West Virginia has had a long love affair with the railways. In the past, trains played an important role in transporting people, coal, and other goods across the Mountain State. Today, one of the least used (but still active) train stations lies in the southern part of the state servicing a town with a population of a mere five people at last count. The Thurmond Station is over a century old and once was the only way to get in or out of the town of Thurmond.
The Thurmond Station is one of Amtrak's least busy train stations. In 2012, it was the second least used in the United States just ahead of a station in Sanderson, Texas. But this wasn't always the case.
Currently, the town of Thurmond is the least populated town in West Virginia. At last count, five residents call this place home. But in the early 1900s, the town was a bustling commercial center on the railway. And until 1921, the only way to get in and out of town was aboard a train.
Thurmond was a vital part of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. It served as a switching stop where short trains from the mines were transformed into longer trains that carried the product to market on the main lines.
Times change and by the 1950s, Thurmond was nearly a ghost town. Today the train station is still serviced by Amtrak. The Cardinal rumbles through town three times a week in both directions carrying passengers between Chicago and New York City.
The train doesn't always stop though. Thurmond Station is a flag stop, meaning that only if passengers are on the train or station platform and ticketed to the station does the train stop.
Even though it's one of the least busy train stations, this spot is still visited. It also serves as a railroad museum and a visitor center for the New River Gorge National River.
Now, you don't have to take a train to get to the train station and visitors center. There is an extremely unique single lane car/train bridge that will bring you right into town.
Have you ever visited Thurmond Station? Or have you just been a passenger on The Cardinal as it blew through town? You can learn more about this almost-ghost town here.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
