In 1963, the state of West Virginia celebrated its centennial, having been formed from the state of Virginia during the American Civil War. Part of the celebration of this centennial was the operation of a special train around the state, featuring cars of exhibits on the state's history, crafts, industries, tourist spots, resources, and educational system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_West_Virginia

http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1038

http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1119

Baggage cars were provided by the C&O, B&O, N&W, NYC, and PRR, all the major roads serving the state at the time. After the exhibition's run, the cars were sold to the state of Montana for that state's centennial.

Some photos of this train and other exhibits when at Huntington were posted a while ago by a person with the user name of "Primemover88." Thanks to him and his willingness to share photos he took when he was all of ten years old, we have a glimpse of how railroads contributed to a centennial celebration in what I have to admit is a bit of a backwater--an indication of how these corporations used to care about even small things and places. How I wish we had more of that today. . .

Link with comments by the photographer:

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/K ... sage/13264

The photos; of note is the appearance of C&O 377 and the wooden combine that ran with it on the light-railed Craig Valley branch in Virginia, and the Western & Atlanta's famous No. 3, the General, the latter under steam. The exhibit cars themselves apparently have some sort of siding on them for a "modern" (?) appearance. Also on exhibit were some new freight cars, including a couple of what must have been builders' demonstration cars. It's also interesting that one of these cars--an ACF Center-Flo covered hopper--apparently is riding on plain-bearing trucks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10520947@N ... 66/detail/

Enjoy, and thank you, Primemover88.

What's the story on that tender with C&O 377? It looks bigger than the locomotive.

Wesley

"What's the story on that tender with C&O 377? It looks bigger than the locomotive."--Wesley

Took a look at some other photos of the 377, and I think it's a combination of perspective and perhaps a slightly short length lens on the little camera the fellow had that may be giving a slight wide-angle effect. Lots of fixed-focus cameras have such lenses.

A few other shots of 377:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2909069

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=386662

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1026550 ... HDkKhPVNdD

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1026550 ... UzfSbLhFZv

http://rides.webshots.com/album/2654873 ... wj?start=0

http://www.borail.org/CO-No-377.aspx

Looking at her, I am pleasantly surprised to see a typical and well-proportioned machine. It seems strange that this is one locomotive that isn't running; she looks good (though I wish she was in her later in-service look, which is more appropriate than a slightly dolled-up appearance attempting to look like she would have in 1900 or so), and she's not too big. She would almost be appropriate for operations at the B&O Museum--and I dare say she would be right at home on the Strasburg.

One other locomotive from her original owner exists--the 4-4-0 buried in the collapsed tunnel in Richmond.

My guess, and it's only a guess:

The #377 and it's coach as well as the "General" and it's coach are directly associated to the Centennial Celebration.

The C&O hopper and boxcar are displayed simply to represent the railroad's freight business.

The ACF car is displayed because it was probably built in the ACF factory in Huntington, WV.

The B&O switcher just happened to be in the C&O yard, and possibly was part of the celebration due to the C&O/B&O merger which the railroad may have wanted the public to see.

"After the exhibition's run, the cars were sold to the state of Montana for that state's centennial."

I would love to know more about this. I was in Montana in 1964 during the centennial in a town with both NP and MILW main lines, and never saw this equipment at all.

Did a little looking on the Montana Centennial train, and this is what turned up; seems at least two cars have survived in preservation:

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMCF ... nial_Train

http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image ... 4af216e297

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5t3o4dXe2M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmaczZPRTUo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdiyq3-OiJY

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/46465675

http://www.amazon.com/Montana-Centennia ... B006CUJZMG

Got to scroll down a ways, but there's a newspaper story on this page of other rail stories:

http://www.gnry.net/lookingback/lb1962.html

More scrolling for another photo:

http://www.tworvgypsies.us/!USA-2012-tr ... ntana.html

Hope this helps out.

Be nice to see the 377 returned to her "home territory" in North Judson, Indiana where she most likely ran in her earlier career. She does seem to be just a little unloved these days in Baltimore.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, IN)

I think Les is in love with the 377 and really, really wants to bring her "home."

Can't say I blame him, and she would be about perfect for a railroad 10 miles long in Indiana, even if she's a saturated job with Stephenson gear. . .