History - BC&G Today
BUFFALO CREEK & GAULEY RR CO-OPERATIVE
P.O. Box 427
Clay, West Virginia 25043
304-587-6055
(9:00 am - 5:00 pm Mon-Fri)
email: BCGRailroad@yahoo.com
Website: www.bcandgcoop.blogspot.com
Jerold "Jerry" Murphy, President
Bill Car, Vice President
Charles Cantrell, Treasurer
Janine Potasnik, Secretary
At one time, the 300+ member BC&G Co-Operative worked on acquiring the remaining 14 miles of the original BC&G track and starting a tourist railroad as well as completing a campground facility on the site of the former BC&G Dundon yard. To the right are the officers and contact information for the Co-Operative when it was in existence. January 2020
While the ultimate objective of the Co-Op was to create a tourist railroad on the BC&G track that is not the only objective. The Co-Op developed the J.G. Bradley Campground on the site of the BC&G's Dundon yard. The photo (right) shows the JG Bradely lodge in the early phase of construction in 2007. In addition to the lodge, individual cabins and camp sites were also planned. In the lower right, the track to the B&O interchange is visible.
The Cooperative ceased operations sometime around 2012.
J.G. BRADLEY CAMPGROUND 2007
Despite the fact that the Co-Op never owned the track, at one time it owned a locomotive and two cabooses, all shown here near the J.G. Bradley Campground.
The locomotive is a GE Class B-70/71 - GE763 35-ton 275 HP unit. It was built in January 1964 (s/n 34610) and shipped to the Carolina Power and Light Company on February 6, 1964.
The two cabooses are ex-Wabash units.
This photo was taken in 2007.
BC&G Co-Operative (2005 - 2012)
In the summer of 2005 the Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad Co-Operative was forned with the guidance of Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone of West Virginia. The intent of the CAEZ and the BC&G Co-Op is "to acquire 14.5 miles of the BC&G RR to create a rail excursion on one of the most scenic and undisturbed areas of West Virginia. Passengers will experience the beauty of the Buffalo Creek which is virtually unchanged from when the railroad first began. The area's natural beauty is enhanced by waterfalls, wildlife, wildflowers, rock formations, and the wonder of the people who lived and worked on this stretch of isolated railroad."
The Co-Op signed a 30 year lease with the CAEZ for property at Dundon for the J.G. Bradley Campground, developed campground sites with water and electricity on the site of the former BC&G Dundon Shops and received a $200,000 in grant money from the WV Governor to be used toward the purchase of the railroad property from railroad owner Bill Bright.
The scenery along the BC&G is truely spectacular and draws nature lovers and railfans alike today!
Three photos by Brooks Stover
Buffalo Creek at Sand Fork
Original BC&G track is still in place along much of the 18 miles of right-of-way.
Scenery at end of existing BC&G track.
Visit The Site
About 14 miles of the original BC&G track is still in place. Recently about 6 miles of the track have been reconditioned and it's now possible to ride on the rails courtesy of a RAIL EXPLORERS program! For more information, visit their site at: RAILEXPLORERS.net
As indicated below (BC&G Cooperative), there is a campground and lodge as well as individual cabins on the site of the original BC&G shops in Clay, WV. The website for the JG Bradley campground is www.claycountycamping.com. However, as of this update, their website indicates that no reservations are available for the summer of 2024 so the exact status of the camping facilities is unclear.
THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2024
See BC&G Locomotives and Rolling Stock
BC&G #13 is on display at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugar Creek, OH.
BC&G #14 is on display in Gaithersburg,MD
BC&G #4 is currently awaiting a new boiler prior to undergoing reconstruction at Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass, WV. You can contribute to the restoration at the Steamthe4.com website.
ERC&L's logging caboose and the American log loader are on display at Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass, WV
