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.