Going to be in the Huntington area this weekend, any suggestions for train watching or rail related activity?
There are supposedly three steam locomotives on display in Huntington:
An unidentified 0-4-0t at the C. P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society.
C&O H-6 2-6-6-2 1308, the second-to-last Baldwin built steam loco, also at C. P. Huntington, and said to be displayed outdoors in a local park.
Toledo Angola & Western 2-8-2 number 100, later Elk River Coal & Lumber number 10, now displayed as B&O 4559. Sources say the engne is identified as a B&O Q-4b, although 4559 was a Q-3 number and the engine is much too small to resemble either B&O class. This engine is supposed to be displayed at Heritage Village in Huntington.
I would be very interested in knowing the current status, location, and condition of all of these engines.
Tom
Will look into this…
Here is a recent picture of 1308 (indicated as put up 7/2/2015)
There is a place nearby called Heritage Farm that, at one time, hosted an annual ‘whistle blow’ which featured at least one C&O whistle … likely the one from this locomotive. They don’t advertise ‘steam’ on their site, but you might want to call and see if they have anything interesting.
Huntington is still a major shop site for CSX, though I don’t know how useful that info is to you.
I’d suggest going west, young man…to Kenova, where NS (former N&W) crosses CSX (former C&O) on a tall bridge that also crosses the Ohio River. Further west, but still close to Huntington, is the Ashland/Russell/Catlettsburg area in Kentucky, which used to be the heart of the C&O. Since the old Big Sandy Subdivision joins the main line at Catlettsburg, there is a bit more activity to the west at this point. As I said about Thurmond a week or so ago, this country will grow on you!