![\"\"](\"http:\/\/wvrails.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Winifrede-RR0012.jpg\" "\\"Winifrede")
<\/a><\/p>\nCarbon Fuel \u00a0Co. coal loading facility near Chelyan, WV. Brand new EMD model SW-1500 #13 is getting ready to move more cars full of coal which will be unloaded into barges positioned on the west bank of the Kanawha River.<\/strong><\/p>\n With a focus of the major rail systems of the Kanawha Valley which back in the 1960s included the Chesapeake & Ohio, the New York Central, the Baltimore & Ohio (which came into Charleston along the Elk River) and the Norfolk & Western (former Virginian Railway) line that came into the valley at Deepwater, it would be easy to overlook two small railroads that\u00a0existed at that time. They were the Winifrede Railroad and the Kelley’s Creek & Northwestern Railroad. \u00a0The Winifrede was approximately 7.2 miles long while the KC&NW was 4.70 miles in length. The WRR and the KC&NW were constructed solely\u00a0to haul coal from the mines located up the hollows of Fields Creek and Kelleys Creek\u00a0respectively to barge loading facilities on the Kanawha River.<\/p>\n The Winifrede Railroad Company<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n More photos of Winifrede #13.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Winifrede RR was incorporated on November 18, 1881. 30 years prior to this time, it began as a narrow gage railroad to haul coal from the mines at Winifrede. It was constructed of 56 lb rail spiked directly to wood ties. During the Civil War and into the 1870s the mines were closed down. Needless to say the rails and ties had deteriorated over those years. When the mines reopened in the late 1870s the railroad was rebuilt to standard gage and began operation with a second hand steam locomotive. After 15 months a Baldwin\u00a0locomotive was purchased along with a passenger coach and 60 six ton coal cars.\u00a0Also during this time a coal tipple was constructed on the Kanawha River.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two shots of WRR 2 (Ex C&O) caboose. It appears to be bringing up the rear of empties but in actuality the train is parked on the mainline just short of community of Winifrede while\u00a0miners were\u00a0enjoying their annual\u00a0vacation.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n A declining coal market in the mid 1920s again forced the mines and the railroad to close down. The railroad retained its charter and in 1930 it was back in operation when Winifrede Collieries acquired the Winifrede properties.<\/p>\n At this time steam locomotives were still being used however the cost of acquiring parts to maintain them became more difficult. The railroad acquired a General Electric 70 ton diesel locomotive in 1955 and at the same time replaced 85 lb rail with 100 lb rail. In 1967 the Winifrede took delivery of an EMD SW 1500 switcher.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Left: photo at other end of cut of cars looking toward community of Winifrede and mine. Engine house is on the left. Note the position of switch. Right: photo of company buildings in Winifrede. Engine house is on right.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n While the Winifrede did interchange with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway at Winifrede Jct in the Kanawha Valley just west of Cheylan, most of its business was just as it was\u00a0built\u00a0to do.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0Two views of Carbon Fuel Co mine\u00a0load out up Fields Creek hollow from the town of Winifrede.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0The end of the line marked by a red flag and piled up ties.<\/strong><\/p>\n For more information about the\u00a0Winifrede, please visit the website\u00a0http:\/\/www.gottrains.com\/winifrede\/index.htm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kelley’s Creek and Northwestern Railroad<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n KC&NW #7, a GE 70 Tonner locomotive at Cedar Grove, WV coupled to leased New York Central hoppers getting ready to shove cars toward the barge loading facility on the Kanawha River.<\/strong><\/p>\n Construction\u00a0of the\u00a0Kelley’s Creek & Northwestern began\u00a0in 1902. It was built and owned by Valley Camp Coal Company to haul coal from Valley Camp’s Donaldson Mine located up Kelley’s Creek hollow near the community of Mammoth\u00a0to the loading facility on the Kanawha River at Cedar Grove.<\/p>\n Left: Closeup of NYC hopper showing it as leased to the KC&NW\u00a0 Right: Photo of KC&NW #7. The man in the photo took a picture of me taking a picture of #7 so I did the same for him.<\/strong><\/p>\n There is not much\u00a0available\u00a0information\u00a0on the KC&NW. It\u00a0was built a few years before New York Central predecessor Kanawha & Michigan RR built their line from Charleston to Gauley Bridge. Since the K&M was last to build through Cedar Grove, K&M trains had to stop at the crossing diamond in Cedar Grove for KC&NW trains moving to the barge loading facility on the Kanawha River.<\/p>\n Left: Coal load-out near Mammoth. \u00a0Right: Engine house at Ward.<\/strong><\/p>\n In the mid 1980s Valley Camp Coal was bought by Quaker State Oil Company\u00a0which included the KC&NW. A few years later Quaker State decided to get out of the coal business. The last day of operation\u00a0for the railroad was April 3, 1993. After that, all of the assets of the coal company and railroad which by then included two EMD MP1500\u00a0locomotives plus an unknown number of hopper cars were sold. The KC&NW was granted authority by the Surface Transportation Board to abandon the entire line effective February 8, 1995. For more information on the KC&NW please visit\u00a0http:\/\/www.gottrains.com\/kelleyscreek\/<\/p>\n I am thankful for the opportunity to have photographed these two shortlines back in 1967. While\u00a0what was the Winifred\u00a0Railroad is still\u00a0in place and operating now as the Big\u00a0Eagle Railroad, the Kelley’s Creek and Northwestern is\u00a0gone forever.<\/p>\n **************************************************************************<\/p>\n NOTE:\u00a0You can click on\u00a0individual photos to enlarge them. Use the left arrow on the browser to return to the write up.<\/strong><\/p>\n Carbon Fuel \u00a0Co. coal loading facility near Chelyan, WV. Brand new EMD model SW-1500 #13 is getting ready to move more cars full of coal which will be unloaded into barges positioned on the west bank of the Kanawha …<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Old wooden caboose. Notice headlight on roof top. During steam operation and possibly during the early diesel years, locomotives did not run around train so caboose was in the lead as train backed up.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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