West Virginia's Tourism Railroads

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West Virginia's Tourism Railroads December 2013 December 2013 Friends of Blackwater TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME: WEST VIRGINIA’S TOURISM RAILROADS "Home for the Holidays" (Thomas, WV circa 1950) by © Larry Fisher Working to protect West Virginia’s High Alleghenies, Blackwater River & Blackwater Canyon. 501 Elizabeth Street - Charleston, WV 25311 - phone: 304-345-7663 - fax: 304-345-3240 - www.saveblackwater.org - [email protected] December 2013 December 2013 ON THE COVER: "HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS" IN BLACKWATER CANYON BY FAMOUS RAILROAD ARTIST LARRY FISHER Featured on our Holiday Edition cover is on vacation break, take advantage of the "Home for the Holidays" a painting by Larry snow-covered hollow that snakes around Fisher. and under the train depot. A young soldier coming home for the Thomas, located about 77 miles south first time since he enlisted in the army is of Cumberland, Maryland on the Western greeted by his very exhilarated mother and Maryland Railway, served the community little brother. Meanwhile, Dad tries to keep as both freight operations and traffic his emotions in check by staying back by departments as well as passenger service. the car to give him more time to compose ice.Western Maryland local No.10 himself. With the ever escalating Korean pauses just long enough for the discharge War on everyone’s mind, this December’s of passengers and removal of mailbags. Thomas, WV circa 1950 furlough will be very special. However The Elkins-Cumberland local made a total the significance of the moment is lost on of 14 scheduled stops on her 112 mile run. second engine for their set of orders. the youngest member of the family. His That does not include the many flag stops The Thomas Station with its’ two story memory of this occasion will be the two big the train is encountered along the way. brick structure became a “landmark of Western Maryland 2-8-0 steam locomotives The two steam locomotives standing in railroading” after the Western Maryland with the jaunty red Fireball logo on the side Railway passed into history in 1975. Years of the coal tender. front of the depot have just helped bring an eastbound freight up the 3% Black Fork later the Thomas Station was demolished. The Thomas Station is done up in Canyon grade. As mid-train helpers they Signed and numbered, limited edition the finest seasonal decorations and the have been cut out and will return down the prints of this image are available for purchase recent snowfall only adds to the holiday hill to Elkins. The Thomas operator has by contacting: Heritage Art Editions, Inc. atmosphere in this small West Virginia just handed the orders up to the fireman / toll free 1-888-365-5467 / web site mining community. A few of the local kids on engine #845 and now heads back to the at www.heritagearteditions.com TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME: HIGH ALLEGHENY'S TOURISM RAILROADS The New Tygart Flyer, originating in rare steam locomotive; Old #3 is one of West Virginia Railroad Museum Elkins, offers a four-hour journey with lunch only three operating Climax geared logging included. locomotives on earth. Support the West Virginia Railroad This ride features two separate mountain Museum, Inc. a cultural resource grades, an “S” curve tunnel, passage into a Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad dedicated to educating the community 1,500 feet deep canyon with steep, densely 315 Railroad Avenue, Elkins Depot about West Virginia's railroad history. forested slopes, and a high bridge over the Elkins, WEST VIRGINIA 26241 This mission is accomplished through the rushing Shavers Fork of the Cheat River. Contact phone: 877-686-7245 collection, preservation and interpretation This smooth climate-controlled passenger Web site: http://mountainrail.com of significant locomotives, rolling stock, train has gained a reputation as one of E-mail: [email protected] artifacts, photographs and memorabilia the most exciting mountain wilderness related railroading in West Virginia. Select excursion rides in the US. pieces of equipment in the collection are The Cheat Mountain Salamander, also Cass Scenic Railroad State Park restored and operated throughout the originating in Elkins, is one of the highest rail is home to the types of trains that once year to demonstrate steam, gasoline, excursions east of the Mississippi River and hauled lumber. Here, engines like Shay #5, and diesel technology and provide offers the two tightest track curves in the that celebrated its centennial in 2005, take visitors with a first-hand experience of United States. Travel into the high country visitors on scenic tours of historic logging our railroad history. Visit their website spruce forests of legendary Cheat Mountain towns. www.wvrailmuseum.com to see on the most distinctive rail excursion in the Nestled in the mountains of West their restoration projects and Eastern United States. Named in honor of