West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Founded | 1881 |
| Founder | Henry G. Davis |
| Defunct | 1905 |
| Fate | Acquired by Fuller Syndicate; consolidated into Western Maryland Railway |
| Headquarters | Elkins , United States |
Area served | West Virginia, Maryland |
| Products | Rail transport services |
The West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway (WVC&P) operated rail services across West Virginia and Maryland during the late 1800s and early 1900s. From its hub in Elkins, West Virginia, the railway extended in four primary directions: northward to Cumberland, Maryland; westward to Belington; southward toward Huttonsville; and eastward reaching Durbin. Several routes were developed through affiliated companies such as the Piedmont and Cumberland Railway and the Coal and Iron Railway.
History
The Potomac and Piedmont Coal and Railroad Company was established in 1866 by West Virginia entrepreneur Henry G. Davis. Construction commenced in 1880 on a rail line originating from a junction with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) near Bloomington, Maryland, following the course of the North Branch Potomac River southward. By 1881, the track had advanced to coal mining areas near Elk Garden, West Virginia, prompting Davis to obtain new charters in both West Virginia and Maryland and rebrand the enterprise as WVC&P.
By 1884, the railway extended to Fairfax and the area that would become Davis. This location evolved into an industrial center featuring logging operations, sawmills, leather tanning facilities, and coal production managed by the Davis Coal and Coke Company. In 1886, expansion north from Bloomington junction toward Westernport, Maryland and Cumberland was initiated via the Piedmont and Cumberland Railway subsidiary. The P&C line reached Cumberland by July 1887, creating interchange opportunities with B&O at both Cumberland and Rawlings, Maryland.
Progressing southward, tracks arrived at Parsons in 1888 and proceeded to Elkins (previously known as Leadville) in 1889. Elkins developed into a significant railroad junction. From Elkins, branches extended west along the Tygart Valley River reaching Belington by 1891, while southern extensions connected to Beverly in 1891 and Huttonsville by 1899.
In 1899, WVC&P formed the Coal and Iron Railway (C&I) subsidiary to construct a route from Elkins eastward to Durbin. Completed in 1903, this line linked with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O), thereby improving rail connectivity within the region.
Acquisition
The year 1902 saw WVC&P and its associated companies acquired by the Fuller Syndicate, led by financier George Gould. By 1905, these railroads were consolidated into the Western Maryland Railway (WM), which connected with WVC&P at Ridgeley, West Virginia. Subsequently, WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973; this entity later merged into CSX Transportation in 1980.
Current Operation
Portions of the original WVC&P track remain active under CSX for freight transport. Other segments are owned by the West Virginia State Rail Authority, which contracts with the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad to operate a heritage railroad service between Elkins, Belington, and Durbin.
See also
- Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad
- List of defunct Maryland railroads
- List of defunct West Virginia railroads
References
External links
- Maryland railroads no longer in operation
- West Virginia railroads no longer in operation
- Forerunners of the Western Maryland Railway
- Forerunners of CSX Transportation
- Railway companies founded in 1881
- Railway companies that ceased operations in 1905
- American enterprises founded in 1881
- American companies established in 1881