Recently, I've been planning a small model railroad based on the Moore-Keppel & Company Railroad, which was later renamed the Middle Fork Railroad Company. Two of this railroad's locomotives are still surviving. Its climax 3 is in Durbin, WV, and its climax 6 is being restored in Cass, WV as their number 9. It was located in West Virginia (a little west of Elkins) and interchanged with the Baltimore and Ohio. It'll be set in two time periods, the first being the 1950s and the second being the 1960s. Even though there isn't a large gap between these two periods, the first would allow me to operate with steam and the other would allow me to use diesel.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find much information on this railroad. All I have is the short write up about it in the the appendix of West Virginia Logging Railroads by William E. Warden. From this I learned that the railroad operated out of Ellamore, WV, where it had a sawmill. It also operated a mine out of Cassidy, WV. It's lumber operations only lasted until the 1940s, but the coal operations lasted into the late 1960s. It also mentions that the railroad changed its name around the late 1920s (from Moore-Keppel to Middle Fork). There is also mention of the railroad's roster. It used six climaxes and one heisler until it dieselized in 1960.
For my model railroad, I'm planning to bend history a little to let the railroad operate coal and lumber at the same time in the 50s and 60s. I'll also be bending history to have the railroad interchange with the Western Maryland, as I prefer it over the B&O.
I was wondering if anyone would be able to provide information (text or photos) about the operations of the railroad, the paint schemes of the locomotives for my time periods, what types of diesel locomotives were used, and what structures the railroad had and what they looked like.
Thanks,
Nick
Hello Nick ---
Add Middle Fork no. 7, an 80 ton Heisler, to your list. She's also owned by the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley, which intends eventual restoration. Also Climax no. 4 at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, PA.
Model Trains Magazine had a short but very informative illustrated article on the Middle Fork around 1959. I can't locate my old Model Trains Magazine copies, so I'm afraid I can't tell you the exact date. I have no idea whether the article is available anywhere except from a used magazine dealer.
The Middle Fork connected with a B&O line which was originally part of the Coal & Coke RR. B&O used small ex-C&C Baldwin 2-8-0's for many years on that line. I've been told that B&O's very last steam operations into Midvale (the interchange near Ellamore) employed a former Buffalo & Susquehanna class E-60 2-8-0. A model of the E-60 was imported many years ago by Sundancer. They show up at RR meets now and then. I believe the E-60 was replaced with a B&O GP9. In that part of West Virginia, Western Maryland used Alco RS2's and RS3's, later supplemented with GP's and F7's. I don't know what infernal combustion engine was used on the Middle Fork itself. I think it was a smallish critter, and I don't think it lasted too long before the mine at Cassity closed.
Note to Cody & Steven if you're reading this: Around the 1959-60 time period, MR and MT had several short articles that highlighted a number of different shortlines. Some of the roads covered were the Middle Fork, Buffalo Creek & Gauley, Bevier & Southern, Preston, and others. A reissue of Kalmbach's classic OFF THE BEATEN TRACK, Railway Annual No. 4 (1955) might be a great idea, especially if it could be redone and updated to include these and other appropriate articles. There are a lot of younger short line lovers who have never heard about, much less been exposed to, these classic articles.
Tom
(edited with additional info)
Found it!
The Middle Fork Railroad was featured in an article by Charles L. Barker in the March, 1960 Model Trains. The informative four-page article includes 11 photos showing locos 3 and 7, plus photos of the mine at Cassity and the Midvale B&O interchange, including the B&O water tank and station, plus a distant view of an old log loader. It's surprising how much good info was included in 4 pages.
See my private message.
It appears that a rather complete steam roster can be compiled. Using The Climax Locomotive by Dennis Thompson, et. al. (2002) we have the following for Moore-Keppel & Co. of Ellamore, WV:
#1, cn 678, blt. 1906, a Class B 35 ton. Scrapped in 1936 photos of it wrecked on page 267.
#2, cn 930, blt 1909, Class B 28 ton. Scrapped 1936.
#3, cn 1059, blt. 11/1910, Class B 55 ton; became Middle Fork RR #3, to Durbin & Greenbrier. Three photos page 174 as Middle Fork #3.
#4, cn 1237, blt. 06/1913, Class B 40ton; became Middle Fork RR #4, to RR Museum of PA; photo page 181 as Middle Fork #4
#5, cn 1399, blt. 1916, Class B 60ton; To Jennings & Nestos Logging #3 of Rodport, WA. scrapped 1942. Builders photos of both sides page 185.