Virginia, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park buy artwork etc. related the little endangered creature whose high offers excursions that transport you back to WV railroad history. mountain habitat it shares. in time to relive an era when steam-driven They have Larry Fisher prints The Durbin Rocket travels through the locomotives were an essential part of and cards for sale. Monongahela National Forest, offering a everyday life. Trips to Cass are filled with chance to ride one of only three remaining rich histories of the past, unparalleled views West Virginia “Climax” engines. of a vast wilderness area, and close-up Railroad In historic Durbin, WV, you have the encounters with the sights and sounds of Museum opportunity to ride & experience the sights original steam-driven locomotives. PO Box 203 and sounds of one of the rarest steam Elkins, WV 26241 locomotives in existence. The Durbin For more info visit www.trainswv.org Rocket Excursion Train is powered by a Page 2 December 2013 December 2013 BLACKWATER HERO J.R. CLIFFORD FEATURED IN STAR- STUDDED WHEELING AND ELKINS STATEHOOD CELEBRATIONS 2013 is the 150th Birthday of the State of young Granville Hall; West Virginia – and Friends of Blackwater's to Michael and Carrie J.R.Clifford Project has been celebrating Kline for their wonderful big-time! music; Kay, Melvin, We took our "New Home for Liberty" Mable and Jada Marks,; dramatic program about West Virginia Gary and Millie Goetze; Statehood and civil rights to Elkins in Judy Van Gundy and September and to Wheeling in October. Alice Sabatino. Wonderful community casts dressed up in And it was also a old-time costumes and re-enacted dramatic privilege and honor to scenes from West Virginia history. The put on two performances actors became early abolitionists, escaping at West Virginia's slaves, and Delegates to the Wheeling beautifully restored Convention – with great live music as well, Independence Hall in and an appearance by President Abraham Wheeling. Highlighting Lincoln! this performance were Elkins, WV The "New Home for Liberty" program Marilyn Mendelson as is narrated by J.R. Clifford, West Virginia's the school teacher, Reverend Jeremiah of accomplishment for the J.R. Clifford first African American lawyer and a Civil War Jasper as Isaac Clifford, Geneva Barrax as Project. Along with the Wheeling and Elkins veteran; and by Granville Hall, a prominent Grandmother Clifford, and Kevin Freeman programs, we are distributing thousands of abolitionist Statehood leader. Clifford won as young JR, Patrick Cassidy, Esq.as Captain our new poster; and we are proud to have Gordon Battelle, Mayor Andy McKenzie two new historical markers placed in Tucker as Archibald Campbell, and as Wheeling County, celebrating Clifford's achievement Convention Chair the Hon. George L. Spillers. for the African American children in Coketon. We can’t forget James W. Davis, Esq; Sheriff We look forward to sharing the inspiring Ralph Fletcher; Rob McCoid, Esq.; Jeffrey story of Blackwater Hero J.R. Clifford in W. McCamic, Esq.; Hon. James P. Mazzone; 2014. Commissioner Orphy Klempa; Jerry Jacovetty, Esq.; and Scott R. Smith, Esq. JUSTICE LARRY STARCHER who played our Constitutional Convention West Virginia Senior Supreme Court Delegates. The wonderful singing by the Pitt Justice Larry Starcher is the "Honorary Sisters brought us all to tears singing the Chair" of the J.R. Clifford Project. What Battle Hymn of the Republic. Special credit this title actually means is that we can goes to Gael and Dan Hincham and Stages call on Larry to come anywhere and play and Deb Warmuth of Walkabout Productions any part and build any set or sew any for help with props and costumes. Wheeling, WV costume or call any judges and politicians Thank you, West Virginia Arts and and law students -- or to do anything else, his most famous case representing African Education Secretary Kay Goodwin and to help tell J.R. Clifford's story. Whether American schoolchildren from Coketon, at Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith! in an elementary school classroom or a the head of the Blackwater Canyon near the In Wheeling, re-enacting the creation packed courtroom or church or library or Town of Thomas in Tucker County. of West Virginia, including the turbulent living room, Larry's deeply-felt dedication In the Elkins and Wheeling programs, debates about slavery and human rights -- to the cause of human rights is a light State Supreme Court Senior Justice Larry in the very room that echoed to those same that shines out in all of our programs, to Starcher and Fairmont attorney and debates a century and a half ago – was people of all ages. Professor Greg Hinton, portrayed Hall and an especially moving experience for the We appreciate him Clifford. Historian Hunter Lesser gave cast and the audience. Cast and audience so much and it is the scholarly introduction in Elkins while sang the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" at an honor and a Independence Hall Director and historian the end of both programs.
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