This
book details how the various railroads that served West Virginia hauled
the principal; product of that state--bituminous coal.
West
Virginia was long known as the nation’s top coal producing state, and
the only feasible way to transport coal from mine to market was and is
by railroad. A number of major railroads served the various coalfields
in the state: C&O, Norfolk & Western, and Virginian served the
southern portions of the state, and each became world-famous for its
coal hauling. They were known as the “Pocahontas Roads” because of that
famous, thick, rich coal seam that they served.
B&O
and WM served the northern and central West Virginia coal fields and
received a great amount of their revenue from this large business. The
book also has data on the New York Central that tapped some coal in the
central area of the state, as well as some of the other short lines that
fed coal into the major carriers or to river barge traffic.
The
book illustrates trains in West Virginia in their typical environment
with the typical types of steam locomotives they used, especially in the
period 1945-1960. The photos, maps, and drawings cover the late steam
era with just a little bit about the early diesel years. This was the
highest period of coal development and modernized production and
transportation.
This
one volume will tell the reader all about how coal originated at the
hundreds of mine tipples in West Virginia and then was taken by rail to
the users all over America and all over the world!
