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West Virginia Short Line Railroads: A Complete Guide

Published: April 5, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Appalachian & Ohio Railroad (reporting mark, AO): The A&O is currently owned by P&L Transportation, a CSX subsidiary. It operates on CSX-owned trackage between Grafton and Cowen, a former B&O line, that spans 158 miles.

The road began service in 2005 and primarily handles coal traffic but also moves logs, lumber, and chemicals. The A&O's primary interchanges are with CSX at Grafton as well as short line D&GV/WVC at Tygart Junction.

Beech Mountain Railroad (reporting mark, BEEM): This tiny short line ebbs and flows from dormancy and active status as it serves a local coal mine near Alexander and Palace Valley.

The system dates back to 1890 as a narrow-gauge logging tramway owned by the Alexander Lumber Company and then converted to a standard-gauge operation in 1892 known as the Alexander & Rich Mountain Railroad.

In 1900 the railroad was purchased by the Randolph Coal & Lumber Company and renamed as the Alexander & Rich Mountain Railway. More changes came in 1906 when it was renamed as the Alexander & Eastern Railroad. The system's laid down and abandoned trackage over the years, following demand of the region's lumber and coal industries.

When another name change came in 1953 as the Beech Mountain Railroad it primarily operated about 8 miles running from Alexander to Star Bridge. Today, it continues to operate this trackage sporadically using a single Alco S2 for power.

Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad (reporting mark, BIP): Launched in May, 2020 the BIP leases several former Baltimore & Ohio lines between Marietta, Ohio and Parkersburg, West Virginia through CSX.

These include the 39-mile Marietta Subdivision, 5.29-mile Parkersburg Running Track (Belpre-Parkersburg), and finally the Parkersburg High Yard on Depot Street.

The latter comprised the B&O's former St. Louis main line. Its current traffic consists of Aggregates, Chemicals, Coal, Construction Materials, Fertilizers, Metals, Minerals, Petroleum Products, Plastics, Steel and Scrap.

Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad/West Virginia Central (reporting marks, DGVR And WVCR): The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley operates the state-owned West Virginia Central, which provides freight service on the Western Maryland Railway's former trackage west and south of Elkins.

The railroad also operates excursion trains during much of the year. The property was acquired on September 26, 1997 from CSX, which intended to abandon the route, and the trackage totals 132.13 miles. Its interchange is at Tygart Junction with the Appalachian & Ohio.

Elk River Railroad (reporting mark, ELKR) (Closed, March, 2022): This railroad operated part of the B&O's former Charleston-Grafton line (Coal & Coke Branch); in later years it only stored cars at the old yard in Gassaway and carried out some car repair services.

It began operations in 1989 to operate 62 miles of the line between Gilmer and Hartland (below Dundon) to handle coal business which disappeared in 1999.

Little Kanawha River Railroad (reporting mark, LKRR): This little short line began operations in 1989 when it took over a short 1-mile spur in Parkersburg from CSX, formerly owned by the B&O to serve local industries. It remains in service today utilizing a single SW1200 switcher that was built as Illinois Terminal #779.

RJ Corman - West Virginia Line (reporting mark, RJCV): This RJ Corman operation began service during July of 2005 by reactivating a former C&O coal branch between Thurmond (where it interchanges there with CSX) and Mount Hope, 12 miles.

A year later service was extended 4 miles to Pax and an additional interchange, with NS. The short line serves Georgia Pacific, Austin Powder, Pioneer Fuel, and Tanner Industries.

South Branch Valley Railroad (reporting mark, SBVR): This short line operates the B&O's former Petersburg Branch running 51.9 miles between Petersburg and Green Spring where it connects with CSX.

The railroad began in 1978 when the state purchased the line from Chessie System, sparing it from abandonment. Its traffic is quite diversified ranging from agricultural products and animal feed to lumber and plastics.

Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway (reporting mark, WE):  The W&LE, established in 1990, is a regional freight railroad operating in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland. This revitalized railway emerged from the remnants of the original Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway, which was consolidated into the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) in 1964. The reestablishment in 1990 was orchestrated by acquiring portions of the Norfolk Southern Railway that once belonged to the original W&LE and other lines.

Headquartered in Brewster, Ohio, the W&LE is strategically positioned in the heart of America's industrial region, serving a crucial role in facilitating the transportation of goods such as steel, coal, aggregates, chemicals, and other commodities. The railway's infrastructure spans over 800 miles of track, connecting major cities like Cleveland and Toledo to smaller industrial communities, thereby supporting regional economic growth.

The W&LE's significance lies in its commitment to providing efficient and flexible rail services to its clients, underscoring its vital role in the broader logistics and supply chain network. As a modern regional railway, it combines traditional railroading values with innovative approaches to meet the evolving demands of the freight industry while maintaining strong ties to its historical roots.

Winchester & Western Railroad (reporting mark, WW):  The W&W is a short line that operates in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey. Established in 1916, the company has been integral to the regional transportation infrastructure, supporting both industries and local economies. Originally built to serve as a connector to local apple orchards and limestone quarries, the W&W’s network has expanded over the years to include more than 100 miles of track in Virginia and New Jersey. The railroad primarily transports commodities such as minerals, chemicals, plastics, and paper products, which are vital to industries around the Mid-Atlantic region.

In Virginia and West Virginia, the W&W runs along several lines, connecting towns such as Winchester and Gore, and provides crucial freight connections to the larger railroads like CSX and Norfolk Southern. Its New Jersey operations connect with the Pennsylvania and Lehigh lines, serving industrial clients and providing transloading services.

W&W is known for its adaptability and customer-oriented approach, ensuring efficient service tailored to the needs of its clientele. Despite being a relatively small railway, the Winchester and Western Railroad maintains a reputation for reliability and punctuality, contributing significantly to the logistics and distribution networks in the areas it serves.