C&O Clifton Forge Shops

[TonytheTiger]

This is not technically a Norfolk Southern item, but I thought that you might enjoy this.  Think of it as Princeton, West Virginia, since it may see the same fate in the next few years . . . .

Over the weekend of May 16-18, The C&O Historical Society held a "See & Know" seminar in Clifton Forge, Virginia.  This seminar was a detailed history of the C&O Railroad and included a tour of the abandoned shops at Clifton Forge.  Although these shops have been closed for only about 15 years, they are really showing their age, especially since most of these buildings date back to 1889.

A view of the shops, from the rear, can be seen here . . . .

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=236914

That turntable once spun gigantic C&O H8 2-6-6-6 locomotives.  Inside, you can feel the ghosts of 120 years of hard working railroaders who built, rebuilt, and repaired steam locomotives ranging from the diminutive 4-4-0 to the gigantic 2-6-6-6, and modern diesels ranging from F-Units to U-Boats.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=236915

http://rgkitchen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1177272

Even in 2008, reminders of those steam days can still be found . . . .

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=236929

A portion of the old steam locomotive shops was converted to service those newfangled diesels in the 1950s . . . .

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=236916

In some places, it appears that these old facilities are patiently waiting for the morning shift to file in and begin work . . . .

http://rgkitchen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1177256

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=236917

At the other end of town, the C&O Historical Society recently opened their Heritage Center in the old Smith Creek freight house.  Outside, they have a pair of C&O cabooses . . . .

http://rgkitchen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1177257

http://rgkitchen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1177258

As you can see, they are running on a shoestring, and don?t have a switch engine at the Heritage Center, so, like any hard working, mostly volunteer, historical society, they make do.  Please visit their web site, and, if you're in Clifton Forge, drop by the Heritage Center . . . .

http://www.cohs.org/

Although this is not a C&O item, it comes from the same family that now makes up CSX.  A quick stop at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum on my way home found these beautiful pieces . . . .

http://rgkitchen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1177259

Rob Kitchen
Harrisburg, PA

[Batman]

that CSX or NS property ?