Bluefield, WV/RR heritage alive and well in region

Sloan · **Posted:** Sun Oct 02, 2011 8:49 am

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 02, 2011 9:50 am

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 02, 2011 5:12 pm

I don't know whether to laugh or cry or smile--but it amazes me that this little Chance park train apparently has quite a hold on the citizens of Bluefield.

At its original location on the mountain, and billed at the time as "The Shortest Interstate Train in the World:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pN ... mUuqLIHFPQ

The souvenir shop at the now-abandoned original location, visible in background of the photo above:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yankeepez/166049254/

http://bdtonline.com/local/x1112100645/ ... er-project

http://bdtonline.com/archive/x133826407 ... e345ca.jpg

The newspaper article above mentioned that at one point, the city of Bluefield was thinking about placing this park train on a pedestal, to recall Bluefield's railroad heritage. Imagine that, a Chance train as a railroad memorial! People thought more of it, though, and raised over $150,000 to restore this thing and bring it back to life. I wonder how much they miss the real thing:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 331&nseq=1

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 511&nseq=5

http://209.85.120.98/viewphoto.php?id=14499&nseq=1414