Winchester and Western Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Winchester and Western Railroad is a shortline railroad
operating from Gore
through Winchester, Virginia
and West Virginia
to Hagerstown, Maryland
. It also operates several lines in southern New Jersey
, connecting to Conrail Shared Assets Operations
at Millville and Vineland. The company's original line opened in 1917, extending west from Winchester to Rock Enon Springs, and it went through several reorganizations, remaining independent of larger carriers. In 1986, Conrail sold to the W&W the ex-Pennsylvania Railroad
line from Winchester to Hagerstown, as well as most of the W&W's New Jersey trackage (ex-Pennsylvania and Central Railroad of New Jersey
). A short ex-CNJ branch from Bridgeton to Seabrook was acquired from the Jersey Southern Railway in 1987.
The W&W is exclusively a freight line with the majority of its freight supplied by the quarry of its parent company, Unimin
, in Gore. In New Jersey, the W&W also serves Unimin sand interests and some grain traffic.
, West Virginia
and southwestern Frederick County
, Virginia in order to supply railroad ties to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
. The idea of building such a conduit to tap these resources had been conceived during World War I
when the traffic on the railways of the United States
had been greatly increased. More railroad ties were needed to both construct new railways and maintain the lines already in use. A way to transport the hardwood timbers to the tie mills in Winchester was needed, and so the Winchester and Western was conceived.
The Baltimore and Ohio factored greatly in the W&W's construction and its local subsidiary, Winchester Lumber Company, owned various tracts of mountainous woodlands in Hardy, Hampshire, and Frederick Counties. It sought to build a 40 mile narrow-gauge line from Winchester to Wardensville which would bisect the rich timber lands in the possession of the Winchester Lumber Company.
-powered scoops, sledgehammer
s, and hand-held drills. By August 1917, Intermountain had cleared a flat road for the rail track to Gainesboro
and it began laying the rails and ties. In January 1918, five months later, the first train carrying lumber headed into Winchester on the completed track from Gore.
From Gore, the W&W turned southward through Back Creek valley toward Rock Enon Springs
and ultimately to Wardensville
. On June 14, 1919, a "golden spike" ceremony was planned on the West Virginia/Virginia line near Capon Springs
with only fifteen miles until completion. After politicians from both Hampshire and Frederick Counties delivered speeches, Hugh B. Cline, chairman of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors, and Judge F.B. Allen of the Hampshire County Court each hammered a spike. The "golden spike" celebration was then topped off with lunch at the Mountain House at Capon Springs Resort
in Capon Springs.
On May 25, 1921, the Winchester and Western was finally completed to Wardensville. A celebration was held to honor the W&W's completion and West Virginia Governor John J. Cornwell
delivered a speech on the positive effect that the railroad would have on the future growth of the region's economy. John J. Cornwell
's brother William B. Cornwell of Romney
was the president of the Winchester and Western Railroad at the time and had previously been president of the Hampshire Southern Railroad in the South Branch Potomac River valley in the 1910s.
where passengers would arrive to dine or vacation at the Capon Springs Resort. Three automobile "railbuses" later made the two round trips between Winchester and Wardensville. Besides Wardensville and Capon Springs, major passenger and freight stations were constructed at Gainesboro and Gore. The W&W's own terminal was located at the Baltimore and Ohio Station at Kent and Piccadilly Streets in Winchester.
While freight traffic was the main business of the W&W, the residents of the Winchester area frequently chartered trains for pleasure trips to not only Capon Springs, but for scenic excursions and picnics at Capon Lake
on the Cacapon River
.
took its toll on the region's economy. Freight traffic to and from Wardensville declined and the line was trimmed back to Capon Springs Station in 1934 due to the exhaustion of the region's timber reserves. That same year, passenger service to Capon Springs ended, and the track was cut at Rock Enon Springs. The W&W further trimmed back its line during World War II
in 1944 when it was cut at Gore. Because of Gore's active Unimin sand quarry, the Winchester and Western Railroad remains active between Gore and Winchester. Today, in the Winchester area, the Winchester and Western is affectionately referred to as the "Ol' Weak and Weary" because of its limited use.
