By William “Skip” Deegans
When the Greenbrier Division of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway began operations in 1900 it opened up vast timber reserves in the Greenbrier River watershed.
In addition to serving the timber industry, it provided passenger and freight services to communities and businesses along the Greenbrier River. Accidents were common, however, on this railroad, especially as a result of rock and mud slides. Bill McNeel in his excellent history of the Greenbrier Division tallied nearly 150 accidents and mishaps over the life of the line until the last run in 1978. According to McNeel, at least thirty-six people, but only one passenger, were killed.
On a day in February 1908 that didn’t go too well, an engine going north went into the Greenbrier River at Droop Mountain, and a freight train going south derailed at Watoga. At Durbin there was a head-on collision between two passenger trains. Both engines went into the river, but the coaches stayed on the track and no one was hurt.
There was a near miss in 1906 when a car loaded with bark for the Pocahontas Tanning Company broke away from the train and went racing down the mountain.
Four men were on the car. One by one they dropped off without anyone being injured except for minor bruises and scratches. The runaway car went through the towns of Winterburn, Dunlevie, and Barton for a run of some eight miles. As it approached the tanning yard where it was headed its speed had slowed to the point where it could be switched to its designated siding as it coasted to a standstill.
Shown in the undated photo is the train wreck of the “Lucy Belle” engine. It was owned by the Spice Run Lumber Co. that operated in the Droop Mountain area of Pocahontas County.
Sources: Greenbrier Independent, The Durbin Route by William Price McNeel.
