Buffalo Creek & Gauley rail bikes

Thanks for posting this. I spent a lot of time on the BC&G, starting I the fall of 1962. They had three 2-8-0 steam locomotives (#4, #13, and #14), and they handled upwards of 50 to 60 empty coal hoppers from Dundon, 18 miles up-grade to the big coal mine at Widen, with a stop for water at Swandale where the big Georgia Pacific lumber mill was located. All the loaded coal was down grade.Sure was a great all steam powered railroad in its day.

@trestleking posted:

The coal & timber hauling Buffalo Creek & Gauley in central WV ceased operations in 1965.  They used steam power until the end.  Much of the right-of-way survives to this day.  It has not been made into yet another rail trail but rather a rail bike trail !  You pedal these 2 or 4 seat bikes and then their "magical" motor kicks in and accelerates you to about 15 mph. Very cool !   The present trip is 12 miles R/T with an additional 8 miles being looked at for expansion. Wonder if anyone has made an O-scale car for the B,C & G ?

Rich

Lionel Hopper's.

Looks like a beautiful place for this sort of activity. Must have been a sight to behold with steam chugging along!

I can't get over how many lines are hiding out in the wilderness. I feel like I read about a new one at least once a month.

@BillYo414 posted:

Looks like a beautiful place for this sort of activity. Must have been a sight to behold with steam chugging along!

I can't get over how many lines are hiding out in the wilderness. I feel like I read about a new one at least once a month.

If you get to the southern WV area, follow the old Virginian from say, Narrows VA to Mullens WV.

Spectacular scenery and even more spectacular railroading with many high bridges, trestles and tunnels.  Scars of the Virginian electrification on many trestles.

Unfortunately the segment through Narrows and Glen Lyn is now eastbound US460