In recent years, the Winchester and Western has seen a revival of sorts. In 1986, they purchased the Conrail (formerly Pennsylvania RR/Penn Central) "Winchester Secondary" line from Winchester to Williamsport, Maryland. In 1987, they purchased three shortlines in southern New Jersey. The company now has two divisions; the "Virginia Division", and the "New Jersey Division". Both serve Unimin interests, as well as other freight. Both have connections with the two eastern mainline railroads, CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railway.
(U.S. Route 50
) where it goes through Hoop Petticoat Gap along Gap Run at Chambersville, today known as Round Hill
. Still heading in a northwest direction with the Northwestern Turnpike, the W&W departs from the turnpike and follows Hogue Creek
north, southeast of Hayfield
. The W&W continues north until it intersects with the North Frederick Pike (U.S. Route 522
) and enters the community of Gainesboro. The line then curves southwest into the Back Creek valley. At the southern edge of Bowling Green Ridge, the W&W crosses the Northwestern Turnpike one last time and follows Back Creek south to Gore. From Gore, the line heads south along Mine Spring Run where it currently ends at the sand mine.
This list includes all of the communities and stations that have been serviced at one time by the original Winchester and Western Railroad. The towns are listed from Winchester to Wardensville.
Frederick County, Virginia
Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hardy County, West Virginia
Shortline railroad
A shortline railroad is a small or mid-sized railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance relative to larger, national railroad networks. The term is used primarily in the USA and Canada...
operating from Gore
Gore, Virginia
Gore is an unincorporated town in western Frederick County, Virginia, United States located off the Northwestern Turnpike on Gore Road west of Winchester. The community is nestled in the Back Creek valley....
through Winchester, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
and 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...
to Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
. It also operates several lines in southern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, connecting to Conrail Shared Assets Operations
Conrail Shared Assets Operations
Conrail Shared Assets Operations is an American railroad company. It operates three networks—the North Jersey, South Jersey/Philadelphia, and Detroit Shared Assets Areas, where it serves as a local carrier and switching company for CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railway...
at Millville and Vineland. The company's original line opened in 1917, extending west from Winchester to Rock Enon Springs, and it went through several reorganizations, remaining independent of larger carriers. In 1986, Conrail sold to the W&W the ex-Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
line from Winchester to Hagerstown, as well as most of the W&W's New Jersey trackage (ex-Pennsylvania and Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
). A short ex-CNJ branch from Bridgeton to Seabrook was acquired from the Jersey Southern Railway in 1987.
The W&W is exclusively a freight line with the majority of its freight supplied by the quarry of its parent company, Unimin
Unimin
Unimin Corporation is the American subsidiary of Sibelco and the United States' leading producer of silica sand. Unimin specializes in industrial minerals....
, in Gore. In New Jersey, the W&W also serves Unimin sand interests and some grain traffic.
Origins of the W&W
The Winchester and Western was initially incorporated on August 16, 1916 for the purpose of tapping the forests of southeastern Hampshire CountyHampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,964. Its county seat is Romney, West Virginia's oldest town . Hampshire County was created by the Virginia General Assembly on December 13, 1753, from parts of Frederick and Augusta counties ...
, 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...
and southwestern Frederick County
Frederick County, Virginia
Frederick County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is included in the Winchester, Virginia-West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was formed in 1743 by the splitting of Orange County. For ten years it was the home of George Washington. As of 2010, the population was...
, Virginia in order to supply railroad ties to 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...
. The idea of building such a conduit to tap these resources had been conceived during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when the traffic on the railways of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
had been greatly increased. More railroad ties were needed to both construct new railways and maintain the lines already in use. A way to transport the hardwood timbers to the tie mills in Winchester was needed, and so the Winchester and Western was conceived.
