Railroads of West Virginia

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) is the nation's oldest railroad and more than half of its line it located within West Virginia's borders. The B&O was created in order to speed up shipping of goods from the Ohio Valley, a process that before the creation of the B&O took weeks to do. This railroad was considered very valuable. It was so valuable that both the Confederacy and the Union sides fought desperately to keep the B&O from falling into enemy hands.

As the industries of America became more and more mechanized, the factories needed more and more coal to heat their furnaces. The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad made mining in the southern part of West Virginia - an area which is very mountainous - possible. It was on this railroad that the legend of the railman John Henry was born.

John Henry Monument

John Henry is an African-American folk hero, who has been the subject of many a song, play and story. Like other folk heroes such as Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill, John Henry served as a mythical representation of a particular group within the melting pot of the 19th-century working class. (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry)

The legend of John Henry starts off with him being born big and strong, growing up to be the greatest steel driver in the world. However, with the invention of the steam hammer comes the danger of losing his job. In an effort to save his job and the jobs of his coworkers, he challenges the inventor to a competition: John Henry vs The Steam Hammer. He wins the contest, but suffers a heart attack and dies. This story is usually seen as a metaphor for the futility of fighting technology. In any case, John Henry became an important symbol of the working class and a monument in his honor was placed near Talcott, West Virginia. No one is sure if John Henry did indeed exist or if a competition between a man and a steam hammer ever happened, but today, his legend lives on.

While larger railroads took advantage of the abundance of coal, smaller railroads were built by timber companies to haul lumber. One such train is the Cass Railroad. In its yesteryears, the Cass Railroad hauled tons of lumber. But today, it hauls hundreds of passengers on scenic trips. One of its engines, the Shay #5, celebrated its centennial birthday in 2005. Other railroads that offer scenic tours include the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad, the Tygart Flyer, The Cheat Mountain Salamander, and The Durbin Rocket.

Fall Foliage Tour

Railroads helped West Virginia to grow and prosper, but they also served to help showcase the beauty of the state to the world. Even rail lines that are no longer in use attract visitors to the state. There are currently more than 375 miles of these "rail trails" in West Virginia. Rail trails are formed when communities come together and turn a former rail line into a trail that can be used for hiking,walking, biking and running.