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Memories From West Virginia Of 20 Cents Train Fare

Gene is in the process of getting a Western Maryland HO train set for his grandson and has kindly sent in these fond memories of his early years in West Virginia. Gene writes:

I grew up in West Virginia seeing the freight trains pull 50 and 70 ton hoppers up and down the mountains. On the steeper or longer grades, I’d see trains pulled by two engines up front and one engine pushing in the rear.

The Era was: 1940-52. My age: 8 – 20 years. Location: Morgantown, WV

I remember watching frieght trains hauling coal. I enjoyed hearing the “Woooooo, Wooooo” of the air horns in the late evening echoing through the mountains.

On the steeper or longer grades, two engines pulled from the front and one engine pushed from the rear.

Frieght: 90% was coal. Rust colored hoppers, 50 tons or 70 tons, depending on whether it had two V V or 3 V V V from the bottom.

There was an occasional gondola and ‘box car.’ Always with a caboose.

Most of the cars were “PRR”, Pennsylvania Railroad.

I also rember the passenger trains:
Cars painted dark brown to match the heavy dust from the engine, which would pour through the open windows during warm weather.

Seats were heavily upholsterd with hard stuffing. But the ride smooth, since we were on tracks.

Summer: Lots of dust and smoke and noise coming through the open windows.
As a kid I loved it. About 5 people in the car.

Conductor in typical uniform punched our tickets.
[A well dressed man, angry because he had not been recognized as an important person, scoffed, “My face is my ticket!” So the conductor punched it. Whoops, just kidding about this.]

My mother and I would ride a few miles to Hildebrand, WV to visit my grandmother. The journey was less than 10 miles. I loved to ride the train. Fare: 20cents each way.

The passenger train was “B&O”, Baltimore and Ohio.

These are very pleasant memories of my childhood and the trains.

If you would like to share some of your best railroad memories please use the form at http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/memories.html

I’m sure others would like to hear of your experiences on trains.

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