The Baltimore and Ohio factored greatly in the W&W's construction and its local subsidiary, Winchester Lumber Company, owned various tracts of mountainous woodlands in Hardy, Hampshire, and Frederick Counties. It sought to build a 40 mile narrow-gauge line from Winchester to Wardensville which would bisect the rich timber lands in the possession of the Winchester Lumber Company.
Construction
The Winchester Lumber Company sought the services of the Intermountain Construction Company to construct the line, which it then decided to make a standard-gauge instead of a narrow one. Intermountain started the grading of the railroad line from east and west of Chambersville, located west of Winchester in Frederick County. Because of the numerous supply and machinery shortages caused by World War I, Intermountain constructed the grade of the railroad using muleMule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
-powered scoops, sledgehammer
Sledgehammer
A sledgehammer is a tool consisting of a large, flat head attached to a lever . The head is typically made of metal. The sledgehammer can apply more impulse than other hammers, due to its large size. Along with the mallet, it shares the ability to distribute force over a wide area...
s, and hand-held drills. By August 1917, Intermountain had cleared a flat road for the rail track to Gainesboro
Gainesboro, Virginia
Gainesboro is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, Virginia. Gainesboro is located northwest of Winchester off of the North Frederick Pike on Gainesboro Road...
and it began laying the rails and ties. In January 1918, five months later, the first train carrying lumber headed into Winchester on the completed track from Gore.
From Gore, the W&W turned southward through Back Creek valley toward Rock Enon Springs
Rock Enon Springs, Virginia
Rock Enon Springs is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, Virginia. USA. Rock Enon Springs is located 18 miles west of Winchester on Rock Enon Springs Road off Back Creek Road south of Gore. The community was known for its Rock Enon Springs Resort, which was sold in 1945 and is now...
and ultimately to Wardensville
Wardensville, West Virginia
Wardensville is a town in Hardy County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 246 at the 2000 census. Originally named Trout Run, Wardensville was chartered in Virginia in 1832 and incorporated in West Virginia in 1879. It is named for the town's first merchant. It is home to Trout...
. On June 14, 1919, a "golden spike" ceremony was planned on the West Virginia/Virginia line near Capon Springs
Capon Springs, West Virginia
Capon Springs is an unincorporated hamlet in Hampshire County, West Virginia, USA. According to the 2000 census, the Capon Springs community has a population of 95....
with only fifteen miles until completion. After politicians from both Hampshire and Frederick Counties delivered speeches, Hugh B. Cline, chairman of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors, and Judge F.B. Allen of the Hampshire County Court each hammered a spike. The "golden spike" celebration was then topped off with lunch at the Mountain House at Capon Springs Resort
Capon Springs Resort
Capon Springs, also known as Frye's Springs and Watson Town, is a national historic district in Capon Springs, West Virginia that includes a number of resort buildings ranging in age from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century...
in Capon Springs.
On May 25, 1921, the Winchester and Western was finally completed to Wardensville. A celebration was held to honor the W&W's completion and West Virginia Governor John J. Cornwell
John J. Cornwell
John Jacob Cornwell was a Democratic politician from Romney in Hampshire County, West Virginia. Cornwell served as the 15th Governor of the US state of West Virginia...
delivered a speech on the positive effect that the railroad would have on the future growth of the region's economy. John J. Cornwell
John J. Cornwell
John Jacob Cornwell was a Democratic politician from Romney in Hampshire County, West Virginia. Cornwell served as the 15th Governor of the US state of West Virginia...
's brother William B. Cornwell of Romney
Romney, West Virginia
Romney is a city in and the county seat of Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,940 at the 2000 census, while the area covered by the city's ZIP code had a population of 5,873. It is a city with a very historic background dating back to the 18th century...
was the president of the Winchester and Western Railroad at the time and had previously been president of the Hampshire Southern Railroad in the South Branch Potomac River valley in the 1910s.
