Twelvepole Line: What Was Left in 1950?

[NW Mailing List]

Dear Haystack searcher:
The 2003(?) NWHS Convention in Huntington provided a very nice tour of the remains of the Twelvepole Line. The mine at East Lynn was operational (I think it still is) and they timed 'flood loading' a train for us. We also got a tour of the classify, crush and wash facility. It was very educational. The only station left, that I recalled seeing, is at Lavalette and the bus was stopped for us to photograph. So the east end of the line is in very good condition.
I only new of the line shortly before going to the convention.
Charlie Long

-----Original Message-----

>From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

>Sent: Mar 15, 2008 10:19 AM

>To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org

>Subject: Twelvepole Line:  What Was Left in 1950?

>

>I had always thought the Twelvepole Line (Naugatuck to Kenova) was removed in its entirety back in the 1930s.

> 

>However, in looking at the 1950 "List No. 67 of Officers, Agents, Stations, HogPens and Slop Chutes," I see what appears to be a listing for the west end of the Twelvepole Line.

> 

>It is designated in the 1950 List as the "Wayne Branch"  and extends 32 miles, from Wayne Branch Jct at Kenova, through Ceredo, Lavalette and Wayne, to end of track at East Lynn.

>

>Question:  How long was the west end of the Twelvepole Line left in service before being removed?

>

>If one runs a www.mapquest.com search for driving directions between Dingess and Dunlow, one finds a notation saying "Twelvepole Creek/CR-41 becomes Old N&W Railroad bed/CR-3/5," and the distance for these limits appears to be about 8.5 miles.  So apparently at least part of the old Twelvepole Line is now used for highway.

> 

>Is it worth a trip down to drive the highway along the Old Line between Naugatuck and Kenova?  Anything of a railroad nature left to see on the "Old Line" ?

>

>-- abram burnett

>(da needle and haystack guy)

>

>

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