#6, cn 1551, blt. 11/1919, Class C 70ton; Became Middle Fork RR #6, to Cass Scenic. Photo page 230.
The photos of wrecked #1 reveal that they are using an American Log Loader to pick up the wreck. It is neatly lettered below the window (first line) Moore Keppel & Co. No. 2 (second line) American Log Loader.
We can then proceed to The Heisler Locomotive 1891-1941 by Benjamine F. G. Kline, Jr. (1982) to find
#7 of the Middle Fork RR, Heisler cn 1607, shipped April 1941; 3 truck, 80 ton. with a photo on page 89. This was a "West Coast Special" model that had sat in stock in the factory before sale and is much larger than most Heislers used in eastern logging. To Washington, NC.
And in the book Steam & Thunder in the Timber by Michael Koch (1979), there is a photo page 285 of Moore Keppel Climax #3. It appears to be from a glass plate negative, with the large box/oil headlight.
In that these books are a little difficult or pricey to come by these days, I hope that this information is of assistance. I was surprised that I did not find more information on this line in my library. I suggest contacting the RR Museum of Pennsylvania and inquiring if they have photos available of their Climax #4 when it was in service. When they were acquiring and refurbishing the locomotive they sent me a photo of it in steam among the lumber stacks in return for my donation.
Bill
John B Moore, my great grandfather, started lumbering in Ellamore (his wife was Ella). His company was Moore-Keppel&Co. Later he started the mining in Cassity. The Climax engine was built in Corry, Pa. Corry (small town by Erie) has an engine in their museum. Since John Moore was from that general area, the museum might have a wealth of info for you. I took an original photo of #3 to a local train store as I thought they'd enjoy seeing it. While there, a very old gentleman walked in and seemed to know a lot about those engines and had been to Cass where they're restoring #6. He told me to take a good look at the photo and pointed out that the rail ties were actually small trees laid side by side. Sure enough. Next week a number of "Moore's" and "Keppels" are getting together (for the first time) to ride #3 and share everything we know. Perhaps I'll learn something that will help you. I'll take your post with me. Good luck! Jenn
I'd like to thank Bill for the information he provided about the locomotives of the Moore-Keppel.
I'd also like to say "Hello!" to Jenn. I think that's really neat how John B. Moore was your great grandfather and how unique his little railroad was. Hope the get-together with the "Moores" and "Keppels" goes well, and I hope to hear back from you! Any and all information helps!
Hi Tom,
I purchased a March 1960 Model Trains magazine and it didn't have the article in it. What did the cover of the magazine look like. Maybe I bought the wrong one.
Chad
Welcome to the forum.
Tom is still around, but not everyone is on old threads. According to the trains.com search, you want April '61 and it's not a Model Railroader. HO Monthly/Model Trains
http://trc.trains.com/Train%20Magazine%20Index.aspx?view=SearchResults&q=+Middle+Fork+Railroad
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
VGN RWY:
At the moment, I don't have access to my old magazines, so I can't look up the Middle Fork article. I hope I didn't give you bum info. It was certainly in Model Trains magazine around the early 1960's.
Lately I have been spending less time online in a futile attempt to regain sanity. That's why I didn't see your post for a few days.
I've just found this site and joined in hopes to help with the search for Moore Keppel info. I haven't seen this book mentioned so I thought I would mention it: "Heartland of the Middle Fork Revisited" by Shirley Gower, printed in 2000. It has info about the M-K mill and one chapter is titled "Six Climaxes and a Heisler". You all probably already have the book but I thought I'd mention it just in case you don't. Dave
wmpfireball I'd like to thank Bill for the information he provided about the locomotives of the Moore-Keppel. I'd also like to say "Hello!" to Jenn. I think that's really neat how John B. Moore was your great grandfather and how unique his little railroad was. Hope the get-together with the "Moores" and "Keppels" goes well, and I hope to hear back from you! Any and all information helps! Nick
Hi again. This is Jenn. I haven't heard from you via my email, so I invite you to ask me questions here. There is SO much info, so rather than try to offer it, maybe I can answer specific questions. I'm going to try to insert a photo of the original Moore-Keppel Climax Steam Engine #3.
Can't seem to enter the photo. Is there another way? or suggestions?