The M&K was completed in three stages: Morgantown to Bretz was completed in September 1903, Bretz to Kingwood in March 1906, and Kingwood to Rowlesburg in July 1907.[1] The route followed the course of Deckers Creek to Kingwood. The M&K had shops and a yard at Sabraton.[4]
The line primarily carried coal, building stone, glass sand and lumber.[1] By 1906 the line provided a twice-daily passenger service to Kingwood.[4] It was a key stimulus in the economic development of the region at the turn of the 20th century.[3]
History
George Cookman Sturgiss created the Morgantown and Kingwood Railroad Company which took out a charter for the M&K Railroad on 10 January 1899.[5][6] Sturgiss had previously been involved in several failed attempts to build the line and was in possession of much of the proposed right-of-way.[6] 8 mi (13 km) of the route were graded by September 1899.[7] Tracklaying began on 19 September 1899,[8] and 3 mi (4.8 km) was laid by November with 10 mi (16 km) graded.[9] 12 mi (19 km) were complete by December 1901.[10]
Stephen Elkins purchased the M&K Railroad Company in 1902.[3] The 18 mi (29 km) stretch to Masontown along Deckers Creek was completed by September 1902.[6] 2.5 mi (4.0 km) of track was laid between Bretz and Reedsville in 1904,[11] and the railroad reached Reedsville during 1905. [3] The Railroad Gazette page 23 July, 1905 indicates the line from Bretz to Reedsville is complete and the Morgantown and Kingwood is now constructing the 12 and a half miles from Reedsville to Kingwood. The company is also asking for bids from Kingwood to Rowlesburg. The section between Reedsville and Rowlesburg was under construction by 1906. 9 mi (14 km) of track was laid in 1905.[12]
The B&O gained control of the M&K in 1920 and operated it as a subsidiary.[13]
References
^ abcHennen, Ray V.; Reger, David B.; White, I.C. (1913). West Virginia Geological Survey: Marion, Monongalia and Taylor Counties. Wheeling, West Virginia: Wheeling News Lithograph Company.
^Kennedy, Robert F. (2008). "The B&O's M&K Branch: Tapping the Deckers Creek Valley" (PDF). The Sentinel. Baltimore, Maryland: Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Historical Society. 30 (4): 3–5. ISSN 1053-4415. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
^ abcdMorton, Oren Frederic; Cole, J.R. (1914). A history of Preston County, West Virginia. Vol. 2. Kingwood, West Virginia: The Journal Publishing Company. OCLC 6336571.
^ abVenable, Wallace; Venable, Norma (2007). Around Morgantown. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN978-0-7385-4393-2.
^Acts of the legislature of West Virginia, at its twenty-fourth regular session, commencing January 11th, 1899. Charleston, West Virginia: Press Butler Printing Company. 1899.
^ abcCallahan, James Morton (1912). Butcher, Bernard L (ed.). Genealogical and personal history of the upper Monongahela Valley, West Virginia. Vol. 3. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company.
^"Construction". The Railway Age: 576. 4 August 1899.
^"Construction". The Railway Age: 724. 29 September 1899.
^"Construction". The Railway Age: 827. 3 November 1899.
^"Construction". The Railway Age: 767. 27 December 1901.
^"Railroad built in 1904". The Railroad Gazette. 37 (29): 681. 30 December 1904.
^"Construction". The Railway Age: 451. 23 March 1906.
^Mundy, Floyd W., ed. (1922). "17th issue". Mundy's earning power of railroads. James H. Oliphant & Company. 17: 224.
