Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad

The Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad (BC&G) was a railroad chartered in April 1 1904 [ [http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvclay/swan.htm Reflections on Swandale] ] 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 railroads, never operating a diesel locomotive to the day it shut down in 1965. [James A. Neubauer, In the footsteps of David and Doc, "", September 2003, p. 38]

Its primary purpose was to bring coal out of the mountains above Widen, West Virginia, to an interchange with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Dundon, West Virginia.

Route

Beginning at Dundon, the line ran east along Buffalo Creek, with marked locations at Avoca, Sand Fork, and through the company towns of Swandale and Cressmont. Swandale contained the sawmill for lumber operations of the Elk River Coal and Lumber Company and there was a small dairy at Cressmont. From Swandale the BC&G continued through Eakle. 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 convert|9|mi out in the woods where the logging was done during the final years of operations.

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 in Spencer, North Carolina. It operated in tourist service until a couple of years ago. It is now undergoing a complete restorations. 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.

Restoration

Currently the Buffalo Creek & Gauley Co-op, has been in the process of opening up much of the old main line and have run some speeder excursions from Dundon.

References

External links

* [http://mountainstaterails.net/index.php?showforum=41 Buffalo Creek & Gauley Co-op]
* [http://clayberry.org/RRPICSfromGeorgeslogDec2005/ BC&G photos]
* [http://www.msrlha.org/ Mountain State Railroad & Logging Historical Association]
* [http://www.buffalocreekandgauley.com/ Buffalo Creek and Gauley history]