| The
Thurmond Depot, a two-story wood-frame structure from
1905, still serves as as "flagstop" for
Amtrak trains. Just recently the old depot was painstakingly
restored and now houses a visitors center and museum.
The depot is open to the public during the tourist
season. Located in the heart of the New River
Gorge National River the old train station is visited
by thousands of tourists and railfans each year.
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| During
its many years of active service, the building
actually served as both a depot and as an office
building for Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (C&O)
workers. On the West end of the 2nd-story, the
Yardmasters Office overlooks the Thurmond's West
Yard. The office has been restored with authentic
furniture, fixtures and equipment from the era of the
early-1900's. |
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| Also
on the 2nd-floor, the Trainmaster Office is now filled
with near life-sized photos of people who once worked
in the historic town of Thurmond. Originally,
the 2nd-floor housed two Trainmaster's Offices, a Car Dispatcher's
Office, a Conductor's Room, a Supervisor's Office, and
an office used by the McKell Coal & Coke Company. |
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| On
the ground-floor, the Ticket Master's office has been
restored with authentic fixtures and even includes a
manikin dressed in the C&O uniform of the period.
Also on the ground floor is located a gift shop and
information desk staffed by the National Park Service. |
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| During
the decades of early-1900's, huge amount of coal was
shipped through the Thurmond Depot, from the mines
located on the nearby branch lines that surrounded the
town. During the era it was often boasted that,
through Thurmond more three times as much freight was
shipped than was through Cincinnati. |
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| Alderson
Depot - Located in the center of the town’s
historic district, the recently restored Alderson Depot, a
circa 1896 wood-frame structure, is typical of standard
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (C&O) design used by the
railroad during the period from 1890 to 1915.
Hinton
Railroad Museum - Opened on May 26, 1991, and
contains many artifacts of the Chesapeake & Ohio
Railway. The Museum is located in the former Cox's
Department Store Building, within the heart of Hinton's
National Historic District.
Hinton
Railroad Days Festival, October 13-14, 20-21, 2001 - Live
entertainment, food, exhibits and other festivities are a
tradition during Hinton's annual celebration of its railroad
heritage. The event is timed to coincide with the
annual New River Train excursions (see below).
New
River Train Excursions,
October 13-14, 20-21, 2001 -
These series of day-long, 300-mile treks via rail across
West Virginia are timed to coincide with the expected peak
of fall colors in the New River Gorge.
Prince
Depot - Built
in an Art Deco style compatible with architecture of
the C&O's Cincinnati Union Terminal, the Prince
Depot still serves as a Amtrak passenger stop.
Ronceverte Depot -
The
Ronceverte Depot, a two-story brick structure built in
1914, is typical of Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
(C&O) stations of the era. The station is
still in active use by CSXT, and rumors are that the
railroad is planned a major renovation of the
structure soon.
White
Sulphur Springs Depot - The White Sulphur Spring
Depot, a Neo-Georgian style depot built in 1929, still
serves the rail-traveling public, as a scheduled stop for
Amtrak's Cardinal. |
