The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society
May 10, 2008
The Opening Celebration for the C&O Railway Heritage Center was held 1 PM Saturday, May 10, 2008, in Clifton Forge, Virginia, on a beautiful Spring mountain day. Over 250 people from the local community and visitors from near and far gathered in Smith Creek Yard for the event. Leaders from the local community and the C&O Historical Society opened the event with comments on the Center. The comments focused on the importance and value of the history of the railroad and the goals of the Center: to bring significant tourist traffic to the Alleghany Highlands and to honor the work and memory of those who built and worked on the railroad. The official Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce ribbon was cut, the bluegrass band 220 South began playing railroad folksongs, and guests lined up to tour the Center for the first time.
Guests were treated to a first look at the newly created exhibits in the Heritage Center. Panels on the walls tell the story of the C&O: its history, development, and technology. An 18-foot long model of the famous J-3a Greenbrier locomotive greets guests as they enter the exhibit hall. In the center of the hall is a 48 foot long O gauge train layout, featuring exact scale models of structures from across the C&O line, an H-8 Allegheny hauling a coal train, and an F-19 Pacific pulling the famous George Washington passenger train. Above the layout is an 80 foot long mural depicting the history of transportation in America which was originally painted in 1935 and was on display with the C&O’s own O gauge railroad from 1935-1947. The mural was on display at the Clifton Forge High School for 60 years.
Outside, there were lots of activities for kids young and old. Russ Sunderland had his 4-6-2 Live Steam locomotive fired up and gave rides all day long. Ernie and Tommy Clay had their collection of vintage steam whistles going, bringing back the sounds of days gone by. Guests were treated to tours of the cabooses and rides on the hand car. The picnic area was a great place to sit and relax. Our combine car was in the process of getting a fresh coat of paint after being blasted down to bare metal. The following weekend, the Center was host to over 50 Boy Scouts receiving instruction for their railroading merit badge.
One of the best things about the Center has been the opportunity for the Center to be a showpiece for local crafts and trades people. The project has been an opportunity for this community to show what it can do. Our sign is symbolic of this: it was designed and constructed by local blacksmith, Glen Bryant. Community volunteers helped prepare the Center for the opening. We are grateful to everyone who came out to help and who contributed financial support to the Center.
The Heritage Center is a work in progress. We will continue to develop the Center over the course of the summer and the next several years. We hope to begin construction on a replica passenger depot and signal tower later this year which will serve as a new rail gateway to the community.
312 East Ridgeway Street Clifton Forge, Virginia 24422 Phone: 540-862-2210 Fax: 540-863-9159 www.cohs.org
