Appalachian and Ohio Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Appalachian and Ohio Railroad is a class III railroad
operating in West Virginia
.
Originally the Cowen and Pickens Subdivisions of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
, the railroad was a part of CSX
until it was bought by Watco Companies
, which began operating the railroad on March 25, 2005. Watco only held the line for a short time before selling it to Four Rivers Transportation
on May 15, 2006.
The railroad operates 158 miles of track between Grafton
and Cowen
. It has no branches, except for a short line that connects Alexander to the main line at Hampton.
The AO's main customers are coal mines, although it carries smaller amounts of chemicals and wood. Among the six coal mines it serves is the Sago Mine, site of the Sago Mine disaster
in 2006.
It connects with four other railroads:
Of these railroads, only CSX and WVC operate currently; the ELKR closed in 1999, and the BEEM closed in 2000.
to and from customers. They currently have two SD90's (#s 125 and 130), four GP38-3's
(#s 2631, 2634,2638, and 2662), two GP38-2's
(#s 2665 and 2670), one GP40-2
mother
(#2113) and a GP40
slug
(#2114). All Watco motive power, including seven SD50's and five GP38's
went to other Watco operations.
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
operating in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
.
Originally the Cowen and Pickens Subdivisions of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
, the railroad was a part of CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
until it was bought by Watco Companies
Watco Companies
Watco Companies, Inc. is a Pittsburg, Kansas-based transportation company that was formed in 1983 by Charles R. Webb. Watco is composed of three divisions: transportation, mechanical and transloading. WCI is the owner of Watco Transportation Services, Inc...
, which began operating the railroad on March 25, 2005. Watco only held the line for a short time before selling it to Four Rivers Transportation
Four Rivers Transportation
Four Rivers Transportation, Inc. based in Wilmington, Delaware, is a railroad holding company in the United States. It is jointly-owned by the management of the P&L Railway, as well as CSX Corporation, which the latter holds a majority.-Subsidiaries:...
on May 15, 2006.
The railroad operates 158 miles of track between Grafton
Grafton, West Virginia
Grafton is a city in, and county seat of, Taylor County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 5,489 at the 2000 census. The only two national cemeteries in West Virginia are located in Grafton. Mother's Day was founded in Grafton on May 10, 1908; the city is the home to the International Mother's...
and Cowen
Cowen, West Virginia
Cowen is a town in Webster County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 513 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cowen is located at ....
. It has no branches, except for a short line that connects Alexander to the main line at Hampton.
The AO's main customers are coal mines, although it carries smaller amounts of chemicals and wood. Among the six coal mines it serves is the Sago Mine, site of the Sago Mine disaster
Sago Mine disaster
The Sago Mine disaster was a coal mine explosion on January 2, 2006, in the Sago Mine in Sago, in Upshur County, West Virginia, USA, near the county seat of Buckhannon. The blast and collapse trapped 13 miners for nearly two days; one miner survived...
in 2006.
It connects with four other railroads:
- CSX, at Grafton
- Beech Mountain Railroad (BEEM), at Alexander
- Elk River RailroadElk River RailroadThe Elk River Railroad runs for 61 miles between Gilmer and Hartland, West Virginia and has existed since July 1989 although it was originally built in the late 1900s and was once part of the Coal and Coke Railway that ran from Charleston to Elkins. Operations ended indefinitely in 1999, though...
(ELKR), at BurnsvilleBurnsville, West VirginiaBurnsville is a town in Braxton County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Little Kanawha River and Saltlick Creek. The population was 481 at the 2000 census... - West Virginia Central Railroad (WVC), at Tygart
Of these railroads, only CSX and WVC operate currently; the ELKR closed in 1999, and the BEEM closed in 2000.
Locomotive Roster
The A&O railroad uses EMD locomotives to move the empty and loaded carsRolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
to and from customers. They currently have two SD90's (#s 125 and 130), four GP38-3's
EMD GP38
An EMD GP38 is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1966 and December 1971. Power was provided by an EMD 645 16-cylinder engine which generated ....
(#s 2631, 2634,2638, and 2662), two GP38-2's
EMD GP38-2
An EMD GP38-2 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the GP38-2 was an upgraded version of the earlier GP38...
(#s 2665 and 2670), one GP40-2
EMD GP40-2
An EMD GP40-2 is a 4-axle diesel road switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division as part of its Dash 2 line between April 1972 and December 1986. Power was provided by an EMD 645E3 16-cylinder engine which generated 3000 horsepower .- Production :Standard GP40-2 production...
mother
Slug (railroad)
A railroad slug is an accessory to a diesel-electric locomotive. It has trucks with traction motors but is unable to move about under its own power, as it does not contain a prime mover to produce electricity...
(#2113) and a GP40
EMD GP40
The EMD GP40 is a 4-axle diesel-electric road switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between November 1965 and December 1971...
slug
Slug (railroad)
A railroad slug is an accessory to a diesel-electric locomotive. It has trucks with traction motors but is unable to move about under its own power, as it does not contain a prime mover to produce electricity...
(#2114). All Watco motive power, including seven SD50's and five GP38's
EMD GP38
An EMD GP38 is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1966 and December 1971. Power was provided by an EMD 645 16-cylinder engine which generated ....
went to other Watco operations.