BUFFALO CREEK & GAULEY RR
BUFFALO CREEK & GAULEY RR
"Keeping the Memory Alive"
The BC&G was an 18.6 mile long coal-hauling shortline that operated in central West Virginia in its original form from 1904 through 1963, and then in an abbreviated form through February 1965. It was reincarnated on several occasions since. It was a fascinating railroad and an ideal railroad for modeling. This website represents the compilation of information gathered over a period of over 40 years, information that was gathered to aid me in the construction of "S" scale (1:64) model railroads depicting the BC&G.
The purpose of this site is to be a single collection point for information about the BC&G and the ERC&L, particularly previously unpublished information. This site now contains a significant number of new photos, drawings and stories about the railroad that have not previously been in the public domain. Collectively the information presented here will allow modelers to construct and operate accurate layouts of this fascinating railroad. For a list of all those who have made contributions to the site, see "ABOUT THE SITE".
The information presented here will be of value to those with an interest in the BC&G, logging lines and Appalachian shortlines in general, but it's particularly aimed at those interested in modeling the BC&G and the logging railroad of the BC&G's parent company, the Elk River Coal & Lumber Company.
The site is a living document, so If you have comments, questions or information to add to this collection, please go to the CONTACT ME page.
Brooks Stover
September 2024
If you have questions or comments about this site, or information or photos to add to it, I'd love to hear from you. Please click here..............................
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Connie Acree has identified the crewmemembers in the original photo (above left) taken on February 27,1965, the last day of operations.
L to R: Ralph Acree (Connie's dad), Jobe Young, Ab Wilson (Connie's great uncle), Carsel Hamrick, Moon Mullins and Sammy Burkhammer. The fellow on the far right is unknown.
On November 4, 1995 an event was held at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC commorating the 30th anniversary of BC&G Engine #4's final run from Swandale (photo near right). Engine #4 was at the NCTM in tourist service lettered as Southern #604. For the reunion, she was restored to her BC&G livery and several hundred BC&G faithful enjoyed seeing the engine in service again. The photo on the far right was taken that weekend with members of the organizing effort poised to duplicate the famous photo on the left taken 30 years earlier. Amazingly, both photos were taken by the same photographer, Larry Fellure. In the reproduction photo, Bob Withers is second from left, Frank Criswell third from left and Brooks Stover is at the far right. It was a weekend all in attendance will long remember!
BC&G
PROTOTYPE INFORMATION
Visitors
BC&G #4 Underway At Spencer
November 1995
IF YOU ENJOY THIS SITE, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE GUEST BOOK!
You can send me an email (HERE) and let me know if you find the site useful or interesting.
9/22/24 - Added photos of a model of a Curtiss SC-2 SEAHAWK
9/15/24 - I have completed a model of a Curtiss SOC-3 SEAGULL
9/4/24 - I've updated the page on Modeling the BC&G In S and added a few additional models that previously weren't shown on this page. I have also changed the page that formerly was "BC&G Coop" and changed it to "BC&G Today".
9/3/24 - Updated the list of my layout articles and added images of all of the covers.
8/30/24 - Thanks to Homestead for updating their software so that this site can continue using their older site builder software. I rearranged the home page slightly and added a navigation bar for my auto, aircraft and ship models.
8/27/24 - Added some new aircraft and ship model photos.
6/3/24 - I've added several aircraft models, most recently a DOUGLAS A-26 Invader.
11/21/23 - An annoucement about Cody Burdette's new book has been posted near the top of this page
11/9/23 - I added images of an F-100 Super Sabre model I recently completed.
8/18/23 - I've added some additional aircraft models, most recently the Grumman F3F-3
4/4/22 - I have updated the section on RAILFAN TRIPS adding more photos and generally rearranging the information and pictures in chronological order. Man, it must have been a blast in 1958 to ride behind the Shay out on Lilly Fork!
WHAT'S NEW on the SITE ?
Click on the highlighted phrases to connect to the pages with new information then look for the with the date corresponding to the posting.
Welcome to the BC&G!
Hosted by Brooks Stover
The Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad
The 'odometer' has rolled over. Add 100,000 to this number!
David Marquis
John Phillips 10-58
Brooks Stover
Other BC&G Layouts
Bob Slavy
Mark Metz
I have prepared an illustrated MODEL RAILROADER'S GUIDE TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHYto assist other modelers in photographing their models and layouts. Click on the link to the left to access the 34-page GUIDE which covers all aspects of model photography from definitions and principles to a hands-on guide to camera settings.
WANT TIPS FOR TAKING BETTER LAYOUT & MODEL PHOTOGRAPHS?
BC&G #4 is working the sawmill at Swandale in the final years of operation. By this time, the train from Dundon arrived just 3 times a week, always with a short consist and caboose C-1.
Sign and View GUEST BOOK Here!
Number 4 is currently owned by the Durbin & Greenbriar RR of West Virginia, the firm that now operates the Cass Scenic Rwy. #4 is undergoing a complete renovation and Cody Burdette reports that a new boiler is going to be constructed for the locomotive.
More info at the bottom of this page.
RESTORATION OF #4 UNDERWAY
The NOVEMBER 2022 issue of RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN includes a feature article about my current BC&G S scale model railroad. The 8-page articl includes photographs taken on railfan visits to the railroad in the summer of 1964. Each is taken from a vantage point not normally visible to someone looking at the layout.
The BC&G in
RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTMAN
The BC&G is also featured in Kalmbach's GREAT MODEL RAILROADS 2023!
BC&G LAYOUT is on YouTube!
Watch a series of 13 short videos covering all the major scenes and trains on the layout!
Be sure and leave a comment if you see something you like!
Updated: August 30, 2024
ERC&L #4 simmers quietly between moves while shuffling cars at the Swandale sawmill. The engine started out as a Bachmann On30 Climax. The L&N boxcar is from American Models, custom painted with Tichy decals. This scene was photographed on my current 12' X2 5' layout
I've added a few ship models to the website, including the USS Missouri, a PT boat and the USS Arizona (above). For all the models, click here.
"My book is about growing up in a railroad family. My Dad was a railroad engineer so I got to do what most boys dream of...I got to ride in steam locomotives cabs with my Dad. He would even let me run them sometimes. I went to work on the railroad right out of high school in 1956. I ended my railroad career on the Cass Scenic Railroad in W.Va. I collect and restore old steam locomotive whistles."Cody Burdette
CODY BURDETTE has written a book!
Former Elk River Coal & Lumber employee and long-time contributor to this website, Cody Burdette, has published a book about his life with railroading. The book is available now on Amazon.
"SON OF A TRAVELING MAN"
In the MAY 2024 issue of RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN you'll find an article about how Climax #4 arrived on the ERC&L property. The story is based on the tale that Cody Burdette tells of how Cherry River Boom & Lumber Shays #2 and #7 were delivered to the BC&G via the B&O.
May 2024
MY CURRENT BC&G LAYOUT
Other Modeling:
CARS, AIRCRAFT & SHIPS
2007-2024 - Sharing the story of the BC&G and model railroads depicting it for SEVENTEEN YEARS!
Updated: Sept 15, 2024
November 2022
Navigation bars for the 4 sections of the website. Clicking "HOME" on any navigation bar returns to this page.
