This photo of another heavy pacific in Terminus, shows some the famous arches that were so well known as part of Underground Terminus.  The city of Terminus was built up a level from the original city, therefore allowing streets to cross over the rail line and eliminate grade crossings.  This made for some very interesting scenes, especially as photograph from the so-called Terminus railroad gulch.

A Brand New 777 has arrived fresh from the factory

In this striking color slide, a brand new 777 has just been delivered to the Mount Frigid Engine Terminal from her birth place in Lima Locomotive Works in Lima Ohio.  The Bluefield ordered a total of 4 Lima-built Berkshires, numbered 775-778. They were essential copies of the famous Nickel Plate locomotives of the same wheel arrangement. When she arrived, the 777 had white running boards and white trimmed drivers (a look typically reserved for passenger power). She also sported a handsomely sheathed smokebox. The engine would not keep her fancy appearance for long, as tough mountain railroading and the many tunnels located on steep grades created less than clean conditions for any steam power.

This nice color slide shows the old line, near the old post tunnel.  This image was shot just after the line through the old post tunnel was abandoned and the new one was opened to service. In taking this picture, the photographer captured a scene that would soon be completely lost to history.  This portion of the former mainline can now only vaguely be seen from trans passing on the relocated line at a higher elevation. The cut is mostly full of undergrowth and the rails have been removed.

Heavy Mikado, 672 makes her way through the maze of switches at the north east end of William's Ridge. She has just finished switching out her freight cars and is headed to the engine terminal at Mount Frigid.

An early Bluefield Passenger Engine

A Bluefield 4-4-0 backs towards the coach yard in Terminus, circa 1919. In the early years, Bluefield had quite a few 4-4-0s.  159 was one of 3 4-4-0s kept into the 1950s for branch line service.

1913 Bluefield and Allegheny Central Map.

This is the way the Bluefield and Allegheny Central Railroad appeared in 1913. The map was not to change much in the next 50 years except for the addition of some branch lines. By 1950, B&AC was controlled by the Norfolk and Western, but continued to essentially run as its own entity into the 1960s. Trains north of Fairmont operated with trackage rights over the New York Central to Pittsburgh.