Frequently asked questions.

Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad No. 4 is a 2-8-0 steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1926 for the National Railway of Mexico, but never delivered. Originally intended to burn oil, it was converted to burn coal and eventually sold to the Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad in West Virginia.

During its life on the BC&G it was used to haul coal and passenger trains for the Dundon, WV based operation.

On February 27th, 1965, the #4 hauled the very last revenue train for the railroad. It was soon sold to the Quakertown and Eastern in 1972, a tourist line located in Quakertown, PA. Following a short lived career on the railroad the locomotive was purchased by Southwest Virginia Scenic RR, Hiltons, VA where it remained until 1978 when it was purchased by the North Carolina Transportation museum which operated the locomotive until it was taken out of service in 2001. The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad purchased the beloved BC&G 4 in the Spring of 2015.

The Cass Scenic Railroad is home to the world’s largest fleet of operating, geared steam locomotives that have helped tell the story of West Virginia’s logging roots.

With the inclusion of the operable Buffalo Creek & Gauley 4, a standard rod-driven locomotive that was common on most railroad throughout the state, we will be tell more of the story of West Virginia railroading. There is no better steam locomotive to use than the 4, which was the last revenue operated freight, steam locomotive in the state having served the BC&G for nearly four decades from 1926 to 1965!

Buffalo Creek & Gauley 4 is owned by the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad. Operators of the Cass Scenic Railroad, Durbin Rocket and New Tygart Flyer excursion trains.

Prior to being purchased by DGVR in 2015, BC&G #4 had already undergone many years of restoration work inside North Carolina’s Spencer Shops. This work included extensive running gear work and appliance rebuilds. Once the new boiler arrives in Cass, we expect two to three months of work putting the locomotive back together for operation.

Buffalo Creek & Gauley 4 will operate on the former Chesapeake & Ohio Greenbrier Division from Cass to Durbin, WV, a distance of 16 miles.

According to a 2007 newsletter from the North Carolina Transportation Museum, during the early 1970’s when the engine was in tourist service with the Quakertown & Eastern RR, a Mr. William Young affectionately started referring to her as 'Ole Slobber Face' as a result of the moisture that was constantly falling on her from her own stack.  She was a saturated steam engine and her 'face' was always wet. The name stuck and this nomer has been applied widely since.