Trackside Guide to the Cowen Subdivision

This is Part I of the Cowen Subdivision Trackside Guide, which will cover the subdivision south from Grafton, WV, to Philippi, WV. This part of the line has an excellent chase road, US Rt 119/250 that follows the track for a good part of the way. It's often best to chase from Berkeley Run to the Berryburg Junction turnoff and then continue south away from the track and setup at for a photo in the town of Philippi, WV. As the key shows, the red line is the Cowen Subdivision, the yellow lines are primary roads, such as State and US Routes and green is the secondary roads, county roads for the most part. All shown roads are accessible without 4 wheel drive, although in winter months it is recommended. I've also placed icons where signals are currently located, which can be used in conjunction with the signal lists on the timetable page. If you haven't read the Grafton railfan guide and need to know how to get to Berkeley Run Jct, click here.

Berkeley Run Jct to Pleasant Creek

Departing from Berkeley Run Junction, stay on US Rt 119/250. The Bridgeport subdivision is the double tracked line on the left, with the single track Cowen subdivision above it to the left. Less than half a mile beyond the junction, you'll see a road go off to your left. This is Paynes Road which crosses over the Bridgeport sub tracks while the Cowen subdivision crosses over the road on a small bridge. Another half a mile later US 119/250 crosses over the Bridgeport line at Webster, WV. The Cowen line is still to the left, although there are few roads to reach it besides private drives. From the route you're on, the track can be seen in various locations to the left and photos can be taken from along the road if you see one of these spots you like. In the small town of Webster, the road dips away from the track and follows the Bridgeport sub to a small farming store, where the Bridgeport Subdivison chase road to Clarksburg breaks off to the right. For the next mile and a half the railroad is above the road and basically inaccessible except for private and farm crossings. In the winter time with the leaves off the trees, you can photograph trains going in both directions along this section of the line, although you'll probably need a zoom or telephoto lens. About a mile past the farming store, you'll reach a small community of named Knight. Knight is the location of the first southbound passing siding on the single track Cowen subdivision, but due to it's limited size, a meet between two trains here is rare. Leaving Knight, Rt 119/250 will begin to climb a hill towards the tracks - at one point you'll see it to the left. The road climbs up and over the hill while the track heads through the hill via a short tunnel - Knight Tunnel. On the other side of this hill, the road descends into Pleasant Creek Valley while the track emerges from Knight Tunnel and continues along the hillside above you. At the bottom of the hill is the Pleasant Creek Trestle which crosses the valley parallel to the road. This trestle is several hundred feet tall and runs north to south. The sun is best for southbounds in the afternoon, so you can stand along the road and shoot across the valley.

Pleasant Creek to Philippi

After leaving the Pleasant Creek bridge, the road climbs up hill towards the track. About half a mile further south, the highway crosses the track on a bridge which can offer a good view of tangent track on either side. From the overpass, the Cowen sub continues approx half a mile further south to Lane Tunnel. There is no good way to reach either portal because of the absence of roads and private property surrounding the track. After crossing the track on US 119/250, continue up the hill with the railroad almost out of sight on the right. After topping the hill, the road descends back to the Cowen sub via a series of curves. You'll reach a small intersection at the bottom of the hill where Country Road 6 splits left off the main road to go to Berryburg Jct - See the Berryburg Jct section below for directions. Continuing onto Philippi past the intersection with CR 6, you'll once again pass over top of the track on a new roadbridge. From this point the highway leaves the mainline until Philippi, WV. About a mile further south, you run across the Berryburg Industrial Track which serves a large mine to the west of here - the Sentinel Mine. See the Berryburg section for directions. Back on the main road to Philippi, continue across the track on US Rt 119/250 and after about 3 miles you will crest another hill and reach Philippi, WV.