The W&W in use
Throughout the 1920s beginning in May 1921, the Winchester and Western was primarily a bustling freight line with limited passenger service. The W&W's first passenger car (or railbus) was literally an automobile bus placed on rails. The railbus made two round trips daily between Winchester and Wardensville with 17 intermediate stops along the way. The most popular of these intermediate stops was at Capon Springs StationCapon Springs Station, West Virginia
Capon Springs Station was an unincorporated hamlet in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia centered around a station on the Winchester and Western Railroad...
where passengers would arrive to dine or vacation at the Capon Springs Resort. Three automobile "railbuses" later made the two round trips between Winchester and Wardensville. Besides Wardensville and Capon Springs, major passenger and freight stations were constructed at Gainesboro and Gore. The W&W's own terminal was located at the Baltimore and Ohio Station at Kent and Piccadilly Streets in Winchester.
While freight traffic was the main business of the W&W, the residents of the Winchester area frequently chartered trains for pleasure trips to not only Capon Springs, but for scenic excursions and picnics at Capon Lake
Capon Lake, West Virginia
Capon Lake is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle region. Capon Lake is situated between Yellow Spring and Intermont at the junction of West Virginia Route 259 and Capon Springs Road along the Cacapon River. Capon Springs Run empties into the...
on the Cacapon River
Cacapon River
The Cacapon River , located in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle region, is an river known for its fishing, boating, wildlife, and scenery...
.
Demise of the W&W
Later in the 1920s, the line was constructed further past Wardensville on three narrow-gauge spurs known as the Lost River Railroad. The use of these spurs and the mainline itself dwindled by the early 1930s as the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
took its toll on the region's economy. Freight traffic to and from Wardensville declined and the line was trimmed back to Capon Springs Station in 1934 due to the exhaustion of the region's timber reserves. That same year, passenger service to Capon Springs ended, and the track was cut at Rock Enon Springs. The W&W further trimmed back its line during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1944 when it was cut at Gore. Because of Gore's active Unimin sand quarry, the Winchester and Western Railroad remains active between Gore and Winchester. Today, in the Winchester area, the Winchester and Western is affectionately referred to as the "Ol' Weak and Weary" because of its limited use.
In recent years, the Winchester and Western has seen a revival of sorts. In 1986, they purchased the Conrail (formerly Pennsylvania RR/Penn Central) "Winchester Secondary" line from Winchester to Williamsport, Maryland. In 1987, they purchased three shortlines in southern New Jersey. The company now has two divisions; the "Virginia Division", and the "New Jersey Division". Both serve Unimin interests, as well as other freight. Both have connections with the two eastern mainline railroads, CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railway.
Course
From the B&O's old central station in downtown Winchester, the Winchester and Western Railroad ventures south and then follows Abram's Creek west out of the city. From there, the W&W travels northwest, eventually parallelling the Northwestern TurnpikeNorthwestern Turnpike
The Northwestern Turnpike is a historic road in West Virginia , important for being historically one of the major roads crossing the Appalachians, financed by the Virginia Board of Public Works in the 1830s. In modern times, west of Winchester, Virginia, U.S...
(U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. Until 1972, when it was replaced by Interstate Highways west of the Sacramento area, it extended to San Francisco, near...
) where it goes through Hoop Petticoat Gap along Gap Run at Chambersville, today known as Round Hill
Round Hill, Frederick County, Virginia
Round Hill is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, Virginia, USA. Round Hill is located west of Winchester on the Northwestern Turnpike . It is often referred to as Round Hill after Round Hill but this may cause confusion as there is already an incorporated town in Virginia with the...
. Still heading in a northwest direction with the Northwestern Turnpike, the W&W departs from the turnpike and follows Hogue Creek
Hogue Creek
Hogue Creek is a tributary stream of Back Creek in Frederick County, Virginia. Hogue Creek rises on Great North Mountain and flows into Back Creek at Graves Hill.-Tributaries:Tributary streams are listed from headwaters to mouth.*Bucher Run...
north, southeast of Hayfield
Hayfield, Virginia
Hayfield is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, Virginia. Hayfield is located west of Winchester on the Northwestern Turnpike at its crossroads with North and South Hayfield Roads between Flint Ridge and Hogue Creek. A post office has been established here since 1867. The community's...
