Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad (BC&G) was a railroad chartered on April 1, 1904 and ran along Buffalo Creek
in Clay County
, West Virginia
. The original Buffalo Creek and Gauley ended service in 1965.
The BC&G was one of the last all-steam railroad
s, never operating a diesel locomotive
to the day it shut down in 1965. Its primary purpose was to bring coal out of the mountains above Widen
to an interchange with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
at Dundon.
.. Along the way, it passed marked locations at Avoca, Sand Fork
, the company towns of Cressmont and Swandale
, and Eakle. Swandale contained the sawmill for lumber operations of the Elk River Coal and Lumber Company and there was a small dairy at Cressmont. The railroad hits the end of the line once it runs into the Rich Run Coal mine's yard in Widen
.
At Avoca, the ERC&L logging line ran about 9 miles (14.5 km) out in the woods where the logging was done during the final years of operations.
After the BC&G ended operations in 1965 it was reactivated in 1971 by the Majestic Mining Company to serve a mine at Widen. The company used an Alco S-2 for power and the operation concluded in 1985. The line was then again reactivated in the mid-1990s when the Elk River Railroad, Inc. (TERRI) reopened the route to Avoca to serve a mine there. The operation lasted only a few years until 1999 when American Electric Power (AEP) determined the coal to be too poor in quality.
BC&G Consolidation #4 is owned by the North Carolina Transportation Museum
in Spencer
, North Carolina
. It operated in tourist service until a couple of years ago. It is now undergoing a complete restoration. BC&G Consolidation #13 is owned by the Ohio Central and ran in excursion service a number of years ago. Consolidation #14 is on static display in Gaithersburg
, Maryland
.
ERC&L Shay #19 is on display in Ohio. Climax #3 is owned by the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad in California
, but is not servicable.
The ERC&L's American log loader and bobber logging caboose are both restored and on display at the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
in Cass
, West Virginia
.
At one time the Elk River Railroad
ran modern diesels from Gassaway
, through Dundon and a branch to a coal loading facility at Avoca then from Dundon to Hartland.
Buffalo Creek
-Waterways:In Pennsylvania*Buffalo Creek *Buffalo Creek , tributary of the Casselman River*Buffalo Creek *Buffalo Creek In West Virginia...
in Clay County
Clay County, West Virginia
-External links:***...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. The original Buffalo Creek and Gauley ended service in 1965.
The BC&G was one of the last all-steam railroad
Steam railroad
Steam railroad is a term used in the United States to distinguish conventional heavy railroads from street railways, interurban streetcar lines, and other light railways usually dedicated primarily to passenger transport....
s, never operating a diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
to the day it shut down in 1965. Its primary purpose was to bring coal out of the mountains above Widen
Widen, West Virginia
Widen is an unincorporated community in Clay County, West Virginia, United States. It lies at an elevation of 1,148 feet .-References:...
to an interchange with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
at Dundon.
Route
Beginning at Dundon, the line ran east along Buffalo Creek to a terminus 18 miles (29 km) away at WidenWiden, West Virginia
Widen is an unincorporated community in Clay County, West Virginia, United States. It lies at an elevation of 1,148 feet .-References:...
.. Along the way, it passed marked locations at Avoca, Sand Fork
Sand Fork, West Virginia
Sand Fork is a town in Gilmer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 176 at the 2000 census. It is located along the Little Kanawha River, at the mouth of the Sand Fork....
, the company towns of Cressmont and Swandale
Swandale, West Virginia
Swandale is an unincorporated community in Clay County, West Virginia, United States. It lies at an elevation of 883 feet .-References:...
, and Eakle. Swandale contained the sawmill for lumber operations of the Elk River Coal and Lumber Company and there was a small dairy at Cressmont. The railroad hits the end of the line once it runs into the Rich Run Coal mine's yard in Widen
Widen, West Virginia
Widen is an unincorporated community in Clay County, West Virginia, United States. It lies at an elevation of 1,148 feet .-References:...
.
At Avoca, the ERC&L logging line ran about 9 miles (14.5 km) out in the woods where the logging was done during the final years of operations.
After the BC&G ended operations in 1965 it was reactivated in 1971 by the Majestic Mining Company to serve a mine at Widen. The company used an Alco S-2 for power and the operation concluded in 1985. The line was then again reactivated in the mid-1990s when the Elk River Railroad, Inc. (TERRI) reopened the route to Avoca to serve a mine there. The operation lasted only a few years until 1999 when American Electric Power (AEP) determined the coal to be too poor in quality.
Equipment
Some of the BC&G's equipment, as well as that of its sister railroad the Elk River Coal & Lumber Co. have been preserved, some in operating condition.BC&G Consolidation #4 is owned by the North Carolina Transportation Museum
North Carolina Transportation Museum
The North Carolina Transportation Museum is a transport museum in Spencer, North Carolina.The museum is largely devoted to the state's railroad history, however its collection also includes exhibits of automobiles and aircraft....
in Spencer
Spencer, North Carolina
Spencer is a town in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States, incorporated in 1905. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,355.-History:...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It operated in tourist service until a couple of years ago. It is now undergoing a complete restoration. BC&G Consolidation #13 is owned by the Ohio Central and ran in excursion service a number of years ago. Consolidation #14 is on static display in Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The city had a population of 59,933 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
ERC&L Shay #19 is on display in Ohio. Climax #3 is owned by the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, but is not servicable.
The ERC&L's American log loader and bobber logging caboose are both restored and on display at the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is a State Park located in Cass, Pocahontas County, West Virginia.It consists of the Cass Scenic Railroad, an long heritage railroad that is owned by the state of West Virginia...
in Cass
Cass, West Virginia
Cass is an unincorporated census-designated place on the Greenbrier River in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 52...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
.
At one time the Elk River Railroad
Elk River Railroad
The Elk River Railroad runs for 61 miles between Gilmer and Hartland, West Virginia and has existed since July 1989 although it was originally built in the late 1900s and was once part of the Coal and Coke Railway that ran from Charleston to Elkins. Operations ended indefinitely in 1999, though...
ran modern diesels from Gassaway
Gassaway, West Virginia
Gassaway is a town in Braxton County, West Virginia, in the United States. The population was 901 at the 2000 census. Gassaway was incorporated in 1905 and named for Henry Gassaway Davis...
, through Dundon and a branch to a coal loading facility at Avoca then from Dundon to Hartland.