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 Quinnimont and Laurel Creek represent an important coal marshaling and branch lineconnection for the C&O in the New River gorge. Mine shifters for the Piney Creek sub, that enters the main just west of Quinnimont, originated here. Double headed H-6's were often assigned to drag 100 plus empty hoppers up the steep grades and tight curves to Raleigh, WV near Beckley, WV. The wye tracks at Quinnimont lead to the Laurel Creek subdivision, a small sub with about 7 miles of track and 4 percent grades. Having only 4 or 5 active mines it generally saw smaller shifter jobs. Furthermore, the mines on this subdivision ran out early so modern operations up Laurel Creek are limited.However, Piney Creek is still active with mine shifters and some local freight. Prior to the 1950's passenger operations also originated out of Quinnimont with Fanny, the Piney Creek Local, making connections with mainline name trains at Prince and then continuing up the grade to Beckley. A smaller local also served Laurel Creek.
The famous QN Cabin, which survived until the 1980's, complemented an assortment of other C&O standard style structures including a station, freight depot, speeder shed, section houses and pump house.  The photo below shows Kempinski's scratchbuilt N scale QN cabin. The allure of the cabin is mighty and models of it can be found on many famous model railroads regardless of prototype including Tony Koester's Allegheny Midland and Don Kassler's B&O Mountain Division!
Engine service facilities were modest and no coaling tower was present. One or two engines were permanently stationed at Quinnimont to work the coal yard. |
