George Washington Saunders, Foreman of Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Near Hawks Nest, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1872
Description:
Foreman George Washington Saunders, standing, far left, with unidentified others in camp during the construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad in Fayette County. Other information on the back of the photograph includes: "Photo courtesy William N. Kaempf, his grandson. Retired Chesterfield County , Va. school administrator." Also., " from Roy Long to Stephen Trail 01-31-1997, Su Co WV photo ca. 1972 Hawk's Nest".
Construction Crew for Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, Hawks Nest Division, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1870
Description:
George Washington Saunders ,the job foreman, is in the back-left, with his hands in his pockets and the only white man in the photograph. None of the African-American workers are identified. Other information on the back of the photograph includes, "from Roy Long, Hinton to Stephen Trail 1-31-1997".
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Construction Crew Near Hawks Nest, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1870
Description:
Foreman George Washington Saunders, the only white man in the photograph and is on horseback. None of the African-American workers are identified. Other information inscribed on the back of the photograph includes: "Photo courtesy William N, Kaempf, grandson, Richmond , Va." Also, "from Roy Long to Stephen Trail 1-31-1997 Hinton Su Co WV".
The White Oak Railway was constructed during the early-1900's and came under the control of the New River Company. The short-line railroad was originally incorporated to provide citizens of the area a direct rail-connection between the primary business centers in Beckley, Mount Hope, and Oak Hill.The railroad consisted of two unconnected "pieces" that never were completely finished. The first section consisted of about 7 and ½ miles of track connecting with the C. & O. Railway at Carlisle, running from there through Oak Hill to Stuart. The second section was about 4 to 5 miles in length connecting with the C. & O. Railway at Price Hill Junction, running to a mine located at Price Hill.Under an agreement with the C. & O. Railway, the White Oak Railway operated passenger and freight trains along the tracks of the C. & O.'s White Oak Branch between Glen Jean and Carlisle. In 1912, the New River Company sold the locomotives and rolling stock of the White Oak Railway and jointly leased operation of the railroad to Virginian and the C. & O.
