Hello, I'm a photographer and I want to create a documentary and photo essay about Railroads in West Virginia, and in particular, their coal operations. I'm looking for interesting areas to shoot. I don't exclusively want to get CSX and Norfolk Southern trains on the mainline, but rather a neat variety of locations and operations. Things like shortlines, coal loading operations, yards, bridges ect. If anyone knows of any neat locations or operations, or just has any information on that kind of stuff that would be helpful, thank you.
One interesting town is Thurmond, deep in the New River Gorge, where a coal shortline meets the CSX mainline. Its mainstreet is more of a sidewalk between the business block buildings and the CSX tracks. Its historic value is evidenced by its inclusion in the New River Gorge National Park. It is also an Amtrak stop.
https://www.nps.gov/neri/learn/historyculture/thurmond.htm
Might try a search : 'Railroads in West Virginia' a web site with links to information you seek is @ https://transportation.wv.gov/rail/Pages/default.aspx
Good Luck on your project !
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