Sad news from social media sources and from the website of Norfolk Southern, current operator of the West Virginia Secondary of which I model a small portion. It has been announced that NS will idle “parts” of the 253 mile line from Columbus, Ohio to Dickinson, WVa. Some sources state that the entire line will be idled, while others report the line from Nitro down through Dickinson and over to Elmore will be used, with trains now being routed Dickinson through Elmore.

Needless to say, from a person who has traveled this area, and a former railroader, this can’t be good news, at least for parts of this line. We can only hope due to many factors that this line once again someday sees an increase in former traffic levels.