Our Railroads

The history of the Winchester & Western (W&W) began in the Summer of 1916.  The Baltimore & Ohio railroad and the Winchester Lumber Company decided that the forests of Hardy, Hampshire, and Frederick Counties of West Virginia could be harvested for their vital resources. In the years following, which included the First World War, rail traffic was on the rise leading to an increased need for more rail ties.

Thus, The Intermountain Construction Company began working on the Winchester & Western Railroad, with the first train taking track in January, 1918.  The initial train carried lumber from Gore to Winchester, VA. In the mid-1980s, the railroad was then split into the Virginia Division and the New Jersey Division, which both have connections to CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway, two major Class I Railroads.

Today, the Virginia Division has 53 miles of track running through the Shenandoah Valley and moves approximately 12,500 carloads per year.  The New Jersey Division has 47 miles of track and moves approximately 8,500 carloads per year.The Virginia Division has 2 lines: the Winchester Mainline, and the Sandman Branch. The latter covers the 18 miles of track between Gore and Winchester, VA.