Elkins in Randolph County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Working the Railyard
The Elkins Railyard was a bustling and dangerous place.
Workers serviced passenger and freight trains, and repaired locomotives and rolling stock in the adjacent roundhouse and maintenance shops. Work was often dangerous and difficult, with long grueling hours. "If you worked on the railroad, you were either at home sleeping or at the railroad at work," recalled one employee.
With the switch from steam to diesel engines in the 1950s, fewer employees were needed. Improved highways and an increased reliance on cars and trucks brought rapid decline for the railroad. On November 28, 1981, a fire destroyed the roundhouse, leading to the closure of the railyard.
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The shops employed hundred who specialized in fields such as pipe fitting, machinery, blacksmithing, construction, and pointing.
The railyard was an elaborate maze of siding with 18 tracks and 105 switches that allowed trains to be within the yard.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is November 28, 1981.
Location. 38° 55.465′ N, 79° 51.074′ W. Marker is in Elkins, West Virginia, in Randolph County. It is on Railroad Avenue 0.1 miles south
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Regionally, this marker is in West Virginia’s Potomac Highlands. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Darden Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); The Railroad Builds Elkins (within shouting distance of this marker); War in West Virginia (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Elisenda (about 700 feet away); Western Maryland Railway Honor Roll (about 700 feet away); H.W. Daniels Post No. 29 (about 700 feet away); Henry Gassaway Davis (approx. Ό mile away); Stephen Benton Elkins / Halliehurst (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elkins.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 343 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
