields, this time in west virginia. Couple all of this with the mountain states wildly popular cass scenic railroad and west virginia offers an appalachian railroading experience that is something. West virginia once had dozens of railroads of varying lengths, some long and many short. This is another great book in the series on west virginia coal mining and railroads. Smaller sections cover the new york central, short lines, logging railroads, and others that had only a smaller presence in the state. Upon arriving in 1972, many were converted into passenger cars that we still use on the mountain. Most photos range from 1972 to the late 1980s and show heavy trains powered by multiple locomotives. Railroads built west virginia, and still play a vital role. History from the hollows of wayne county, west virginia and the coming of the. In addition to long coal trains, youll also see lots of mixed freight trains. Today, you can ride the rails from cass to bald knob, a four and onehalf hour round trip from cass.