Alan Clarke 176 pages
Beginning as a narrow gauge line in 1880, its name and gauge changed in
1881 and in the ensuing years it opened a huge swathe of timber and coal
territory in northern West Virginia to use, creating such towns as
Elkins, Davis, and Thomas. A major connection was made with the
C&O's Greenbrier Branch at Durbin, W. Va. in 1900. Sold to the Gould
interests in 1902 it became an important part of the Western Maryland
Railway in 1905 and contributed heavily to that road's prosperity in the
coal and lumber trade down to modern times. This book is illustrated
with superb photos, written in a cogent and informative style based on
outstanding scholarly research in basic documents. The story is carried
down through the WM and Chessie System eras to today's CSX operations on
the remaining lines.
