A true, railroading town.. Serving as an important terminal for coal operations in the New River Gorge for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, Thurmond was a perfect definition of a railroading community in its day. As coal production moved on elsewhere and small, local branch lines were slowly abandoned, the community fell to the wayside. While C&O, now CSX still operates their double mainline 'New River Subdivision', respectively through downtown, few branch lines remain nearby, the water towers are gone in town, and the engine servicing facility shows no signs of ever existing. Only seven residents per the 2010 census call Thurmond their residence. A town that once employed hundreds of railroaders and coal miners, now sits abandoned.. Operated and fully restored by the National Park Service, Thurmond serves as a perfect example of how railroading and living in a coal community used to be. Here, broken by the drone of violent river rapids of the New River, a westbound empty train for Russell departs Thurmond at 4:35 am, after meeting an eastbound loaded train. The engineer, intrigued at our presence, alert of the warning flashes, observes the gear as he grinds near Sewell, Cotton Hill, and eventually into the Kanawha Valley.
This is dedicated (with permission) to the skilled and gifted photographer - Chase Gunnoe - who regularly posts and is on staff with RP. I believe he deserves a gallery showcasing his remarkable photos. This is for you Chase! (More great photos to come!)
