(Cassville, WV) Management of Western Consolidated Industries have announced plans to reopen the narrow gauge line from Port Lavender to Anns Creek area with an eye towards developing the mineral properties owned by the company in the Anns Creek watershed. The Big Sandy Valley RR last operated under the auspices of the Wayne County Narrow Gauge, and recruitment of local personnel who have knowledge of the line is underway. A single Shay type locomotive and several cars have been rehabilitated in the WC’s West Virginia & Kentucky RR shops for work on the right of way, but the compnay is already engaged in building new Shop facilities for the narrow gauge in the Port Lavender Yard area with an eye towards making the line as self sufficeint as possible. The company’s immediate plans are to reestablish the line as far as the site of a new Anns Creek Collery to be built later this year, as soon as service is re established to the area.
(Shay No6 with a pair of manual dump cars in MOW service)