I just received word that the former Chesapeake and Ohio depot in Marlinton, WV, burned this morning. The building housed the Pocahontas County CVB and was a stop on the Greenbrier River Trail, formerly the C&O's Greenbrier Sub, a little more than 20 rail/trail miles south of Cass. The origin of the fire hasn't been determined, and I don't know the extent of the damage, though the tone of the message I got was not optimistic. The depot was all wood. I do not know what kind of shape the wooden C&O caboose parked outside is in.

Sad news. Will add more if/when I hear anything.

David A. Vago

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/homepage/x112310328

http://wvgazette.com/latest/200803280081

No photos that I can find - but from the tone of the articles.. doesn't sound good.

For a photo, see the local newspaper, the Pocahontas Times. It's the front page main photo as of my posting this:

http://www.pocahontastimes.com

David -

Thanks for the photo from the Pocahontas Times. Sad, sad sight. Especially sad for me becase the depot at our museum is a close duplicate of the Marlinton depot and is based on the original C&O plans.

I am glad however, to see that the C&O caboose appears to have escaped the flames.

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

Hi,

There's a boxcar attached to the other end of the C&O 90979 caboose which should also be unscathed. I don't recall its heritage:

http://cencalrails.railfan.net/c&o90979.html

Roger



"I am glad to see that the C&O caboose appears to have escaped the flames." Les Beckman