Berryburg Junction

To reach Berryburg Jct, take CR 6 down a short hill to track level - the road then follows the railroad for a short distance before it heads away. At this point take a right onto the gravel county road 6-5 and follow it about a mile until you pass underneath the track - Berryburg Junction is located just south of this bridge which is the southern end of the Berryburg siding and also where the Berryburg Industrial Track heads west from the mainline. I find this route is best used when chasing northbound trains because if you chase a southbound one to here, it'll be hard to catch it in Philippi or even father south until Ragoon or Teter. Continue south on this road and you'll cross the Berryburg Industrial Track about a 1/4 a mile west of the bridge. Continue on this road for less than two miles when you'll reach Routes 119 / 250 again.

Berryburg

From Rt 119/250, turn right onto State Route 76 and follow it west for less than half a mile with the Berryburg Industrial Track on the left. The Sentinel coal loader is to the left and the main mine area to the right. A conveyor brings the coal over the road to the loader which is served by a short loading track. Sentinel has a diesel switcher to work the loader and in order to catch a train, it's best to go between Tuesday and Friday - although Sentinel loads on other days too. A small yard is to the south of the main industrial track where coal trains will be made up during loading and empties dropped off by the CSX mine turn. The industrial track continues for about a mile past the mine as a switching lead - it use to extend about 7 miles farther west until several mines closed down resulting in the abandonment of that section.

Philippi

After reaching the hill north of Philippi on US Rt 119/250, follow the road downhill past the Alderson-Broadous College. To the left in the Tygart Valley is Philippi with the Cowen Subdivision on the east (left) side of the river b/c of the Tygart bridge about a mile north of Philippi. At the bottom of the hill beside the famous Philippi covered bridge - Rt 119 and Rt 250 split, with 250 going across the covered bridge to Belington, WV, and 119 heading south to Buckhannon, WV. This bridge survived the first land battle of the American Civil War and numerous floods but fell victim to fire almost 10 years ago - fortunately this bridge has since been restored. To the right of the bridge is a park which has a nice view of the railroad curving along the banks of the river. To reach Philippi's station, take a left through the covered bridge and then over the railroad track on the other side. Philippi's restored station - housing a museum collection - is to the left and a Sheets gas station and store to the right. South of the station, the railroad curves along the river with the building's of Philippi making an interesting backdrop. A short city street follows the track from the Sheets station to a on the other side of the small town, again making for some interesting shots. To continue chasing a southbound train, head back through town until you reach the intersection across the covered bridge where US Rt 119 and Rt 250 split. Take Rt 119 south to Buckhannon, WV. Part II - Philippi to Buckhannon is coming soon.

Meriden

Meriden is the site of an old mine which closed down in the mid 1980s. To reach the Meriden area from Philippi, take a left at the first traffic light - in front of Sheets - onto Pike street. Continue through town on this road until you crest a medium sized hill. The road name changes from Pike St. to Country Road 24 outside of town and on the left is a graveyard with the track far below it. On the north side of the graveyard is an unobstructed view of the track curving alongside the Tygart River and past several small industries. Continue on CR 24 for less than a mile where you'll see an overhead conveyor cross the track and the river. The mine is located in a small valley to the east of here, with many of the structures still intact. Another paved road branches off of CR 24 here and heads up the valley at a Stop sign. If you take this road and then turn off on a gravel road a few yards uphill, you'll reach the old railroad bed - now county road 12-7 - to Arden, WV, after half a mile. The Cowen line heads north to Berryburg across the Tygart River on a deck girder bridge here, although trees in the summer months block a view of it.

Back to the Railfan's Guide Page

Notice and Disclaimer: These guides and Northern West Virginia's Railroads DO NOT recommend or endorse any form of tresspassing, whether on railroad or private property. I have tried to list locations which are on public roads or property, but if I have made a mistake, please adhere to posted signs or the wishes of the landowners. Remember to use common sense and think saftey! Also, please note these railfanning guides are published for your entertainment purposes only. While I have tried to make these guides as accurate and easy to read as possible, some mistakes may exist unnoticed. As a result, use at your own risk because I do not wish to be held accountable for someone's ruined trip - Thank you for your understanding.