West Virginia Logging Railroads

by William Warden

Chronicles the waning years of the logging industry and the equipment and operations of the railroads that served it. From the late 1800s through the 1950s, West Virginia was one of the nation's largest producers of lumber. This book covers the unique geared locomotives that moved that lumber including the Shay, Climax and Heisler, designed to traverse the sharp curves and uneven track of mountain railways. Includes information on special logging cars, cranes and other equipment.

108 pages, Hardcover

First published November 2, 1996

Reviews

[M.J. Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a study of the five best-known logging railroads in West Virginia in the 1950’s. It features logging operations and the geared locomotives that operated on these rail lines: the Shay, Heisler and Climax. The Elk River line forded creeks rather than building trestles. Today the Cass Scenic Railroad operates the line of the former Mower Logging Company.