Exploring the INACTIVE Rails of the Waynesburg Southern Branch

The Waynesburg Southern Branch, originally part of the Monogahela Railway, was once a busy rail line that transported coal out of mines in northern West Virginia. Today, all the mines are closed and no customers remain on the line. As the tracks crawl deeper into the Appalachian mountains, dilapidation and neglect grow more evident. Norfolk Southern, owners of this line, haven't technically "abandoned" these rails, but with little hope for future use it's very possible these tracks will never see revenue rail service again.
Note: I wasn't able to get many shots between Waynesburg and Wana Junction simply because there are very few public access points.
0:00 - Waynesburg Southern Branch
1:22 - Wana Industrial Track
2:07 - Waynesburg Southern Branch
2:46 - Miracle Run Branch
6:57 - Waynesburg Southern Branch

[@shawnpowell5876]

Great video showing the previous history of the track usage. Sad to see former Coal Mines as a distant memory today. Im surprised the Railroad Crossbuck signs still remain and haven't been relocated to a man cave. Thanks again for sharing this video with us along with your time and effort! Cheers from Laurel, Delaware USA.

[@pjsratrods8936]

I'd be curious if Iron Synergy was willing to restart up those mines.

[@danielfoster3642]

For an inactive branch, that's actually not too bad, considering most railroads that haven't had trains in a while just let Mother Nature take over the railroad tracks.

[@markschloemer727]

This would be a great place to start a tourist railroad if NS would lease or sell. Everything is there already.

[@DarrenMcallister-rf4oe]

That's what I was just thinking!

[@MilePost106]

Nice looking rail bed.

[@lesajohnson3008]

My Father worked at blacksville,#1 for 35 years, I do remember that train track and the big Conrail trains ,that would come in and out,and the big pond and the road to the mine

[@robertalcock1523]

Very intriguing video. Thanks!!

[@fleotusbing]

Thanks for sharing! Nice job of videoing, and I enjoyed the history of the RR (though its probable demise is sad). 👍

[@toddpilcher3804]

I was just in thar area last month and for the most part NS could reactivate the line tomorrow if they had review traffic to run on it. What the video doesn't show much of is the towns in the area that have been impacted by the closure of these mines and the war on coal.

[@lawnmowermanTX]

😿😿😿What towns??😿😿😿

[@BoxcarJerry]

Nicely done video , thanks for the tour around.

[@BlackMan614]

Federal #2 mine had been active for over 60 years! It was originally an Eastern Coal Corp mine in the 60s. IIRC, it had 5 ft seams, longwall and obviously steam coal.

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

Incredibly sad.

[@stardust-rv7mr]

Great video, just wish it weren't so, we need these lines and all the jobs that have disappeared!

[@EctoSupreme]

Strange finding a random railroad video about something close to my hometown.

[@supercuda1950]

Sometimes a major rr like NS decides a line does not have enough traffic to be profitable. Often a secondary line will lease or buy the line and continue operation (at a profit). In this case, not so much. Good video and nice scenery.

[@clearlycaribbeanreb2895]

Fantastic video!

[@bigmackstruckstop9213]

I've rail buffed all of those places all over 100 times.

[@MrBillCNW]

I wish I had the money to buy the Line and turn it into a tourist, Rail Road.
Just wishful thinking, you know how that goes.

[@sop2510]

Anyone know why NS didn’t tear up the rail? I assume they’re still paying taxes on the right-of-way.

[@GeorgeHyland]

Yeah….. I am not going to bring up politics with this nice group of railfans but we are all thinking the same thing

[@jimikrentkowski4073]

But what’s wrong with windmills and electric cars 😏

[@cptbuiltk7944]

Coal sucks. Biden 2024 ❤ trump for rikers

[@emagenevanhorn1543]

Biden is responsible

[@bubbabubba2013]

Xidenomics at work.

[@TRAINBUILDER]

Exactly. Watching our once strong Country fall into the A$$ of the animal pit is beyond disturbing.. Revolution in closer then we think. While watching dated rail video of beauty and progress, it’s hard to not look outside at the ‘pajama problem society’ we’ve become and ask yourself, the change back to the people’s power isn’t going to be pretty. 🇺🇸💪 Time to take back our Country. We saved the Animals in WW2.., (lord only knows why) NOW it’s time we save ourselves.

[@bigcatauna]

Rail cart it

[@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont]

It is one thing to see an old branch with light rail and cinder ballast out of service. It is quite another to see a heavy-duty railroad that will most likely never see another train except the rail remover.