Exploring Chesapeake and Ohio's Former Ansted Branch

This right here is why I love Railroad History and Exploring can't think ‪@Trishs.Trains.Travels‬ enough for finding this amazing area full of railroad history, nature, and mining history. One of my favorite Rails to Trails explores to date. Here is a little history of the Area in a Description Below, Enjoy. #railroadhistory #westvirginia #mining #railstotrails Ansted had railroad service from 1874 until 1972. In 1874, mine owners had a narrow-gauge railroad built from Hawk's Nest Station up the ravine of Mill Creek. A saddleback locomotive was used. In 1889, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) purchased the narrow-gauge railroad and contracted with William Page to do the work to upgrade the line to standard gauge, which was completed on August 20, 1890. The (C&O) operated the new branch line, which was known as the Hawks Nest Subdivision from 1890 until 1972. It connected with the New River Subdivision main line at Hawks Nest Station and consisted of 3.44 miles (5.54 km) of line to and beyond the town of Ansted. The line had one of the steepest grades of any C&O branch, a 4.17% grade. C & O did not desire to transport passengers on the line but was ordered to do so by the State of West Virginia. Passenger service was finally operated on the branch line following a decision of the United States Supreme Court in Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company v. Public Service Commission of State of West Virginia, 242 U.S. 603 (1917), and continued until sometime in the 1930s. The freight rail service on the branch line ended in 1972 and the tracks were removed. Today, the Ansted-Hawks Nest Rail Trail follows the route from the Town of Ansted down the steep mountainside to the area of Hawks Nest Station in the New River Valley. The trail is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) in length and terminates where the aerial tram from Hawks Nest Lodge departs their passengers.