January 15, 2023
morgantown, kingwood, railroad, reporting, mark, railroad, west, virginia, united, states, extended, from, baltimore, ohio, railroad, junction, morgantown, monongalia, county, masontown, kingwood, rowlesburg, junction, with, preston, county, distance, also, op. The Morgantown and Kingwood Railroad reporting mark M amp K was a railroad in West Virginia in the United States It extended from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad B amp O junction in Morgantown in Monongalia County via Masontown Kingwood and Rowlesburg to the M amp K junction with the B amp O in Preston County a distance of 47 9 mi 77 1 km 1 2 The M amp K also operated approximately 5 mi 8 0 km of branch lines along the route 3 Morgantown and Kingwood RailroadOverviewHeadquartersMorgantown West VirginiaReporting markM amp KLocaleMonongalia and Preston Counties West Virginia United StatesDates of operation1899 1920SuccessorBaltimore and Ohio RailroadTechnicalTrack gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gaugeLength47 9 mi 77 1 km The M amp K was completed in three stages Morgantown to Bretz was completed in September 1903 Bretz to Kingwood in March 1906 and Kingwood to Rowlesburg in July 1907 1 The route followed the course of Deckers Creek to Kingwood The M amp K had shops and a yard at Sabraton 4 The line primarily carried coal building stone glass sand and lumber 1 By 1906 the line provided a twice daily passenger service to Kingwood 4 It was a key stimulus in the economic development of the region at the turn of the 20th century 3 History EditGeorge Cookman Sturgiss created the Morgantown and Kingwood Railroad Company which took out a charter for the M amp K Railroad on 10 January 1899 5 6 Sturgiss had previously been involved in several failed attempts to build the line and was in possession of much of the proposed right of way 6 8 mi 13 km of the route were graded by September 1899 7 Tracklaying began on 19 September 1899 8 and 3 mi 4 8 km was laid by November with 10 mi 16 km graded 9 12 mi 19 km were complete by December 1901 10 Stephen Elkins purchased the M amp K Railroad Company in 1902 3 The 18 mi 29 km stretch to Masontown along Deckers Creek was completed by September 1902 6 2 5 mi 4 0 km of track was laid between Bretz and Reedsville in 1904 11 and the railroad reached Reedsville during 1905 3 The Railroad Gazette page 23 July 1905 indicates the line from Bretz to Reedsville is complete and the Morgantown and Kingwood is now constructing the 12 and a half miles from Reedsville to Kingwood The company is also asking for bids from Kingwood to Rowlesburg The section between Reedsville and Rowlesburg was under construction by 1906 9 mi 14 km of track was laid in 1905 12 The B amp O gained control of the M amp K in 1920 and operated it as a subsidiary 13 References Edit a b c Hennen Ray V Reger David B White I C 1913 West Virginia Geological Survey Marion Monongalia and Taylor Counties Wheeling West Virginia Wheeling News Lithograph Company Kennedy Robert F 2008 The B amp O s M amp K Branch Tapping the Deckers Creek Valley PDF The Sentinel Baltimore Maryland Baltimore amp Ohio Railroad Historical Society 30 4 3 5 ISSN 1053 4415 Retrieved 27 January 2012 a b c d Morton Oren Frederic Cole J R 1914 A history of Preston County West Virginia Vol 2 Kingwood West Virginia The Journal Publishing Company OCLC 6336571 a b Venable Wallace Venable Norma 2007 Around Morgantown Images of America Arcadia Publishing ISBN 978 0 7385 4393 2 Acts of the legislature of West Virginia at its twenty fourth regular session commencing January 11th 1899 Charleston West Virginia Press Butler Printing Company 1899 a b c Callahan James Morton 1912 Butcher Bernard L ed Genealogical and personal history of the upper Monongahela Valley West Virginia Vol 3 New York Lewis Historical Publishing Company Construction The Railway Age 576 4 August 1899 Construction The Railway Age 724 29 September 1899 Construction The Railway Age 827 3 November 1899 Construction The Railway Age 767 27 December 1901 Railroad built in 1904 The Railroad Gazette 37 29 681 30 December 1904 Construction The Railway Age 451 23 March 1906 Mundy Floyd W ed 1922 17th issue Mundy s earning power of railroads James H Oliphant amp Company 17 224 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Morgantown and Kingwood Railroad amp oldid 843048739, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