. The W&W continues north until it intersects with the North Frederick Pike (U.S. Route 522
U.S. Route 522
U.S. Route 522 is a spur route of U.S. Route 22 in the eastern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 60 in Powhatan, Virginia. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 11 and U.S. Route 15 in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. US 522 passes through the states of Virginia, West...
) and enters the community of Gainesboro. The line then curves southwest into the Back Creek valley. At the southern edge of Bowling Green Ridge, the W&W crosses the Northwestern Turnpike one last time and follows Back Creek south to Gore. From Gore, the line heads south along Mine Spring Run where it currently ends at the sand mine.
This list includes all of the communities and stations that have been serviced at one time by the original Winchester and Western Railroad. The towns are listed from Winchester to Wardensville.
Frederick County, Virginia
Frederick County, Virginia
Frederick County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is included in the Winchester, Virginia-West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was formed in 1743 by the splitting of Orange County. For ten years it was the home of George Washington. As of 2010, the population was...
- WinchesterWinchester, VirginiaWinchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
- Chambersville
- HayfieldHayfield, VirginiaHayfield is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, Virginia. Hayfield is located west of Winchester on the Northwestern Turnpike at its crossroads with North and South Hayfield Roads between Flint Ridge and Hogue Creek. A post office has been established here since 1867. The community's...
- Indian HollowIndian Hollow, VirginiaIndian Hollow is an unincorporated community along Hogue Creek in Frederick County, Virginia. It is named for the Indian Hollow through Hunting Ridge. The community is located on Indian Hollow Road northeast of Hayfield....
- GainesboroGainesboro, VirginiaGainesboro is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, Virginia. Gainesboro is located northwest of Winchester off of the North Frederick Pike on Gainesboro Road...
- GoreGore, VirginiaGore is an unincorporated town in western Frederick County, Virginia, United States located off the Northwestern Turnpike on Gore Road west of Winchester. The community is nestled in the Back Creek valley....
- Rock Enon SpringsRock Enon Springs, VirginiaRock Enon Springs is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, Virginia. USA. Rock Enon Springs is located 18 miles west of Winchester on Rock Enon Springs Road off Back Creek Road south of Gore. The community was known for its Rock Enon Springs Resort, which was sold in 1945 and is now...
Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County, West Virginia
Hampshire County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,964. Its county seat is Romney, West Virginia's oldest town . Hampshire County was created by the Virginia General Assembly on December 13, 1753, from parts of Frederick and Augusta counties ...
- ShilohShiloh, Hampshire County, West VirginiaShiloh is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Shiloh is located on Gore Road near the Virginia line. Shiloh was once a stop on the old Winchester and Western Railroad. The community was named for Shiloh, a site mentioned in the Hebrew Bible that...
- Capon Springs StationCapon Springs Station, West VirginiaCapon Springs Station was an unincorporated hamlet in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia centered around a station on the Winchester and Western Railroad...
- Capon LakeCapon Lake, West VirginiaCapon Lake is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle region. Capon Lake is situated between Yellow Spring and Intermont at the junction of West Virginia Route 259 and Capon Springs Road along the Cacapon River. Capon Springs Run empties into the...
- IntermontIntermont, West VirginiaIntermont is an unincorporated community in Hampshire County, West Virginia, USA located along West Virginia Route 259 on the Cacapon River. It was originally known as Mutton Run until 1920 when its name was changed to Intermont...
Hardy County, West Virginia
Hardy County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,669 people, 5,204 households, and 3,564 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile . There were 7,115 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
- WardensvilleWardensville, West VirginiaWardensville is a town in Hardy County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 246 at the 2000 census. Originally named Trout Run, Wardensville was chartered in Virginia in 1832 and incorporated in West Virginia in 1879. It is named for the town's first merchant. It is home to Trout...